Sen. Gene Dornink

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's paid leave laws to clarify that employers who report suspected fraud by employees or applicants are not considered to be retaliating against them. It applies to employers who report fraud to the state commissioner or law enforcement regarding paid leave benefits. The law protects employers who make good faith fraud reports from retaliation claims, but it treats intentionally false reports as retaliatory actions. This change takes effect immediately upon final passage of the legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state of Minnesota to provide $1,500,000 to the city of Easton for designing and constructing a new water tower. The funding will come from state bonds that the commissioner of management and budget will sell and issue. The money is directed through the Public Facilities Authority to support the infrastructure project. This legislation takes effect the day after it is fully enacted.

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 creates a new criminal offense for intentionally disrupting worship services at religious establishments in Minnesota. It applies to individuals who enter a clearly marked place of worship with the intent to disrupt a scheduled service and commit a crime there, classifying the first offense as a gross misdemeanor and repeat offenses as a felony punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of $10,000. The law defines a religious establishment as a building used for worship services by a religious organization that is clearly identified with a posted sign or other means. The provisions will take effect on August 1, 2026, and only apply to crimes committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the city of Albert Lea to extend its local sales tax to fund specific community projects, provided voters approve the measure in a special election. The tax would add half a percent to existing rates and generate revenue for water quality improvements, trail expansion, library upgrades, recreation center enhancements, and a new sports field. The city can issue up to $40 million in bonds to finance these projects, with tax revenues used to repay the debt and cover collection costs. The tax would expire after 30 years or once the city determines it has collected enough revenue to cover the approved project costs, whichever comes first.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's employment laws to create specific exemptions from rest and meal break requirements for certain workers. It directly affects employees who are the sole workers at a location while providing life-sustaining services, caring for vulnerable adults, or responding to emergencies. Under the new provisions, these exempted employees would not be required to take mandated breaks, though they must still be allowed time to use the restroom and eat meals while working. The changes amend existing state statutes to clarify these exemptions without removing all break protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state of Minnesota to issue up to $25 million in bonds to fund improvements to the wastewater treatment facility in Albert Lea. The funds would be used for design, construction, equipment upgrades, repairs, and demolition work on the city's wastewater infrastructure. The money would come from the state's bond proceeds fund and is available only after the commissioner of management and budget confirms sufficient resources are committed to complete the project. This legislation directly affects the city of Albert Lea and the Public Facilities Authority, which would administer the grant.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $225,000 (a one-time allocation) from Minnesota's workforce development fund to provide grants for secondary career and technical education programs offering meat cutting and butchery training. The grants cover equipment, facility renovations, and faculty training (with up to 10% of each grant for training), prioritizing programs partnering with Minnesota State Colleges or industry. By January 2028, the commissioner must report to lawmakers on grant distribution, including unfunded requests, and submit an updated report by November 2028 if additional grants are awarded. The bill directly affects high school career programs seeking to establish or expand meat processing training.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a refundable sales tax exemption for construction materials and equipment used in wastewater treatment projects within the city of Albert Lea. Under the legislation, the city would first pay sales tax on eligible purchases and then receive a refund from the state, similar to existing provisions for other infrastructure projects. The funding for these refunds comes from the state's general fund, which is allocated to the commissioner of revenue. The measure applies retroactively to purchases made within a specified timeframe and requires the city to complete its wastewater facility projects within the designated period.

Maddy summarySF 3610 appropriates $450,000 from the environment and natural resources trust fund for fiscal year 2027 to fund grants supporting Minnesota's oat industry. The bill directly affects farmers, aggregators, and processors who invest in infrastructure like equipment for cultivating, processing, or distributing oats. Key provisions allow these businesses to receive grants for projects that improve soil health and water quality by reducing erosion and nitrate leaching. The funding is exempt from standard income repayment requirements under Minnesota law.