Sen. Mark Koran

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Department of Transportation to adopt specific safety message standards for changeable highway signs by July 1, 2025. It mandates that messages must be clear, simple, and avoid slang, hashtags, or cultural references that could confuse drivers, while focusing on minimizing distraction. The bill directly affects the Department of Transportation (which must implement these rules) and all road users who encounter these signs.

Maddy summarySF 1794 repeals a requirement that advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), including nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, must complete 2,080 hours of supervised practice under a formal agreement with physicians in hospital or integrated clinical settings before obtaining or renewing their license. This bill directly affects APRNs seeking licensure in Minnesota by removing the mandatory collaborative practice rule. The repeal takes effect August 1, 2025, applying to all license applications submitted on or after that date. The change eliminates the need for APRNs to submit written evidence of this collaborative practice experience as part of their licensure process.

Maddy summarySF 2905 requires Minnesota's Department of Transportation (DOT) to use qualification-based selection - evaluating firms based on expertise rather than lowest cost - for road construction projects exceeding $800,000 annually in engineering fees. From October 2025 through March 2028, the DOT must apply this method to at least five projects each year, avoiding repeated projects across consecutive years. The bill mandates two reports: a preliminary review by October 2026 and a final report by October 2028, assessing impacts on project timelines, quality, change orders, and sustainability. It appropriates a one-time $ amount from the general fund for the pilot program and reporting, available until June 2029.

Maddy summarySF 2918 requires committees or private organizations sending mailings with absentee ballot applications or sample ballots to include a clear, visible statement explaining the mailing is not an official government communication, wasn't requested by officials, and sample ballots aren't valid for voting. It also prohibits pre-printing voter registration details like names or addresses on these applications. The bill mandates that such mailings use distinct envelope markings to differentiate them from official election mail. This directly affects private groups distributing ballot materials, aiming to prevent voter confusion about the source and validity of election-related mailings.

Maddy summarySF 89 repeals Minnesota Statutes section 121A.041, which prohibited public schools (including charter schools) from using American Indian mascots, nicknames, logos, or team names. This repeal would eliminate the requirement for schools to remove existing mascots or seek exemptions from the prohibition, effective for the 2025-2026 school year and later. The current law had mandated school districts to report progress on removing such mascots and submit plans for compliance by specific deadlines. The bill directly affects all Minnesota public school districts that previously operated under the mascot prohibition.

Maddy summarySF 2911 eliminates Minnesota's dedicated "community crime and violence prevention account" by transferring its remaining $42 million to the general fund. The bill repeals two 2023 law sections that established this account and allocated $70 million annually for community violence prevention programs. This change directly affects community-based violence prevention initiatives that previously received annual funding from this account. The transfer takes effect immediately upon final enactment, while the repeal of the 2023 provisions takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySF 2907 repeals a sunset provision in Minnesota law that required probation agencies and the Department of Corrections to phase out supervision fees by August 1, 2027. This bill removes the requirement to develop and implement plans for ending these fees, meaning correctional fees for services like probation supervision, electronic monitoring, and restitution collection will no longer have an automatic expiration date. The repeal directly affects probation agencies and the Department of Corrections, which currently collect these fees for court-ordered services. The change preserves the existing fee structure without a mandated end date.

Maddy summarySF 97 amends Minnesota law to change how public schools can seek exemptions from rules prohibiting American Indian mascots. It requires schools to seek exemption approval only from American Indian tribes located in the same county as the school (or from the Tribal Nations Education Committee), rather than all 11 federally recognized tribes in Minnesota. If no tribe in the county objects by a specified deadline, the school is exempt. This directly affects public schools using American Indian mascots who must now follow a simplified tribal consultation process under the amended statute (Minnesota Statutes 121A.041, subd. 3).

Maddy summaryMinnesota's SF 311 modifies the state's self-defense laws by eliminating the legal requirement to retreat before using force outside one's home (e.g., in public spaces). It expands the definition of "dwelling" to include occupied vehicles and their immediate surroundings, creating a legal presumption that a person defending their vehicle against forced entry had a reasonable fear of harm. The bill codifies existing self-defense standards while clarifying that individuals may use force, including deadly force, without retreating when reasonably believing it is necessary to prevent serious harm or a forcible felony. These changes directly affect Minnesotans using force in self-defense scenarios, particularly in home or vehicle contexts, by adjusting the legal standards for justifying such actions under Minnesota Statutes § 609.065.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies tax rates for charitable organizations that operate gambling activities like bingo, raffles, and paddlewheels. It adjusts the tax schedule on their "combined net receipts" (revenue after prizes are paid), lowering the top tax rate from 33.5% to 16.75% for organizations earning over $157,500 annually. The bill also exempts revenue from sports-themed tipboards - where winning numbers are based on professional sports outcomes - from this tax. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting Minnesota charities running these gambling events.