Sen. Andrew Mathews

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts male students from participating in female-only athletic teams and accessing female-changing facilities in Minnesota public schools. It defines "male" as having XY chromosomes and prohibits male students from trying out for or joining girls' teams (penalized as a petty misdemeanor), while allowing schools to maintain sex-segregated teams only if athletic opportunities for that sex were previously limited. The bill also prohibits males from using female-only locker rooms, showers, or dressing facilities (penalized as a misdemeanor). These provisions apply to all K-12 public schools and athletic programs, effective August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $50,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to the commissioner of natural resources. The funds will be granted to Forgotten Heroes Ranges and Retreat to promote shooting sports specifically for persons with disabilities and host a dedicated shooting day event. The legislation directly supports organizations providing accessible recreational opportunities for people with disabilities in Minnesota. It does not change existing laws but provides targeted funding for a specific program.

Maddy summarySF 2468 amends Minnesota Statutes § 609.377 to establish mandatory minimum sentences for severe child punishment. It directly affects parents, guardians, or caretakers who cause specific harm, including head/eye injuries to children under four, multiple bruises, substantial bodily harm, or great bodily harm. The bill sets mandatory prison terms (1-10 years) and fines ($1,000-$20,000) based on harm severity: 1-5 years for substantial harm or repeat offenses, and 2-10 years for great bodily harm. These penalties apply to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025. The law does not create new offenses but increases sentencing requirements for existing violations.

Maddy summarySF 2304, the Minnesota Elections Integrity Act, requires voters to present photo identification to register and to cast a ballot in person. It creates a free voter identification card program (with no fee for those needing it for voting) and mandates ID verification for individuals assisting with absentee ballots or providing help at polling places. The bill also establishes provisional ballots for voters who can't provide ID at the polls and increases criminal penalties for certain election violations. These changes apply to all Minnesota voters participating in elections, with the new ID card system and related provisions effective June 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires county auditors, municipal clerks, and school district clerks to livestream all ballot board activities during absentee voting, election day, and the following day if processing absentee ballots. It mandates specific camera placements to show board members, ballots, and room doors while avoiding private data, covering key steps like envelope handling, ballot opening, and counting. The Commissioner of Information Technology must provide and retain these livestreams for 22 months on a public website at no cost to voters or local offices. Funding of $... is appropriated for implementation in fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill classifies voter registration data in Minnesota's statewide system, specifying which information is public and which is private. It defines basic details like name, address, and birth year as public data, while making sensitive identifiers (such as Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and military IDs) private. Voters can request that their name be withheld from public lists for safety reasons, and anyone accessing the data must provide written assurance it won't be used for non-election purposes. The bill directly affects voters (through privacy options) and election officials (who must handle data classification and access requests).

Maddy summarySF 2084, the "Supporting Women Act," would establish a state grant program to fund nonprofit women's pregnancy centers and maternity homes in Minnesota. The bill provides grants to organizations that offer free or low-cost support services - including housing, medical referrals, mental health care, and parenting education - to pregnant women and new mothers in crisis, homelessness, or at risk of homelessness. Grants cannot be used for abortion counseling, referrals, or services (except in life-threatening cases), and recipients must maintain strict privacy protections for client information. The commissioner of health would administer the program and monitor compliance with these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution expresses the chamber's disapproval of comments made by Governor Tim Walz to the Minnesota Nursing Association. The measure specifically targets remarks where the Governor described political opponents as fascists and Nazis, arguing that such language trivializes the historical atrocities of the Holocaust and damages public trust in elections. While Senate resolutions generally do not carry the force of law, this document formally condemns the Governor's speech and requests that he apologize to the Jewish community and the public for using divisive rhetoric. The resolution directs the Secretary of the Senate to send a copy of the document to Governor Walz as an official communication from the legislative body.

Maddy summarySF 2307 requires Minnesota's commissioner of health to include specific immunization details - such as vaccine type, administration date, lot number, and expiration date - on death certificates for all individuals who received vaccinations within two years prior to death. This applies to all deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2026, with full immunization records for children under 18 required to be added to death certificates. The bill mandates annual public reports on deaths within specific timeframes after vaccination (e.g., 24 hours, one week), broken down by vaccine type, demographics, and health conditions, plus biennial reports on cause of death and injury data. It also requires independent audits of these reports by non-governmental auditors to ensure data integrity. The law directly affects Minnesota's health department, medical providers completing death certificates, and public health researchers.

Maddy summarySF 1650 establishes a grant program to fund nonprofit women's pregnancy centers and maternity homes that support pregnant women and new mothers. Eligible organizations must provide free housing and services (like medical care, mental health support, and parenting education) without promoting or referring for abortions - except in life-threatening cases. The commissioner of health will administer the program, requiring strict privacy protections for client information and monitoring to ensure compliance with eligibility rules. This program directly affects community-based organizations serving pregnant women facing crisis situations, such as homelessness.