Sen. Aric Putnam

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $600,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $600,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to fund College Possible's programs. It directly supports low-income Minnesota students attending Minnesota colleges or universities through coaching and support for college admission and graduation. The funding requires College Possible to report annually on program expansion, student participation, and community service hours. The bill ensures funds are used exclusively for Minnesota residents and institutions, with detailed reporting to legislative committees.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution designates the period from June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2027, as Minnesota's Year of Water. The bill aims to encourage voluntary civic awareness, local participation, and public celebration of the state's water resources without creating any new laws, mandates, or spending requirements. It directly affects Minnesotans by providing a designated timeframe for communities, organizations, and individuals to focus on water stewardship and appreciation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Minnesota municipalities from charging fees for residential improvements needed to accommodate a veteran's disability. It directly affects veterans with service-connected physical or mental impairments who need home modifications, as well as local governments that would otherwise collect permit and inspection fees for such projects. The law requires veterans to provide proof of their status and disability-related need, but prevents municipalities from refusing permits or inspections due to unpaid fees related to these specific improvements. The bill takes effect immediately upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a sales tax exemption for construction materials and equipment used to build, remodel, expand, or improve county courthouse facilities in Minnesota. The exemption applies to materials and supplies consumed during construction projects and equipment permanently incorporated into the courthouse buildings. Under the bill, sales tax would still be collected at the standard rate but would be refunded to the buyer, similar to how other exempt construction projects are currently handled. The changes take effect for purchases made after June 30, 2026, and align courthouse construction with existing tax exemptions for other public and essential facility projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to sell up to $3.15 million in bonds to fund the St. Cloud Mississippi Riverwalk Connection Project. The funds will be used to design, build, and equip a pedestrian pathway along the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, including trail construction, lighting, landscaping, and shoreline improvements. The money will come from the bond proceeds fund and is designated for the city of St. Cloud to carry out the infrastructure work. If approved, the bonds will be issued following state laws governing public debt.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines portable solar generation devices as movable photovoltaic systems with a maximum output of 1,200 watts that connect to standard 120-volt outlets and include features to prevent energizing a building during power outages. It exempts these devices from utility interconnection and net metering requirements, meaning users do not need utility approval, pay installation fees, or add extra equipment to use them. The legislation also clarifies that utilities are not liable for damage caused by these devices and exempts their installation from certain electrical code planning requirements while still applying wiring standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the sale of up to $3.4 million in state bonds to fund a capital project connecting the 5th Avenue South Campus with downtown St. Cloud. The funds will be used to acquire property rights, design, engineer, build, and equip public infrastructure improvements for the project. The money will be distributed through a grant from the commissioner of employment and economic development to the city of St. Cloud. The bill takes effect the day after it is finalized by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies when college and university employees in Minnesota can use past wages to qualify for unemployment benefits during breaks between academic terms. It allows wage credits to be used if there is no reasonable assurance of returning to work, but restricts this for instructional, research, or administrative staff unless they have a written job offer or a contract guaranteeing 50% pay if rehiring doesn't occur. The law also defines which types of employment count as reasonable assurance and specifies that on-call work is treated differently than regular employment. These changes apply to employees at schools, colleges, universities, and related educational service agencies starting July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $50 million from the Minnesota Forward Fund to support the construction and operation of a nanoparticle iron nitride permanent magnet manufacturing facility. The funds are intended to match existing federal money available through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 and will be managed by the commissioner of employment and economic development. Up to two percent of the appropriation may be used for administrative costs, and any unspent money will be returned to the general fund by June 30, 2030. The legislation is designed to promote economic development by establishing this specific manufacturing capability in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the legal definition of "prepared food" in Minnesota to clarify which food items are subject to sales tax. It directly affects food sellers and consumers by establishing specific criteria for what counts as prepared food, including items sold with utensils or heated by the seller. The new definition excludes certain categories like bakery items, unheated meat and seafood sold by weight, raw animal foods requiring consumer cooking, and food only sliced or repackaged by the seller. The changes will take effect for sales and purchases made after June 30, 2026.