Sen. Aric Putnam

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $4,518,000 annually from the general fund for the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It provides funding to support AURI's existing statutory duties under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116V, which focus on agricultural research and development. The funding directly supports AURI's work in advancing agricultural innovation and economic development in Minnesota. This is a straightforward budget allocation with no new policy changes, solely providing financial resources for the Institute's current operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 863) clarifies Minnesota's existing law protecting employees from workplace retaliation for political activities. It prohibits employers from threatening job loss, taking economic action, or using physical coercion against employees due to their political contributions, political activity, or candidacy for public office. The law specifically applies to all employees covered under Minnesota Statutes section 10A.36, with one exception: it does not apply if an employee's political viewpoint is a genuine job requirement. Violations would be classified as a gross misdemeanor. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 10A.36, to make these protections clearer and more enforceable.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $100 million in state bond proceeds to rehabilitate public housing for low-income residents. The funds, managed by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, will finance repairs to preserve federally financed public housing under state law. Priority is given to projects improving health, safety, and energy efficiency while maximizing federal or local funding. The bill authorizes the state to sell up to $100 million in bonds to cover these rehabilitation costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers $11.1 million annually from Minnesota's general fund into the AGREETT account for agricultural research, education, and extension programs. It allocates these funds to specific priorities: $3 million for agricultural education grants (including farm transition planning and urban specialty crops), $1 million for disease research, $802,000 for the Forever Green Initiative promoting sustainable farming, and smaller amounts for potato breeding, wild rice research, and rapid response efforts. The funds support Minnesota farmers, researchers, and agricultural educators by supplementing existing programs without replacing current funding. Annual reports are required for the Forever Green Initiative to track how funds are used and their impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a dedicated "agricultural growth, research, and innovation program account" within Minnesota's existing agricultural fund. The account will hold money from gifts, grants, reimbursements, or appropriations for agricultural research and innovation purposes. Funds in this account will be directly allocated to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture commissioner to support those specific initiatives. The bill does not change existing agricultural policies but establishes a new funding mechanism to consolidate and direct resources toward research and innovation efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2 million for fiscal year 2026 and $2 million for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC). The funds will support LEDC in providing training, workshops, and one-on-one consultations to help microentrepreneurs start and grow businesses. Specific services include business start-up readiness, career pathway development in trades and tech fields, and support for green lending and manufacturing. The bill directly affects LEDC and the microentrepreneurs it serves, particularly within Minnesota's Latino community.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires manufactured housing park owners in Minnesota to offer residents an alternative payment method (like cash or check) alongside any digital payment platform they use for rent or fees. It prohibits charging fees for using either method and mandates clear, accessible communication about charges through both digital and non-digital channels. Park owners must also provide a phone number for payment issues and cannot file evictions or charge late fees if digital systems fail. The law directly affects park owners and residents in manufactured housing communities across Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $634,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $634,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to continue Minnesota's existing dairy development and business planning grant programs. It directly supports Minnesota dairy farmers by funding services like business planning grants under Minnesota Statutes §32D.30. The funding ensures ongoing access to technical assistance and financial support for dairy operations seeking to improve profitability and long-term planning. This is a continuation of current programs, not a new initiative, with no changes to eligibility or program structure.

Maddy summarySF 1027 modifies property tax exemptions for airport facilities in Minnesota. It creates a 50% reduction in taxable value for specific airport properties (like hangars and passenger areas) located in cities with populations between 50,000 and 150,000 that are not operated by the Metropolitan Airports Commission. This tax reduction applies to property taxes payable from 2026 through 2037. The bill directly affects airport operators and property owners in qualifying mid-sized cities by lowering their property tax burden for eligible facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's sales tax exemption to include firearm safety devices (like trigger locks) and secure firearm storage units (locked containers sold by licensed dealers). It directly affects gun owners purchasing these items, as they will no longer pay sales tax on them, and sellers of these products. The bill also prohibits sellers from collecting or sharing personal data about buyers of exempt items, treating such information as private data under existing law. The changes take effect for sales after June 30, 2025.