Sen. Aric Putnam

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's rent increase rules for manufactured home park residents. It requires park owners to provide 60 days' written notice for rent increases (previously 30 days), including the reason for the increase, and limits owners to two rent increases per year. Owners must prove increases are reasonable, shifting the burden of proof to them. The bill directly affects manufactured home park residents and owners, with changes taking effect August 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySF 866 requires Minnesota's commissioner of veterans affairs to provide grave markers for veterans upon request from county veterans service officers or approved veterans organizations. It amends Minnesota Statutes section 197.23, making the provision of markers mandatory (replacing "may" with "shall") within available funds. The bill appropriates specific funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to cover these markers, which must permanently mark veterans' graves within Minnesota. This directly affects veterans' families and the commissioner's office by establishing a funded process for grave markers.

Maddy summarySF 1206 requires manufactured housing park owners in Minnesota to provide residents with separate, itemized utility bills. The bill directly affects park owners and their residents by mandating that each utility charge be clearly labeled as a distinct line item. Key provisions amend Minnesota Statutes to require park owners to itemize all services or charges, replacing vague bundled bills with transparent billing. This policy change ensures residents can see exactly what they are being charged for each utility service. The bill focuses on improving billing transparency without altering other housing regulations.

Maddy summarySF 2116 modifies how Minnesota towns calculate their state aid by changing the formula used to determine each town's share. It updates the "town aid factor" calculation to combine agricultural property, town area, and population factors, while increasing the annual state funding limit for town aid from $10 million (for 2015-2025) to $11.5 million (starting in 2026). This bill directly affects all Minnesota towns receiving state aid under this program, which includes rural communities relying on this funding for local services. The changes take effect for aid paid in 2026 and later, based on the most recent available data as of January 1 each year.

Maddy summarySF 1865 creates a new temporary license for food trucks to sell alcohol at community festivals or private catered events in Minnesota. It allows municipalities to issue these licenses, requiring food trucks to have liability insurance and notify local police or sheriff's office before events. The license permits alcohol sales only for specified days per year (with exact limits blanked in the text) and applies to food trucks already licensed to operate within the municipality. This bill directly affects food truck businesses, event organizers, and local governments managing liquor licensing.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's definition of "income" for calculating property tax refunds. It expands the definition to include specific nontaxable items like certain pension payments, veterans benefits, and government assistance that were previously excluded. This change directly affects homeowners who apply for the state's property tax refund program, as it may alter their eligibility or refund amount based on a broader income calculation. The bill does not change the refund amount itself but adjusts the income definition used to determine who qualifies.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits late rent fees in manufactured housing parks to 8% of the overdue payment. It directly affects manufactured housing residents and park owners by restricting how much owners can charge for late payments. The key provision amends Minnesota law to prohibit fees exceeding 8% of the delinquent amount, while also banning fees based on household size, number of children, guests, or home size. Park owners may still charge up to $4 per pet monthly, but all late fees must be included in the rent owed. This changes existing rules that allowed higher or variable late charges.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10 million from the general fund for one-time grants in fiscal year 2026 to support Minnesota-based businesses developing PFAS-free alternatives. It directly affects Minnesota companies that can demonstrate capacity to create agricultural products using rural Minnesota waste streams (like crop byproducts) without competing with food production or increasing transportation emissions. Grants range from $2 million to $5 million per recipient, funding projects that expand manufacturing of PFAS-free alternatives using local agricultural resources. The program requires a 30-day application window and prioritizes applicants with expertise in material science and waste utilization techniques.

Maddy summarySF 2144 allocates $420,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $420,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the state general fund to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud. The funds are specifically designated to support the operation of their senior dining program, which provides meals and social services to older adults. This appropriation is delivered as a grant through the commissioner of human services, ensuring continued funding for an existing community service without creating new policy requirements.

Maddy summarySF 1176 appropriates $791,000 for 2026 and $1,628,000 for 2027 to fund P-TECH implementation grants through Minnesota's Department of Education. These grants support career-focused education programs (P-TECH) that combine high school and college coursework with industry partnerships, directly affecting school districts and their business collaborators. The bill specifies $500,000 annually for a public-private partnership involving Rochester Independent School District No. 535, with unused 2026 funds rolling over to 2027. Starting in 2028, the annual base appropriation is set at $2.625 million, maintaining the $500,000 minimum for the Rochester partnership.