Sen. Gene Dornink

Maddy summarySF 1508 appropriates $400,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $400,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to Building Strong Communities, Inc. The funds support a statewide apprenticeship readiness program targeting women, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color individuals, and veterans to prepare them for careers in building and construction. The program is funded as a one-time appropriation, not a recurring annual allocation. This bill directly affects the specified demographic groups by providing resources to enter skilled trades through structured training.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $4.5 million for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund grants for Minnesota gas stations (retail petroleum dispensers) to upgrade equipment for dispensing E25 biofuel blends. Eligible stations must be located in Minnesota, have no more than 15 dispensing sites, and use grants to replace non-certified equipment. Grants cannot exceed $200,000 per station, with unused 2026 funds carrying over to 2027, and the annual appropriation reducing to $3 million after 2027. The Agriculture Commissioner must annually report on grant usage, including project types, geographic distribution, and support for minority/female-owned businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill, SF 1159, changes Minnesota's state income tax law to allow veterans and surviving spouses of veterans to fully subtract their taxable Social Security benefits from their state taxable income. Currently, most taxpayers face income-based phaseouts that reduce this subtraction; this bill removes that limitation specifically for veterans and surviving spouses. It directly affects eligible veterans and surviving spouses who receive Social Security benefits and file Minnesota state income tax returns. The change applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, and eliminates the income thresholds that previously reduced the subtraction amount for this group.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Minnesota to issue up to $20 million in state bonds to fund the University of Minnesota's FAARM program in Mower County. The funds will cover planning, design, land acquisition, and initial site preparation for new research facilities focused on agricultural innovation. The state appropriation covers approximately two-thirds of the project's initial phase costs, with the university responsible for the remaining portion. The bill directly affects the University of Minnesota (specifically the FAARM program) and Mower County residents through the development of new agricultural research infrastructure.

Maddy summarySF 475 amends Minnesota Statutes section 181.932 to expand whistleblower protections for public employees by adding three new categories of protected disclosures. It now prohibits retaliation for employees reporting scientific or technical studies (in good faith) to government bodies, classified state employees reporting information about state services (including financing) to legislators or the legislative auditor, and employees reporting gross mismanagement or waste of public funds to entities like the legislative auditor, legislators, or constitutional officers. The law already protected employees reporting violations of law, participation in investigations, refusal of unlawful orders, and health care quality issues, and this bill extends those protections to the new categories. The bill directly affects public employees in state and local government who disclose concerns about illegal activities, safety risks, or misuse of public resources without fear of retaliation.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows transit operators (like city bus systems) that run third-party driver testing programs to partner with other transit operators to test their bus drivers. It directly affects transit agencies that provide or receive these testing services. The key provision requires such agreements between transit operators to be approved by the state transportation commissioner, and the testing provider can be reimbursed by the agency whose drivers are tested. The bill expands existing rules for school bus testing to apply specifically to transit bus drivers.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the annual contribution amounts required for Minnesota's blackout special license plates. Owners of these plates must pay $30 annually to the driver and vehicle services operating account and $20 annually to the Minnesota 100 Club account. The bill amends existing law to adjust these specific contribution amounts, directly affecting individuals who purchase or renew blackout license plates. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, but the bill does not specify the new exact amounts beyond stating they will be increased.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $4,518,000 annually from the general fund for the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It provides funding to support AURI's existing statutory duties under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116V, which focus on agricultural research and development. The funding directly supports AURI's work in advancing agricultural innovation and economic development in Minnesota. This is a straightforward budget allocation with no new policy changes, solely providing financial resources for the Institute's current operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a requirement that the word "incumbent" be printed next to judicial candidates' names on Minnesota ballots. It specifically removes Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 204B.36, subdivision 5, which currently mandates this designation for judges running for re-election. The change would affect all judicial candidates in Minnesota elections who are currently serving in their positions. The bill does not alter voting procedures or eligibility - it only modifies how candidates are listed on ballots.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a dedicated "agricultural growth, research, and innovation program account" within Minnesota's existing agricultural fund. The account will hold money from gifts, grants, reimbursements, or appropriations for agricultural research and innovation purposes. Funds in this account will be directly allocated to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture commissioner to support those specific initiatives. The bill does not change existing agricultural policies but establishes a new funding mechanism to consolidate and direct resources toward research and innovation efforts.