Sen. Carla Nelson

Maddy summaryThis bill extends Minnesota driver's license expiration periods from current 4-6 year terms to every eight years, effective August 1, 2025. It directly affects all drivers renewing licenses after this date, including standard, REAL ID, and enhanced license holders. The key mechanism is extending the expiration period while increasing standard driver's license fees from $27.75 to $55.50 (and adjusting other related fees). This change applies to all license classes under Minnesota Statutes 171.02-171.27.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3.866 million for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to address nitrate contamination in private drinking water wells. It directly affects homeowners in Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona counties whose wells exceed the 10 mg/L nitrate safety limit. The funds cover reverse osmosis systems, well repairs, and reconstruction, prioritizing low-income households (at or below 300% of federal poverty guidelines) and households with infants or pregnant individuals. Administrative costs up to 6.5% of the appropriation are also permitted.

Maddy summarySF 178 appropriates $25 million annually for town road maintenance and $10 million annually for town bridge maintenance in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, funded from the state's general fund. The bill directs the commissioner of transportation to distribute these funds according to existing rules under Minnesota Statutes section 162.081. This funding supports local governments responsible for maintaining town-level roads and bridges, without creating new requirements or altering current distribution methods. It is a straightforward funding measure with no new policy provisions.

Maddy summarySF 1543 appropriates $500,000 from the workforce development fund to fund the Minnesota Virtual Academy's career pathways program in partnership with Operating Engineers Local 49, specifically for Independent School District No. 294 in Houston. The program provides up to five semesters of courses leading to eligibility for the Operating Engineers Local 49 apprenticeship program, with additional academic and counseling support from participating school districts. The bill requires targeted outreach to students of color, Indigenous students, low-income students, and other underserved groups throughout Minnesota. It mandates annual reports detailing program participation, spending, demographics, and recommendations for statewide program improvement, with funds available until June 30, 2027.

Maddy summarySF 2817 requires Minnesota public school athletic teams to be designated as "male," "female," or "coed" based solely on participants' biological sex at birth. It directly affects all school-sponsored interscholastic, intramural, and club athletic programs in Minnesota. The bill mandates that teams designated for females must only include participants who were biologically female at birth, with no exceptions for transgender or non-binary students. This policy change alters how schools organize and admit students to gender-specific sports teams.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases Minnesota's estate tax threshold to $6 million for estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 2025, meaning estates below this value won't owe state estate tax. It also raises the combined cap on deductions for qualified small business and farm property from $5 million to a higher amount (specified as $5 million in the current text, but the bill explicitly increases the cap). These changes directly affect Minnesota estates where the decedent owned qualifying small businesses or farmland, reducing their taxable estate value. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 289A.10 and 291.016 to implement these adjustments.

Maddy summarySF 2336 appropriates $8 million from the state general fund for WomenVenture, a nonprofit, to support women-owned businesses in Minnesota. The funds will directly assist women child care providers (through business training and materials to expand in underserved areas) and women food entrepreneurs (through business expansion support, technical assistance, and workforce development). Eligible uses include business equipment, lease improvements, inventory, and working capital - funding can be grants, loans, or forgivable loans, with up to 5% for administrative costs. WomenVenture must report by December 2028 on how funds were distributed, including county-level breakdowns and repayment details.

Maddy summarySF 2811 establishes a free test and professional licensure preparation program for public college students and dislocated workers in Minnesota. The program provides free access to exam prep services for tests like the MCAT, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, nursing, teaching, real estate, and securities exams. The commissioner must contract with a vendor to deliver these services, prioritize participants receiving state grants if funds are limited, and submit annual reports on program effectiveness and participation. The bill appropriates $5 million for fiscal year 2026 and $5 million for fiscal year 2027 to fund this initiative.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a tax credit for corporations that maintain or relocate their headquarters to Minnesota. To qualify, corporations must have at least $250 million in global revenue, employ 250+ eligible employees at their Minnesota headquarters (or commit to doing so), invest $10 million in eligible expenses (like relocation, renovations, or employee training), and maintain or create jobs. Qualified corporations can claim a credit equal to 10% of eligible employee wages per year, capped at $20,000 per employee. The credit is calculated as the lesser of the employee wage credit amount or 60% of the corporation's eligible expenses for the year. It directly affects large corporations meeting these specific financial and operational thresholds.

Maddy summarySF 2571 updates Minnesota's occupational therapy licensure rules by adding clear definitions for key terms. The bill defines ACOTE (the accrediting body for occupational therapy education), NBCOT (the certifying body), "continuing competence," and "face-to-face supervision" to clarify requirements. These changes directly affect occupational therapists and assistants applying for or renewing their licenses in Minnesota. The bill standardizes statutory language without altering core licensure processes, making requirements more explicit for practitioners and regulators.