Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's gambling laws by increasing the maximum cash prize for paddle tickets from $70 to $200 and raising the maximum ticket price from $2 to $5. It directly affects gambling organizations that sell paddle tickets, which are a type of lottery game. The changes are made to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 349.211, subdivision 2b, which governs paddlewheel prizes.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state, county, or municipal law enforcement agencies from disciplining or threatening to discipline peace officers solely because they appear on a prosecutor's "Brady-Giglio list." Such lists identify officers who allegedly failed to disclose evidence that could exonerate a defendant in a criminal case. The bill also creates a 10-member task force (including prosecutors, judges, sheriff associations, and police unions) to examine how these lists are used and recommend changes to procedures for adding or removing officers from them. The task force must submit a report by December 1, 2025, with findings on disclosure rules, potential statewide systems, and due process protections. The law directly affects peace officers and law enforcement agencies in Minnesota.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota school districts must notify voters about operating referendum ballots, specifically regarding the renewal of existing property tax levies. It allows school boards to renew an expiring referendum without holding a new election, provided the renewal maintains the same per-pupil tax amount as the previous year and the original ballot included a specific statement about this renewal option. The legislation also updates the required language on ballots to clarify that the authorization applies for a set number of years and simplifies how tax increases are described to voters. These changes take effect for referenda conducted on or after July 1, 2026.
Maddy summaryHF 3295 amends Minnesota's Open Meeting Law (Minnesota Statutes 13D.065) to allow public bodies like city councils and school boards to broadcast meetings via social media. It requires advance notice of the broadcast and how to access it, and clarifies that social media comments during broadcasts are not government records unless the notice specifies otherwise. Public bodies that accept online comments as testimony must establish their own rules for handling them. This directly affects local government bodies holding public meetings in Minnesota.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a grant program in Minnesota to help fund infrastructure projects that move away from using unlined landfills for construction and demolition waste. The program provides financial assistance to cities, counties, and other local entities, as well as private individuals, to build facilities for recycling, processing, or safely closing existing unlined sites. Funding comes from a combination of state general funds and newly issued bonds, with grants covering up to 75 percent of project costs for new facilities and up to 50 percent for landfill closure projects. The legislation prioritizes projects that serve environmental justice communities and maximize benefits for public health and the environment.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the reconstruction of a specific segment of U.S. Highway 8 in Chisago County, Minnesota, affecting local residents and travelers by potentially widening the road to four lanes and adding bike trails. It allocates $24 million from trunk highway bonds and an additional $15 million from general obligation bonds to fund the project's design, engineering, and construction phases. The legislation also redirects previously planned resurfacing funds for this highway to supplement the reconstruction efforts. Money from these bonds will be released only after state officials confirm that non-state funding sources have been secured to complete the project.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota voter registration forms to include specific federal compliance elements, such as spaces for a physical description of a residence if a specific address is unavailable and a certification of voter eligibility with checkboxes for citizenship and age. It directs the Secretary of State to ensure all election officials adhere to federal election laws and mandates an annual report confirming this compliance by January 15, 2027. To support these efforts, the legislation appropriates $5 million to provide grants to counties, distributing funds inversely based on their 2024 voter turnout to help cover costs associated with new federal requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $2,791,000 in bonds to fund infrastructure improvements for the City of Cambridge along Trunk Highway 95. The funds will be used for specific projects such as traffic signals, street lighting, and various sewer and water systems as part of a highway reconstruction effort. The Commissioner of Management and Budget is directed to sell and issue these state bonds to provide the necessary money for the grant. The legislation takes effect immediately upon final enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the requirements for marriage and family therapists to obtain a Minnesota license through reciprocity with other states. It allows the state licensing board to issue licenses to out-of-state therapists who meet specific criteria, including holding a valid license in good standing elsewhere, passing a Minnesota jurisprudence exam, and having no criminal convictions or disciplinary actions. The changes streamline the application process by clearly outlining five conditions that applicants must satisfy, such as completing the required application and fees. Therapists seeking to practice in Minnesota from other jurisdictions would need to demonstrate their qualifications meet these new standards before receiving a state license.
Maddy summaryHF 3589 allows voters at Minnesota polling places to briefly leave and return to address an unexpected need (like using the restroom) if permitted by the head election judge. It directly affects voters who need to step out during voting but have already received a ballot. The bill requires the voter to leave the polling place, spoil their original ballot, and receive a new ballot upon return. This amendment to Minnesota Statutes section 204C.13, subdivision 7, changes the process for temporary departures without altering voting eligibility or procedures.
