Sen. Liz Boldon

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 3503 establishes a locally controlled housing fund to finance affordable housing projects. It modifies allowable uses for housing infrastructure bonds to include supportive housing for chronically homeless individuals (with priority for veterans), senior housing, manufactured home parks, and single-family housing affordable to households earning ≤50% of area median income. The bill requires new construction projects to include at least 5% accessible units with specific features like roll-in showers and sensory-accessible units. This legislation directly affects local housing agencies, developers of affordable housing, and low-to-moderate-income households seeking housing options.

Maddy summarySF 2847 modifies Minnesota's statutory forms for garnishment notices to improve clarity for debtors. It requires judgment creditors to provide a standardized 10-day notice explaining earnings exemptions before levying on wages, listing specific programs like MFIP, Medical Assistance, and recent prison release as qualifying for protection. The bill specifies the exact wording and format the notice must use, including details on how debtors can claim exemptions by submitting a signed statement. This directly affects individuals who owe money (debtors) and those collecting debts (creditors) by standardizing the communication process. The change focuses on procedural clarity, not altering exemption eligibility or creating new protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Department of Health to hire a public health school health services consultant who must be a registered nurse with specific qualifications, including Minnesota school nurse licensure and three years of school nursing experience. The consultant will develop and implement school health policies, provide training for school nurses, coordinate health services with schools and health centers, and collect data on school health needs. It directly affects all Minnesota public schools, school nurses, and public health departments by adding a dedicated state-level resource to support student health. The goal is to improve health outcomes for children and adolescents through better-coordinated school-based health services.

Maddy summaryThis is a Senate resolution (SF 3478) introduced by Minnesota legislators urging the President and Congress to fully fund Medicaid and oppose federal cuts. It directly addresses federal officials, emphasizing that Medicaid covers 1.2 million Minnesotans - including children, seniors, people with disabilities, and disproportionately serves Black and American Indian communities (covering 80% of Black births and 90% of American Indian births). The resolution states that deep Medicaid cuts would jeopardize care for vulnerable populations, strain Minnesota’s budget, and undermine state health care innovations. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses the legislature’s position but does not change federal policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota Statutes to update school requirements for sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention programs. It requires all public school districts to include "abstinence until marriage" as a specific component within their medically accurate, unbiased curriculum. The changes maintain existing elements like parent involvement, staff training, and coordination with health agencies, while adding this explicit abstinence education requirement. The bill directly affects Minnesota public school districts, which must revise their STI prevention programs to comply with these updated standards.

Maddy summaryHF 1355 requires permit holders harvesting or destroying aquatic plants in Minnesota public waters to use scuba diving equipment safely and establishes safety standards for commercial diving operations. It mandates that applicants provide documentation of a recent third-party safety survey by a qualified professional (like a DLI consultant or insurance underwriter) and ensures divers have valid certification from accredited programs. The bill also requires employers to provide buoyancy control devices for workers using scuba equipment during these activities. These requirements apply directly to commercial entities and contractors seeking permits under Minnesota Statutes §103G.615 for aquatic plant management. The law aims to improve workplace safety for divers working in Minnesota's waterways.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies an existing appropriation of $1,347,000 for Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) in Minnesota. It specifically directs funds toward renovating Career and Technical Education space and replacing part of the roof at RCTC's Heintz Center. The amendment changes how the previously allocated capital investment funds will be used, narrowing the purpose to these two defined projects. The bill does not create new funding but reallocates existing state capital funds for these specific campus improvements. The change becomes effective upon final enactment.

Maddy summarySF 3437 clarifies what constitutes disability discrimination by public accommodations in Minnesota. It specifically adds that denying closed-captioning for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals when TV services are provided, and failing to provide accessible medical equipment (like adjustable exam tables, transfer boards, or lifts) for people with mobility disabilities, are discriminatory practices. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes §363A.11 to explicitly include these examples under existing prohibitions against discrimination. It directly affects businesses, hospitals, and other public accommodations that serve the public. The law aims to make clear the specific requirements for accessibility under current disability rights protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a two-year grant program administered by Minnesota's Department of Health to prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (like measles) in communities with low vaccination rates. It provides funding for community health boards and nonprofit organizations serving these areas to conduct culturally appropriate vaccine education, combat misinformation, and help residents access vaccines. Grant recipients must use funds for activities such as community outreach, multilingual materials, and connecting people to free or low-cost vaccination services. The program is funded by a one-time appropriation for fiscal years 2026-2027, targeting geographic areas or populations at risk of outbreaks due to low vaccination coverage.

Maddy summarySF 3425 establishes a monthly excise tax on social media platform businesses that collect consumer data from Minnesota residents. It directly affects large social media companies (defined as those collecting data from over 100,000 Minnesota residents monthly), imposing tiered rates based on user counts: $0 for under 100,000 users, $0.10 per user above 100,000 up to 500,000, and higher fixed/variable rates for larger user bases. The tax applies specifically to data collection activities, with Minnesota residents counted based on address or IP data, and companies must report payments to the state revenue commissioner. Revenues from this tax will fund Minnesota's general fund.