Sen. Andrew Lang

Maddy summarySF 2318 removes the requirement that a vehicle must be unoccupied for law enforcement to attach a tracking device in two specific situations: when a stolen vehicle is reported to police and occupied at the time of attachment, or when a vehicle is fleeing law enforcement. For stolen vehicles, officers must remove the device within 24 hours or obtain a warrant, and if the vehicle is recovered, the device must be removed with any evidence collected after return to the owner being inadmissible. The bill also mandates annual reporting by law enforcement agencies on tracking device use in stolen vehicle cases. This directly affects law enforcement procedures and privacy rights for vehicle owners in these scenarios.

Maddy summarySF 2313 requires Minnesota cities and towns to approve the installation of J-turns at intersections before they can be built. A J-turn is a specific intersection design where drivers turn right then make a U-turn to continue in the desired direction, rather than turning left directly. The bill amends state transportation laws to mandate this local consent for J-turn installations and clarifies that J-turns do not count as "traffic safety measures" under existing rules. This directly affects municipal governments, giving them authority to approve or deny these intersection modifications on local roads.

Maddy summarySF 674 appropriates $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Minnesota Commissioner of Veterans Affairs. The funds are designated for a grant to Hometown Hero Outdoors, a Stillwater-based nonprofit, to provide outdoor recreational activities combined with mental health services. This program directly supports currently serving military personnel and veterans across Minnesota, aiming to improve mental health outcomes and quality of life through structured outdoor engagement. The bill focuses on funding a specific existing nonprofit's services rather than creating new state programs or regulations.

Maddy summarySF 866 requires Minnesota's commissioner of veterans affairs to provide grave markers for veterans upon request from county veterans service officers or approved veterans organizations. It amends Minnesota Statutes section 197.23, making the provision of markers mandatory (replacing "may" with "shall") within available funds. The bill appropriates specific funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to cover these markers, which must permanently mark veterans' graves within Minnesota. This directly affects veterans' families and the commissioner's office by establishing a funded process for grave markers.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's requirements for individualized education programs (IEPs) by directing the commissioner of education to amend rules to require only measurable annual goals in IEPs, removing the prior requirement for benchmarks or short-term objectives. It directly affects school districts and IEP teams developing plans for students with disabilities. The key change simplifies documentation while maintaining focus on measurable annual outcomes, as specified in Section 2 of the bill. The amendment applies to Minnesota Rules, part 3525.2810, subpart 1, item A.

Maddy summaryHF 289 establishes the SAVI (State Agency Value Initiative) program, allowing all Minnesota state agencies - including Minnesota State Colleges and Universities - to retain 50% of unspent operational funds from cost-saving innovations or efficiency measures. Agencies must use these retained funds only for mission-related projects, after a peer review panel (composed of employees and managers) recommends the project and the commissioner of management and budget approves it. The program requires agencies to publicly post project spending plans for 30 days and undergo review by the Legislative Advisory Commission before funding. This policy directly affects state agencies by creating a structured way to reinvest savings into new initiatives without creating future financial obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $50,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 to the Greater Litchfield Opera House Association. The funds are specifically for expanding and installing balcony seating at the opera house. The money will be administered through the Minnesota Historical Society's grant program.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10 million from the general fund for one-time grants in fiscal year 2026 to support Minnesota-based businesses developing PFAS-free alternatives. It directly affects Minnesota companies that can demonstrate capacity to create agricultural products using rural Minnesota waste streams (like crop byproducts) without competing with food production or increasing transportation emissions. Grants range from $2 million to $5 million per recipient, funding projects that expand manufacturing of PFAS-free alternatives using local agricultural resources. The program requires a 30-day application window and prioritizes applicants with expertise in material science and waste utilization techniques.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10 million from Minnesota's 2026 budget to the Department of Agriculture for a one-time grant to CelluComp. The funds will support CelluComp's commercialization of an innovative material additive that reduces harmful chemicals (PFAS) and plastic in packaging products. The grant is available until July 1, 2027, and directly affects CelluComp as the recipient and the Department of Agriculture as the administering agency.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $50,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for the repair and preservation of Ness Church in Litchfield, a historic site. The funds will be administered by the Minnesota Historical Society to support the church's maintenance and conservation. The bill directly affects the Ness Church preservation project and the Minnesota Historical Society as the grant recipient. It does not create new laws but provides specific funding for a cultural heritage site.