Sen. Aric Putnam

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $856,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund the renovation of a youth shelter facility in St. Cloud. The funds will go to the nonprofit organization 180 Degrees to renovate, furnish, and equip the facility at 1101 Washington Memorial Drive. The project aims to improve onsite program delivery for youth services while creating dedicated space for a teen employment center and donation center. This is a one-time appropriation available until the project is completed or abandoned.

Maddy summarySF 672 appropriates funds from the general fund for a statewide tenant education and hotline service in Minnesota. It provides free, confidential legal advice to all renters through a dedicated hotline and educational resources. The bill allocates specific funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Housing Finance Agency to operate this service. This directly affects Minnesota renters seeking assistance with housing rights and legal questions.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.95 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2027 (with a base amount for future years) to fund Minnesota's "farm to food shelf" program through Second Harvest Heartland. It directs funds specifically for: purchasing milk from Minnesota processors for food shelves ($850,000/year), compensating farmers for harvesting surplus produce to prevent waste, buying protein products (meat, dairy, legumes) from Minnesota sources, and purchasing produce from "The Good Acre" ($500,000/year). The program directly benefits Minnesota's five Feeding America food banks and charitable organizations distributing food, while requiring food to be sourced from local agricultural producers and processors. Second Harvest Heartland must submit quarterly reports detailing fund usage, food distribution, and commodity purchases to the Agriculture Commissioner and relevant legislative committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2.5 million for fiscal year 2026 and $2.5 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to support Minnesota’s existing "Greater Minnesota business development public infrastructure grant program" under statute 116J.431. The funds will be administered by the commissioner of employment and economic development to provide grants for public infrastructure projects. These grants directly assist businesses located outside Minnesota’s major metropolitan areas (referred to as "Greater Minnesota") that require infrastructure improvements to support growth or operations. The bill does not create new policy but allocates specific funding for an established program.

Maddy summarySF 616 appropriates $6,000 for fiscal year 2026 to provide $1,200 bonuses to eligible Minnesota service members who did not receive prior bonuses under Minnesota Statutes §197.79 but have a DD214 confirming qualifying service. It directly affects veterans whose military service meets specific criteria outlined in state law, requiring them to submit documentation to the Veterans Affairs commissioner by December 31, 2028. The funds are available until June 20, 2029, and are intended to supplement existing bonus programs for qualifying service. This bill creates a new payment mechanism for veterans meeting defined service requirements, without altering existing eligibility rules.

Maddy summarySF 492 establishes a voluntary certification program for commercial deicer applicators who remove snow and ice on privately owned properties for hire. To become certified, applicators must complete approved training on water-friendly practices, pass an exam, and renew every ten years. Certified applicators gain limited liability protection if they follow approved best management practices, but this protection does not apply for gross negligence, intentional harm, or failure to follow the practices. The bill requires certified applicators to maintain detailed records of deicer use for six years and submit annual reports on deicer types and amounts to the Pollution Control Agency. The program takes effect August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "microenterprise home kitchen operation license" for Minnesotans who prepare and sell food from their homes. It directly affects small home-based food businesses that currently lack a legal pathway to sell cooked goods, such as baked goods or prepared meals. Key provisions require the commissioner to issue the license within 30 days of application, make it valid for one year (January 1-December 31), and allow annual renewal. The license specifically excludes sales at retail locations or for consumption on-site, aligning with existing home kitchen regulations. This establishes a formal, accessible licensing process for home food operations under new Chapter 31C of Minnesota Statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10 million for fiscal year 2026 and $10 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Minnesota Department of Education for the Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) Center. The funds will support an evidence-based program delivered to at least 40 qualifying schools, prioritizing geographic balance (urban, suburban, rural) and schools serving high concentrations of students in poverty or from underrepresented racial groups (including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities). The program must provide school coaching, professional development, and resources over three years to improve student social-emotional skills, academic achievement for marginalized students, teacher effectiveness, and high school graduation rates. The BARR Center must apply for the grants through the commissioner of education, with funds available until June 2028 (2026 appropriation) and June 2029 (2027 appropriation).

Maddy summarySF 584 appropriates $20 million in state bond proceeds to fund the Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program. The bill authorizes the state to sell up to $20 million in bonds to provide grants for public infrastructure projects supporting business development in Greater Minnesota (outside the Twin Cities metro area). These grants, administered by the commissioner of employment and economic development under Minnesota Statutes § 116J.431, directly benefit qualifying businesses and local communities seeking infrastructure improvements like roads, utilities, or site preparation. The funding mechanism is procedural, establishing the financial source for an existing program without creating new regulations or eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 49) amends Minnesota property tax law to add new exemptions for certain leased land used in business. It exempts property leased for specific purposes like airport hangars used for aircraft storage/repair, concessions in public parks or airports, cooperative farming agreements, and conservation grazing - directly affecting businesses leasing land for these activities. The key provision removes the requirement for lessees to pay taxes on such property, which would otherwise apply to leased business property. The changes take effect for 2026 property taxes.