Sen. Jason Rarick

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Minnesota's HELP (Higher Education Loan Program) to provide low-interest student loans to eligible residents. It directly affects Minnesota residents attending public or nonprofit Minnesota colleges who earn under 300% of the federal poverty line, offering loans up to $5,000 annually (with a $20,000 lifetime limit) at a maximum 3% fixed interest rate. The program is funded by $17.5 million annually from the state general fund for fiscal years 2026-2027, with repayments recycled into a dedicated account to sustain the program. It requires the Office of Higher Education to administer the loans, including contracting for servicing.

Maddy summarySF 1142 modifies Minnesota's net energy metering rules for small solar and renewable energy systems. It allows residential and small commercial customers with systems under 40 kilowatts to choose compensation at the average retail energy rate instead of the current avoided cost rate. This change applies when they send excess electricity back to the grid, directly affecting homeowners and small businesses with solar installations. The bill adjusts billing provisions for these systems under Minnesota Statutes 216B.164, giving customers a new option for how they're paid for surplus energy. The amendment focuses on updating compensation methods without changing the 40-kilowatt capacity threshold for small systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $3.5 million in bonds to fund a new city hall and fire station in Sturgeon Lake. The funds will cover all costs - including land purchase, design, construction, and equipment - without requiring the city to provide matching funds. The appropriation comes from the state's bond proceeds fund, managed by the commissioner of employment and economic development. The bill directly affects Sturgeon Lake residents by enabling the construction of a combined municipal facility.

Maddy summarySF 1554 creates a tax credit for Minnesota taxpayers who enroll children in qualifying nonpublic schools. The credit equals the number of qualifying children (meeting IRS criteria and attending full-time at a nonpublic school that meets state attendance requirements) multiplied by a formula allowance. Taxpayers can claim the credit only if they owe state income tax, with strict rules preventing double claims (only one parent per child) and requiring documentation for noncustodial parents. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, and cannot be used to pay past-due taxes or penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 1489) allows Minnesota school districts and charter schools to transfer unassigned funds between operating accounts for fiscal years 2025-2027 without increasing state aid or property tax authority. It also permits school boards to formally opt out of certain state laws or rules enacted after January 1, 2023, for the 2024-2025 through 2026-2027 school years. To use these provisions, school boards must adopt a written resolution specifying the purpose and amount of fund transfers or non-compliance with mandates, post the resolution online, and notify the education commissioner electronically. The bill applies only to the specified time periods and does not change existing state funding obligations.

Maddy summarySF 1502 amends Minnesota's Read Act to require public schools to use evidence-based reading instruction grounded in "science of reading" research, directly affecting K-3 students and educators statewide. The bill mandates schools adopt approved screeners for foundational reading skills, use specific evidence-based intervention models (approved by the Department of Education and CAREI), and provide professional development focused on structured literacy. It explicitly excludes the "three-cueing system" and requires the Department of Education to develop templates for local literacy plans and track implementation. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, with key deadlines for approving interventions and screeners by June 2025. The bill cancels existing appropriations while redirecting resources toward evidence-based literacy implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue $6.5 million in bonds for two special education cooperatives in Minnesota. It provides funding for Northern Lights Special Education Cooperative No. 6096-52 and Area Special Education Cooperative No. 997 to build or improve facilities housing regional programs for students with autism, cognitive disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders, and other specific educational needs. The funds cover predesign, construction, renovation, and equipment without requiring local matching funds. The bonds will be sold through standard state procedures to finance these education learning centers.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $ for a study on improving intercity bus service between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Duluth, requiring the transportation commissioner to analyze demand, costs, ridership, and barriers by February 2026. It cancels $194 million in existing funding for the Minneapolis-Duluth Northern Lights Express passenger rail project and transfers that amount to the highway user tax distribution fund. The study will evaluate potential bus service improvements, including capital costs and revenue, to inform future transportation decisions. These changes directly affect transportation planning for the Minneapolis-Duluth corridor and reallocate existing state funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that Little Falls Independent School District (ISD 482) can be reimbursed for eligible expenses incurred before receiving a $450,000 grant for its aeronautics and commercial over-the-road technical program, specifically for costs paid after May 24, 2023. The funds must cover equipment, staffing, travel, and contracted services directly supporting the program. The district must report to lawmakers by February 1, 2027, detailing program participation, demographics, activities, partnerships, and recommendations for statewide program improvements. The clarification applies retroactively to expenses from May 24, 2023, and the grant is a one-time appropriation ending June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state funding mechanism to provide annual aid to local fire and ambulance special taxing districts in Minnesota. It requires the state commissioner of revenue to calculate and pay each eligible district 50% of its certified levy from the previous year, with total aid capped by annual appropriations from the general fund. Payments are scheduled for July 20 each year, starting in 2026, and the commissioner must certify amounts by August 1 prior to payment. The aid applies specifically to districts formed under existing state laws for fire or ambulance services, directly supporting their operational funding.