Sen. Torrey Westrom

Maddy summarySF 1209 authorizes Minnesota to issue up to $50 million in bonds to fund agricultural loans for farmers. It appropriates $30 million from bond proceeds specifically for the Rural Finance Authority to provide loans under five programs, prioritizing beginning farmers first, followed by seller-sponsored and agricultural improvement loans. The bill establishes that debt service on these bonds must be repaid by the Authority and requires loan participations to cover full interest and principal. This directly affects Minnesota farmers seeking agricultural financing through the state's designated loan programs.

Maddy summarySF 3409 creates a new type of disability parking certificate specifically for cancer patients in Minnesota. It allows individuals diagnosed with cancer who experience mobility issues due to their condition or treatment to qualify for parking permits. To qualify, applicants must submit a medical statement confirming a cancer diagnosis, related mobility impacts (like difficulty moving safely in parking areas), and that these issues will last at least 30 days. The certificate is valid for up to 12 months and grants the same parking privileges as standard disability permits, but only when the vehicle is being used to transport the person with the certificate. This directly affects cancer patients seeking temporary parking accommodations during treatment.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's sales tax exemption for construction materials used in large agricultural processing facilities. It expands the exemption to apply to facilities with expected capital investments exceeding $100 million, specifically for processing agricultural crops (excluding livestock, wood, or crop-growing land). The tax would be collected at the standard rate but then refunded per existing procedures. The change applies to sales and purchases made after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a rebate program for facilities that divert materials from landfills. Resource recovery and waste-to-energy facilities must report annually (by February 1) on tons of recyclable/compostable materials separated from waste streams and reused/recycled, or combustor ash utilized in construction. The commissioner of revenue will issue rebates of $30 per ton for materials in categories (1)-(3) and $20 per ton for categories (4)-(5) using tax revenues allocated under section 297H.13. The rebate program begins July 1, 2025, and is funded from the same tax revenues that support the environmental fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's Health Professional Education Loan Forgiveness Program to clarify eligibility for physicians and medical residents. It specifically defines "medical resident" to include those in family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, or emergency medicine, and defines "physician" to cover these same specialties. The change directly affects doctors and medical trainees seeking loan forgiveness by ensuring only those working in these designated specialties qualify. It does not alter the program's funding or application process, only refining who meets the eligibility criteria.

Maddy summarySF 676 requires Minnesota school principals to provide teachers and parents with timely notice (within 24-48 hours) of violent incidents causing injuries on school grounds or at school events, including whether videos exist and if weapons were involved. The notice must not reveal student identities and must use contact methods parents have consented to. The bill also prohibits schools from retaliating against staff who report, discuss, or participate in investigations about school violence. This law applies to all public and charter schools starting the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summarySF 3410 allows Minnesota school districts and charter schools to transfer unassigned operating funds between accounts during fiscal years 2025-2027 without increasing state aid or property taxes, provided they adopt a written resolution, post it online, and notify the education commissioner. It also permits school boards to formally opt out of complying with specific state education laws or rules enacted after January 1, 2023 (such as those covering teacher pay or student records), following a recorded vote and public posting of the decision. The bill applies only to the 2024-2025, 2025-2026, and 2026-2027 school years. School boards must document all fund transfers and non-compliance decisions with the required notices. This bill directly affects school districts' budget flexibility and their ability to bypass certain state mandates during the specified period.

Maddy summarySF 3375 classifies the location data of farms raising farmed cervidae (such as deer or elk) as private information under Minnesota law. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to explicitly state that the premises location where these animals are kept must be treated as nonpublic data, directly affecting cervidae farmers. This change prevents public access to such location information, though the Board of Animal Health may disclose it if necessary for law enforcement, public health, or animal safety. The bill does not alter existing data privacy protections for other agricultural premises.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3321) amends Minnesota child custody laws to ensure access to gender-affirming care isn't used to deny jurisdiction in custody cases. It removes restrictions that previously allowed courts to decline jurisdiction when a child sought gender-affirming care, explicitly stating that a child's presence in Minnesota for such care meets the "significant connection" requirement under custody jurisdiction rules (§ 518D.201). It also adds that inability to obtain gender-affirming care qualifies as an emergency for temporary custody orders (§ 518D.204). The bill repeals prior restrictions (§§ 62Q.585, 260.925, 543.23) that limited these protections. This directly affects minors seeking gender-affirming care and their families navigating custody disputes.

Maddy summarySF 3305 creates a homestead market value exclusion for Minnesota property owners aged 65 or older who are retired. It excludes the full market value of qualifying property (classified as 1a/1b homestead or part of an agricultural homestead) from taxable value, reducing property taxes. To qualify, applicants must own and occupy the property as a homestead, with at least one owner aged 65+ (or a married couple where one is 65+ and the other is 62+), and apply by December 31 each year. The exclusion begins for 2026 property taxes and makes qualifying properties ineligible for other tax benefits like property tax credits or deferral programs.