Sen. Torrey Westrom

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $50 million in state bond proceeds to the Rural Finance Authority to fund specific agricultural loan programs for Minnesota farmers. It directly supports beginning farmers through the "beginning farmer program" and other initiatives like loan restructuring, seller-sponsored loans, and livestock expansion. The authority must prioritize funding for beginning farmer loans first, followed by seller-sponsored and agricultural improvement loans, with all loan shares priced to cover interest, principal, and potential losses. The state will issue up to $50.05 million in bonds (including $50,000 for bond sale costs) to finance this appropriation, with repayment handled through the authority's debt service.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the city of Alexandria, Minnesota, to impose a local sales tax of up to 0.25% with voter approval. The tax revenue would fund the expansion and renovation of the PrimeWest Health Runestone Community Center, covering up to $30 million in project costs plus associated bonding expenses. The legislation allows the city to issue bonds for the project and establishes rules for when the tax would expire, either after 20 years or once the project is fully funded.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's farm down payment assistance program to help new farmers purchase land by updating eligibility requirements and grant amounts. It defines eligible farmers as Minnesota residents with limited land access, gross farm sales under $250,000 annually, and adequate farming experience, while also creating a new category for incubator farm participants. The program offers grants up to $20,000 for farms of 2-75 acres and up to $40,000 for larger farms, requiring recipients to match the grant with at least $8,000 in other funding and commit to owning and farming the land for five years. Additionally, the bill allocates $1.25 million annually to administer the program, prioritizing applicants with lower annual sales and those growing industrial hemp, cannabis, or specialty crops, with half of the second-year funding reserved for applicants who have already signed purchase agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Douglas County to impose a local sales tax of up to 0.25% to help fund a new library construction project. The tax would require voter approval through an election and can be used to pay for library building costs up to $18.5 million plus associated bond expenses. If approved, the county could issue bonds to finance the project, with the tax revenue used to repay those bonds over time. The tax would expire after ten years or earlier once the project costs are fully covered, with any remaining funds returned to the county's general fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $15 million in bonds to fund capital improvements at the Alexandria Lake Area Sanitary District. The funds will be used to construct and equip Phase Two upgrades to the district's regional water reclamation facility. The commissioner of management and budget is directed to sell and issue the state bonds in accordance with existing state laws. The legislation takes effect the day after it is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 2488) shortens the timeframe for Minnesota election officials to provide voter list copies to registered voters. It amends state law to require county auditors and the secretary of state to deliver requested voter lists within **two business days** (previously 10 days) upon receiving a written or electronic request with payment for reproduction costs. The bill directly affects registered Minnesota voters seeking voter list access and election officials responsible for fulfilling these requests. It also maintains existing provisions allowing free public inspection of voter lists and prohibits using voter list information for non-election purposes. The change aims to improve the speed and efficiency of accessing voter data for eligible individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota election officials to test voting systems at least ten days before absentee ballots are used. It mandates specific testing procedures to verify systems correctly mark and count all ballot types - including those using assistive technology - and reject invalid votes. The tests must be observed by election judges from different parties, open to the public, and include pre-audited ballots with predetermined results. After testing, detailed precinct reports must be made publicly available within 24 hours. The bill directly affects election officials managing voting systems in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 2490) amends Minnesota Statutes section 201.171 to improve how voter registration status is updated based on voting history. It requires county auditors to post voting history within 52 days after each election, and the secretary of state to automatically mark voters as "inactive" in the statewide system if they haven’t voted in four consecutive years. Voters marked inactive must re-register to vote in future elections, but late/rejected mail ballots still count toward maintaining active status (though not for public voting history lists). The change directly affects Minnesota registered voters whose voting patterns lead to inactive status under the updated process.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts paid on-call firefighters from Minnesota's Paid Leave Law, meaning these workers would not be required to participate in the state's paid leave program. The legislation directly affects firefighters who are paid to respond to emergencies but are not actively on duty at all times. By adding paid on-call firefighters to the list of excluded employment categories, the bill removes them from the definition of covered employment under the existing paid leave statute. This change ensures that these specific firefighters are not subject to the same leave requirements and employer obligations as other employees covered by the law.

Maddy summarySF 3686 establishes a rotational grazing pilot program in Minnesota, providing grants to farmers for implementing or improving rotational grazing systems. The program awards up to $25,000 per farmer (requiring a 50% match from the farmer) to establish perennial forages or purchase infrastructure like fencing and watering systems, with funds reimbursed after implementation. It aims to enhance prairie/woodland use and protect water sources by controlling livestock density and rotation. The program is funded with $2 million from the environment trust fund for fiscal year 2027, requiring a 2028 report on grant distribution and results.