Sen. Aric Putnam

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3.15 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to rebuild 322nd Street in Stearns County and the city of St. Cloud. The funds will cover design, engineering, environmental analysis, land acquisition, and reconstruction of the street segment between County State-Aid Highway 4 and Highway 133. The money is directed to Stearns County or the city of St. Cloud for this specific infrastructure project. This is a procedural funding bill focused solely on allocating resources for a defined local road improvement.

Maddy summaryThis bill gives the Minnesota Commissioner of Revenue temporary authority to exclude certain delinquent taxpayers from liquor posting lists. It directly affects businesses that operate as places of public accommodation and are at least ten days behind on filing tax returns or paying state and local taxes. The law applies only to taxpayers who have also requested an abatement of penalties or interest, and it remains in effect until December 31, 2026. The changes apply retroactively starting January 1, 2026, for taxes and returns due after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to sell up to $10 million in bonds to fund grants for the Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program. The funds will be used to support infrastructure projects in rural and less populated areas of Minnesota through grants administered by the commissioner of employment and economic development. The legislation establishes the legal framework for issuing these bonds and designates the money to come from the bond proceeds fund. It takes effect immediately upon final passage by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3599) updates Minnesota's eviction rules for nonpayment of rent by expanding how tenants can avoid eviction through "redemption." It allows tenants to pay overdue rent plus interest, court costs, and a limited $5 attorney fee to regain possession, using new payment options: funds from government agencies, 501(c)(3) nonprofit rental assistance programs, or third parties with verified funds. The bill also clarifies that rental payments must first cover past-due rent from prior periods before applying to current rent. It directly affects tenants facing eviction for unpaid rent and landlords in these cases, effective for actions filed after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $25 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2027 to demolish obsolete or underused buildings and restore land on Minnesota State Colleges and Universities campuses. It directly affects all Minnesota State Colleges and Universities campuses by funding the removal of outdated infrastructure. The key provision requires the Board of Trustees to use these funds to reduce ongoing operational, maintenance, and capital costs associated with vacant or deteriorating sites. The bill focuses solely on the financial allocation for physical site cleanup, with no other policy changes or legislative actions included.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and modifies how certain agricultural programs are financed. It directly affects farmers, ranchers, county agricultural inspectors, and the state agency that manages these programs. The legislation raises the total appropriation for agriculture from $58,957,000 to $59,306,000 for 2026 and 2027, with specific increases for soil health assistance, livestock and wildlife damage compensation, laboratory equipment, meat inspection services, and county inspector grants. Key provisions include allowing the commissioner to use a percentage of funds for administrative costs, extending grant availability dates, and adjusting compensation amounts for livestock destroyed by wolves and elk.

Maddy summarySF 3686 establishes a rotational grazing pilot program in Minnesota, providing grants to farmers for implementing or improving rotational grazing systems. The program awards up to $25,000 per farmer (requiring a 50% match from the farmer) to establish perennial forages or purchase infrastructure like fencing and watering systems, with funds reimbursed after implementation. It aims to enhance prairie/woodland use and protect water sources by controlling livestock density and rotation. The program is funded with $2 million from the environment trust fund for fiscal year 2027, requiring a 2028 report on grant distribution and results.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes three key changes: (1) It lowers the property tax increase threshold for homeowners from 12% to 8% to qualify for a refund and raises the maximum refund from $1,000 to $1,500, effective for 2026 claims; (2) It creates a new monthly tax on social media companies collecting data from Minnesota users, with rates starting at $0.10 per user for 100,001-500,000 users and increasing to $0.50 per user for over 1 million users; (3) It establishes one-time public safety funding for local and tribal governments, requiring a report on the allocation of these funds. The changes directly affect Minnesota homeowners, social media businesses with significant Minnesota user bases, and local government entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies milk offering requirements for Minnesota schools participating in the federal National School Lunch Program. It requires schools to provide various fluid milk options (including flavored/unflavored whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free milk, plus nutritionally equivalent nondairy beverages) and mandates that schools must offer lactose-reduced milk or lactase-fortified milk for students with documented lactose intolerance upon parental request. The bill also permits schools to serve these products directly from large containers during meal service. These provisions apply to all public and nonpublic schools receiving school lunch aid or participating in the breakfast program.

Maddy summarySF 4024 establishes a voluntary framework to improve Minnesota students' access to career-connected learning experiences, such as internships and work-based training, by coordinating education, workforce, and postsecondary systems. It requires the state education commissioner to review existing policies and create guidance for schools - without mandating participation - to align personalized learning plans, career education, and employer engagement. The framework focuses on removing barriers to high-quality career pathways, supporting local school flexibility, and using existing resources to connect high school experiences to postsecondary credentials and jobs. It does not create new funding or requirements but aims to streamline coordination across systems to better prepare students for careers.