Sen. Nathan Wesenberg

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a fictional definition of "Trump Derangement Syndrome" to Minnesota's mental health statutes. It defines the term as "acute onset of paranoia" reacting to Donald Trump's policies, with symptoms including "intense hostility" toward him and "overt acts of aggression" against his supporters. The bill amends two sections of Minnesota Statutes to include this non-clinical term in official definitions of "mental illness" and "mental health disorders." As a procedural addition with no basis in medical practice, it does not affect actual mental health care or policy.

Maddy summarySF 742 amends Minnesota law to allow landowners and public land managers to use purple paint on trees as an alternative to traditional "no trespassing" signs for prohibiting outdoor recreation access. Property owners may mark boundaries with purple paint applied at least 3 feet high on trees over 1 inch wide in 8-inch strips, instead of posting physical signs. The bill requires annual posting of corner signs regardless of paint use. This directly affects private landowners, lessees, and public land managers seeking to mark property boundaries for trespassing prohibitions. (Minnesota Statutes 2024, § 97B.001, subd. 4)

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $50,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 and another $50,000 for fiscal year 2027 to Forgotten Heroes Ranges and Retreat, a nonprofit organization. The funds are designated for expenses related to veteran retreats, including transportation and customized activities. The commissioner of veterans affairs must submit annual reports detailing how the grant money was used, including administrative costs, to legislative committees by January 15 each year. This bill directly supports veterans participating in the nonprofit's retreat programs through financial assistance.

Maddy summarySF 876 creates a public online dashboard to track environmental reviews and permits for metallic mineral mining projects in Minnesota. It requires the Department of Natural Resources to add projects to the dashboard within 15 days of submission, including summaries of project locations, environmental reviews needed, and public hearing opportunities. The dashboard must display real-time deadlines, agency compliance status, and updates like permit modifications or litigation status. This affects mining project developers, state agencies (like DNR and environmental regulators), and the public seeking transparency in the permitting process. The bill aims to improve coordination and accountability in the existing environmental review system under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 93.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 553 amends fencing requirements for farmed deer and similar cervidae (like elk or moose) to enhance containment. It mandates all perimeter fences be at least 96 inches (8 feet) tall, constructed with high-tensile material, and feature two redundant gates to prevent escapes or contact with wild cervidae. Owners must repair fence deficiencies within 14 days, pay reinspection fees for violations, and face facility registration revocation if multiple escapes occur or deficiencies persist. The bill directly affects commercial cervidae farms and is enforced by the Board of Animal Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Minnesota's wildlife commissioner to award bear hunting preference points to youth (minors under the hunting age) who cannot hunt bears yet. These points accumulate over time, so when the youth become eligible to hunt, they have priority in the selection process. The change modifies existing law (Minnesota Statutes 97B.405) to explicitly permit this point accumulation for young hunters. It directly affects minors interested in future bear hunting in Minnesota.

Maddy summarySF 767 requires Minnesota's commissioner of natural resources to ensure unimpeded access to state forest roads for commercial minnow trappers, leech trappers, fur trappers, and loggers. The bill amends state law to mandate that if permits are required for road access, the commissioner must issue them to these specific groups. This policy change directly affects those commercial operators who rely on forest roads for their work. The key mechanism is a requirement for the commissioner to provide consistent, unobstructed access without unnecessary barriers for these four industries. The law does not alter existing access rules for non-commercial users or other forest activities.

Maddy summarySF 1437 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit Minnesota governors to two terms in office. If approved by voters, it would amend Article V, Section 2 of the Minnesota Constitution to state that "a person elected twice to the office of governor is no longer an eligible candidate." The amendment would be submitted to voters in the 2026 general election with a ballot question asking whether the constitution should be amended to limit governors to two terms. This change would apply to all future governors, though the bill specifies that elections prior to 2026 must also be considered under the new term limits.

Maddy summarySF 1242, the "Facial Recognition Technology Warrant Act of 2025," requires Minnesota law enforcement agencies to obtain a court order before using facial recognition technology for ongoing surveillance (tracking individuals in public spaces for more than 72 hours). Exceptions exist for urgent situations, but officers must seek a court order within 48 hours. The law limits surveillance to 30 days per court order (with possible 30-day extensions) and mandates minimizing data collection about people not under investigation. It also allows individuals to challenge evidence obtained in violation of these rules in court.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers specific regulatory duties related to farmed deer and elk (cervidae) from the Commissioner of Natural Resources to the Board of Animal Health. It directly affects cervidae facility owners, who will now deal primarily with the Board for fence inspections, annual checks, and chronic wasting disease testing requirements. Key changes include shifting responsibility for enforcing fence standards (96-inch height, redundant gates), conducting annual facility inspections, and managing CWD testing and depopulation after disease detection. The Board will now handle all reporting, inspections, and enforcement actions previously shared with or handled by the Natural Resources Commissioner.