Sen. Andrew Lang

Maddy summarySF 861 appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to provide equal grants of approximately $5,263 to each of Minnesota's 95 county agricultural societies. The funds must be used for projects enhancing arts access, education, and the preservation of Minnesota's agricultural, historical, and cultural heritage through county fairs. This appropriation is in addition to existing funding under Minnesota Statutes, section 38.02, and the commissioner of agriculture must develop grant criteria with input from interested parties. The bill directly affects all 95 county fairs by providing supplemental funding for heritage-related programming.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the design requirements for Minnesota drivers' licenses and identification cards. It requires specific markings to indicate age groups (e.g., "Under-21" for drivers under 21, "senior" for those 65+ upon request), REAL ID compliance status, and adds "not for voting" to noncompliant licenses issued to applicants without verified U.S. citizenship. The bill also specifies how names must be truncated on cards and mandates a vertical layout with unique background colors for certain noncompliant licenses. These changes apply to all new licenses and ID cards issued on or after October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates a specific amount from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to provide a grant to Rice County for water quality improvement work at French Lake. It directly affects Rice County residents and French Lake by funding services like water testing, infrastructure upgrades, and maintenance. The bill also extends the deadline for using a prior grant (from 2023) for the same French Lake project until June 30, 2027. The key mechanisms are the new funding allocation and the extended timeline for existing water quality efforts.

Maddy summarySF 820 sets a uniform gross weight limit of 108,000 pounds for most commercial trucks in Minnesota, replacing previous weight categories. It eliminates special hauling permits and overweight permits that allowed vehicles to exceed standard weight limits. The bill also revises the tax structure for commercial vehicles, creating a new base rate schedule (categories A-T) where vehicles over 80,000 pounds face additional taxes of $50 per ton. This directly affects commercial trucking companies and operators who haul goods, as they must now comply with the single weight limit without special permits. The changes amend multiple sections of Minnesota Statutes related to vehicle taxation and registration.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate Bill 277 modifies trapping regulations for fur-bearing animals. It requires trapping seasons to begin at sunrise, restricts using lights to tend traps between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., and limits firearms used during daytime trap-tending. The bill changes tending requirements: body-gripping traps and certain snares must now be checked no more frequently than every third day (replacing the previous daily requirement). It also restricts setting traps within 50 feet of water (except for specific foot-encapsulating traps) during mink and muskrat season without a permit. These changes directly affect licensed fur trappers operating in Minnesota.

Maddy summarySF 770 allocates $168.5 million from Minnesota's Outdoor Heritage Fund for specific habitat conservation projects during fiscal years 2026-2027. It directly funds land acquisitions and restoration for prairie grasslands, wetlands, and wildlife habitats through agreements with groups like Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, and local conservation organizations. Key provisions include $3.69 million for prairie chicken habitat partnerships, $3.45 million for grassland conservation easements, and $4.09 million to expand riparian buffers on private lands. These one-time appropriations target lands eligible for native prairie protection or adjacent to existing conservation areas under existing state law. The bill does not create new programs but directs existing fund resources toward prioritized habitat restoration projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota Statutes to exempt certain off-highway vehicles made for children (like mini ATVs or dirt bikes), their replacement parts, and associated protective gear from the definition of a "juvenile product" under Amara's Law. It directly affects manufacturers and sellers of these child-sized off-highway vehicles by removing them from regulatory requirements that apply to other juvenile products. The key mechanism adds a specific exclusion to the statute's definition of "juvenile product" (Section 116.943, subdivision 1(m)(3)), clarifying these items are not covered by the law's restrictions on PFAS in children's products. This change focuses on regulatory scope, not new requirements.

Maddy summarySF 755 increases the maximum number of shareholders, members, or partners allowed in entities owning agricultural homestead property from 12 to 18. This bill directly affects family farm corporations, joint farm ventures, limited liability companies, and partnerships that own farmland eligible for homestead tax classification. The key provision amends Minnesota Statutes section 273.124, subdivision 8, to update the ownership limit for these entities. The change applies to homestead applications starting in 2025, allowing larger family-owned farm businesses to maintain their tax classification.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $65,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 to the Minnesota State Band. The funding is specifically for the band to provide public performances across Minnesota. The bill does not create new policies or affect specific populations, but directly supports the band's operational costs for statewide performances.

Maddy summarySF 636 establishes the State Agency Value Initiative (SAVI) program, allowing Minnesota state agencies (including Minnesota State Colleges and Universities) to retain 50% of unspent operational funds from a biennium when cost savings result from innovation or efficiency. Agencies must use these retained savings only for mission-related projects, subject to peer review by employee-led panels and approval from the commissioner of management and budget. Projects require 30-day public posting and must undergo review by the Legislative Advisory Commission before funding. The program takes effect June 30, 2025, and amends existing law to prioritize retained savings over standard budget lapse rules.