Sen. Aric Putnam

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees to create a workgroup focused on improving health insurance access for adjunct faculty members. The workgroup must include representatives from the university system, the Inter Faculty Organization, and the Minnesota State College Faculty, and it will meet by August 15, 2026, to identify barriers preventing part-time instructors from qualifying for employer-sponsored health coverage. By December 15, 2027, the group must submit findings and policy recommendations to higher education committees, with the workgroup itself expiring in February 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Minnesota counties to create lists of high-quality agricultural land that should be protected from electric power facility development. Counties can designate parcels as agricultural priority land if they have high crop productivity ratings or are classified as prime farmland, then submit these lists to the state Public Utilities Commission. The Commission cannot issue permits for large power plants on listed land unless the county board explicitly approves an exception. Landowners receive advance notice before their property is added to a list and have the right to request removal of their parcel. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a regulated therapeutic program in Minnesota allowing adults aged 21 and older to use psilocybin under medical supervision for qualifying conditions such as PTSD, depression, and chronic pain. The program requires patients to be certified by a licensed physician and administered by registered facilitators who oversee preparation, administration, and integration sessions. Key provisions include creating an advisory committee, setting up data collection requirements, establishing fees, and defining criminal penalties for violations. The legislation authorizes the state health commissioner to implement rules and protections for patients, suppliers, facilitators, and healthcare practitioners involved in the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $50 million in state bond proceeds to the Rural Finance Authority to fund specific agricultural loan programs for Minnesota farmers. It directly supports beginning farmers through the "beginning farmer program" and other initiatives like loan restructuring, seller-sponsored loans, and livestock expansion. The authority must prioritize funding for beginning farmer loans first, followed by seller-sponsored and agricultural improvement loans, with all loan shares priced to cover interest, principal, and potential losses. The state will issue up to $50.05 million in bonds (including $50,000 for bond sale costs) to finance this appropriation, with repayment handled through the authority's debt service.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the expiration date for Minnesota's pass-through entity tax provision, which allows certain business owners to pay state income tax at the entity level instead of individually. It directly affects qualifying owners (residents or nonresidents) of pass-through entities like partnerships, LLCs taxed as partnerships, and S corporations. The bill amends specific tax code sections to adjust when this tax option expires, without changing the tax rate or calculation method. This change ensures the existing tax mechanism remains available for affected businesses beyond its current expiration date.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits large meat retailers from owning stakes in livestock dealers or meat packing companies and from signing exclusive contracts that require those suppliers to sell only to them. It defines a "dominant retailer" as a company primarily selling meat with over $18 billion in annual sales and at least one location in 20 states, including Minnesota. Companies meeting this definition must certify compliance by October 1, 2026, and face daily civil penalties of $25,000 for violations, with enforcement handled by the state attorney general.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the types of projects that Minnesota local governments can fund with state housing aid, including emergency rental assistance, nonprofit housing support, and market-rate housing development in non-metro areas. It also clarifies how funds can be used for demolition projects and requires new buildings with more than four units to include accessible and sensory-accessible units. Additionally, the bill extends the deadline for spending certain housing aid funds and allows unspent funds to be transferred to local housing trust funds if local governments face uncontrollable delays. These changes aim to provide more flexibility and broaden the scope of eligible housing projects across the state.

Maddy summarySF 3584 appropriates $150,000 from the general fund for one-time hiring in fiscal year 2027 to create a full-time staff position at the University of Minnesota Extension. This position will directly support Minnesota's existing farmer-lender mediation program, which helps resolve disputes between farmers and lenders under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 583. The funding is specifically for a new staff member to manage and advance this mediation service. The bill does not change existing laws but provides dedicated resources to strengthen this support system for agricultural stakeholders.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the expiration date of Minnesota's Farmer-Lender Mediation Act from June 30, 2027, to June 30, 2032. It directly affects farmers and lenders facing potential foreclosure by preserving the existing mediation program that helps resolve disputes before court proceedings. The key provision simply updates the sunset date in Minnesota Statutes section 583.215 without changing the program's requirements or eligibility. This extension ensures the mediation process remains available for another five years. The bill does not create new policy but maintains the current framework for resolving agricultural debt conflicts.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines "plug-in solar photovoltaic devices" as portable solar systems under 1,200 watts designed to offset personal electricity use. It exempts these devices from requiring interconnection agreements with utilities, net metering rules, and utility-imposed fees or reporting for installation or operation. Homeowners and renters using these small-scale devices would face simplified installation processes without utility oversight. The bill also states utilities cannot be held liable for damage caused by these devices. This regulation directly affects Minnesota residents installing small, personal solar systems.