Sen. Jason Rarick

Maddy summarySF 89 repeals Minnesota Statutes section 121A.041, which prohibited public schools (including charter schools) from using American Indian mascots, nicknames, logos, or team names. This repeal would eliminate the requirement for schools to remove existing mascots or seek exemptions from the prohibition, effective for the 2025-2026 school year and later. The current law had mandated school districts to report progress on removing such mascots and submit plans for compliance by specific deadlines. The bill directly affects all Minnesota public school districts that previously operated under the mascot prohibition.

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 summaryThis bill appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of labor and industry. The funds support Minnesota's existing Loggers Safety Grant Program, established under 2021 laws, which provides financial assistance to loggers for safety equipment and training. The program directly benefits logging workers and employers by helping them adopt safety measures to reduce workplace hazards. This funding ensures the program continues operating with dedicated state resources for two fiscal years.

Maddy summarySF 360 modifies Minnesota's high school mathematics requirements by requiring grade 8 standards to include algebra, geometry, and statistics as preparation for the three required math credits in grades 9-12. It specifies that students must earn three math credits meeting statewide academic standards, as determined by their local school district. This bill directly affects all Minnesota public high school students and school districts, updating curriculum expectations for math education and graduation requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $20 million from state bonds to fund a new wastewater filtration system at the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District's treatment facility in Duluth. The funds will directly support the district's infrastructure upgrade to improve wastewater treatment for Duluth residents and the surrounding area. The state will issue up to $20 million in bonds to cover this cost, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law. The project focuses on concrete infrastructure improvements at a specific facility, with no additional program changes or broad policy impacts.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1,000,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to grant to Forgotten Heroes Ranges and Retreat, a nonprofit organization. The funds will be used to predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip a new accessible shooting range and retreat facility specifically for disabled veterans and handicapped individuals. The appropriation is one-time and available until the project is completed or abandoned. It directly affects the nonprofit organization and its target beneficiaries through dedicated capital funding for accessibility-focused infrastructure.

Maddy summarySF 1198 amends Minnesota education finance law to explicitly include roof repair and replacement projects (costing $100,000 or more per site) as eligible uses for school districts' long-term facilities maintenance funding. It requires school districts to include roof maintenance schedules in their ten-year facility plans, which must be approved by the commissioner. The bill affects all public school districts in Minnesota that receive long-term facilities maintenance revenue, allowing them to allocate these funds specifically for roof projects instead of only general deferred maintenance. This change clarifies that roof repairs meeting the cost threshold are now directly authorized under the existing funding program, effective for fiscal year 2027 and later.

Maddy summarySF 97 amends Minnesota law to change how public schools can seek exemptions from rules prohibiting American Indian mascots. It requires schools to seek exemption approval only from American Indian tribes located in the same county as the school (or from the Tribal Nations Education Committee), rather than all 11 federally recognized tribes in Minnesota. If no tribe in the county objects by a specified deadline, the school is exempt. This directly affects public schools using American Indian mascots who must now follow a simplified tribal consultation process under the amended statute (Minnesota Statutes 121A.041, subd. 3).

Maddy summarySF 1141 allows Minnesota school districts to temporarily avoid complying with certain state requirements (mandates) if the state hasn't provided funding for them. It specifically applies to mandates affecting daily school operations, school board authority, curriculum changes, or spending priorities. However, districts must still comply if funding is minor relative to their overall budget or if the requirement relates to student safety, health, financial audits, or life-safety rules. The bill takes effect for mandates in place after June 30, 2025. This directly affects all public school districts in Minnesota facing unfunded state mandates.

Maddy summarySF 2086 creates a streamlined process for approving site-specific sulfate water quality standards in waters supporting wild rice while Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency completes related rulemaking. It directly affects permit holders (like mining or industrial operations) discharging sulfate into "covered waters" identified as wild rice habitats. The bill requires applications to include detailed maps, three years of water quality and wild rice survey data, and proof that sulfate levels at the proposed standard won't harm wild rice. The commissioner must process complete applications within 150 days and cannot require permittees to install sulfate treatment technology during this period. This allows affected businesses to operate under interim standards without costly infrastructure changes while rulemaking continues.