Sen. Andrew Lang

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces annual safety assessments for railroads and pipelines from $4 million to $2.8 million per year. It changes how the assessment is split: railroads pay 70% of the total (based on route miles in Minnesota), while pipeline companies pay 30% (based on gallons of hazardous substances transported). The bill also requires companies involved in significant incidents to cover state/local costs for post-incident reviews. These changes take effect January 1, 2027, and apply to railroad and pipeline operators in Minnesota.

Maddy summarySF 1080 establishes a state grant program to help licensed ambulance services cover operating deficits, where revenue from insurance and other sources falls short of operational costs. Eligible providers (excluding specialized life support services and certain single-license holders in high-response-density areas) can apply for grants funded through a new state account, with awards limited to covering verified past deficits and capped at 5% above prior grants without special approval. Grants must be used exclusively for operational or capital expenses related to ambulance services, and the program requires annual reporting to the state health department.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates funds from the general fund for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to create a cost-sharing program. It directly provides grants to Minnesota landowners for restoring or creating sustainable wetlands eligible for wetland banking under Minnesota Statutes sections 103G.222 and 103G.2251. Eligible activities include site assessments, engineering design/construction (including removing drainage systems), establishing vegetation, and costs for long-term easements. The program aims to support wetland restoration through direct financial assistance to landowners.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $150,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for the city of Delano to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2026. The funds will support specific arts, music, and cultural heritage programming during the sesquicentennial celebration. The appropriation is designated for fiscal year 2026 and is directed to the city of Delano through the commissioner of administration. This is a targeted funding measure for a local anniversary event, not a broad policy change.

Maddy summarySF 2113 provides $5 million for fiscal year 2026 and $5 million for fiscal year 2027 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to the Minnesota Public Television Association. These funds are designated for production and acquisition grants to support public television content creation and programming, as specified in Minnesota Statutes section 129D.18. The bill directly affects Minnesota Public Television Association services by ensuring dedicated funding for their programming operations. This is a two-year funding commitment without altering existing legal requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a technical amendment to the Minnesota Constitution to update specific language in Article I for consistency with current Minnesota Statutes. It corrects minor grammatical inconsistencies and outdated phrasing (e.g., changing "his the member's peers" to "his peers" in Section 2) without altering any substantive rights or legal protections. The amendment directly affects the wording of the state constitution itself, aligning it with modern statutory drafting standards. It has no direct impact on citizens, policies, or voting rights, as it only addresses technical language. This is a procedural update, not a policy change.

Maddy summarySF 1141 allows Minnesota school districts to temporarily avoid complying with certain state requirements (mandates) if the state hasn't provided funding for them. It specifically applies to mandates affecting daily school operations, school board authority, curriculum changes, or spending priorities. However, districts must still comply if funding is minor relative to their overall budget or if the requirement relates to student safety, health, financial audits, or life-safety rules. The bill takes effect for mandates in place after June 30, 2025. This directly affects all public school districts in Minnesota facing unfunded state mandates.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the $500 cap on both reasonable attorney fees and punitive damages for discrimination lawsuits filed in public accommodations (like restaurants or hotels) under Minnesota Statutes § 604.12, subdivision 3. It directly affects plaintiffs who sue businesses for discrimination, allowing courts to award higher fees and damages without the current $500 limit. The key change amends the statute to eliminate these specific monetary caps, replacing the current language that restricted fees and punitive damages to $500 each. This is a substantive policy change affecting civil litigation costs and potential damages in discrimination cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's reimbursement program for volunteer ambulance attendants' education costs. It sets specific payment amounts ($1,200 for initial EMT training, $375 for continuing EMT, $600 for initial EMR, $200 for continuing EMR) and requires ambulance services to have handled 5,000 or fewer calls in the prior year to qualify. Attendants must also serve one year as active members after certification to qualify for reimbursement. The bill appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 for fiscal year 2027 to fund these reimbursements. It directly affects volunteer ambulance services and their attendants in Minnesota.

Maddy summarySF 1299 appropriates $10 million from the general fund for the First District Association, a Litchfield dairy cooperative, to design and build a new wastewater treatment facility. The facility will process up to 1.75 million gallons daily of high-strength wastewater from dairy operations, including biosolids handling and renewable gas production. This bill amends prior funding to add the new appropriation specifically for this project in Litchfield, directly supporting the cooperative's infrastructure needs.