Sen. Liz Boldon

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Minnesota's current law that prevents cities and counties from creating their own firearm regulations. It allows local governments to establish zoning rules for where firearm dealers can operate (e.g., location restrictions for stores), which they could not do under existing law. The bill specifically repeals sections of Minnesota Statutes that previously blocked local control over firearm sales locations and other firearm-related regulations. This change directly affects cities and counties, giving them new authority to address firearm safety concerns through local zoning decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Minnesota Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (MCFPB), a new state agency to enforce consumer financial laws and protect residents. The bureau, led by a governor-appointed commissioner, will investigate unfair practices, handle consumer complaints, enforce anti-discrimination laws, and monitor financial markets. It requires the commissioner to recruit staff with federal CFPB experience in areas like mortgages and student loans. The bill appropriates funding for the bureau's operation in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This directly affects Minnesota consumers and financial institutions operating in the state by creating a dedicated enforcement agency.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from using "spread pricing," a practice where PBMs charge health plans more for prescription drugs than they pay pharmacies. It directly affects PBMs and health plans that contract with them. The bill defines allowable fees to ensure they don’t tie payments to drug prices, rebates, or patient costs, and requires PBMs to act in the health plan’s best interest. It also increases licensing fees for PBMs and limits their income sources to prevent profit-driven pricing models.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals four specific spending authorizations for the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) related to the housing development fund. It removes provisions that allowed MHFA to use funds for: (1) capacity building grants to nonprofits for affordable housing planning, (2) "other agency purposes" not otherwise specified, (3) rental housing programs, and (4) full-cycle home ownership services. The changes modify how MHFA can allocate funds from the housing development fund, eliminating these specific expenditure categories. This is a procedural adjustment affecting MHFA's budget authority, not a new housing program.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 197) would require Minnesota school districts to add two student members to their school boards starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Student members must be enrolled in grades 9-12 at the district, live in the district, and serve two-year terms (with a maximum of two terms). Districts must create a voting process where all enrolled students in grades 9-12 can select the student members, and students gain full voting rights on school board matters. The bill also updates training requirements for all school board members, including students, to cover school finance and management. This directly affects all Minnesota public school districts and high school students seeking board representation.

Maddy summarySF 3851 amends Minnesota law to allow courts to delay eviction notices (writs of recovery) for up to 15 days in most tenant-landlord disputes, giving tenants additional time to respond before being required to vacate. This applies to standard eviction cases not involving safety threats, nuisance behavior, or violations under specific statutes (like section 504B.171). The bill explicitly excludes cases with default judgments and maintains priority for evictions related to immediate safety risks or property damage. It takes effect August 1, 2026, for all pending cases on or after that date. The change extends the previous 7-day stay period to 15 days for qualifying cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $5,392,000 from the general fund for Minnesota food shelf programs in fiscal year 2027. The funds are directed to the commissioner of children, youth, and families to support food shelf operations under Minnesota Statutes section 142F.14. The appropriation adds to the existing base funding for these programs, which provide emergency food assistance to Minnesotans facing food insecurity. It directly affects community food shelves across the state that serve individuals and families in need. The bill creates no new requirements or changes program eligibility - it solely provides dedicated funding for existing services.

Maddy summarySF 3984 prohibits health insurance companies (health carriers) in Minnesota from using algorithms or artificial intelligence to approve or deny patient requests for prior authorization on medical treatments. The bill directly affects insurers and the patients whose care requests they review, banning automated decision-making tools in this specific process. It amends Minnesota law to require human review for all prior authorization decisions, effective January 1, 2026, for plans offered or renewed after that date. This is a concrete policy change requiring insurers to manually evaluate these requests instead of relying on AI-driven systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every Minnesota K-12 public school building to have at least one school counselor, replacing previous ratio-based guidelines. It mandates that counselors spend at least 80% of their time directly serving students through specific services like academic/career planning, classroom instruction on social-emotional development, mental health support, and data-driven program planning. The law also maintains existing licensing requirements for counselors. These changes apply directly to all public K-12 schools across Minnesota and their counseling staff.

Maddy summarySF 4011 requires teacher preparation programs in Minnesota to include a supervised early literacy field experience for candidates preparing to teach early reading. This applies to programs enrolling students in the 2027-2028 school year or later, mandating integration with evidence-based reading instruction and opportunities to apply proven literacy practices. The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must create rules defining which licensure areas require this experience, setting scope and outcomes, ensuring school-based placements during instructional hours (with limited waivers), and requiring actionable feedback. The bill appropriates funds for the board's rulemaking process and takes effect July 1, 2026. It directly affects teacher candidates, preparation programs, and the state's educator licensing standards.