Sen. Mark Koran

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for using bond proceeds and appropriations for the U.S. Highway 8 reconstruction project in Chisago County, pushing the expiration date to December 31, 2029. It directly affects Chisago County by allowing continued funding for reconstructing Highway 8 from Karmel Avenue to I-35, including potential lane expansions, frontage roads, and pedestrian/bike trails. The bill redirects funds originally planned for resurfacing (per MnDOT's 2020-2029 plan) to support this reconstruction project. It modifies an existing 2020 law to extend the authorization period without changing the project's scope or funding amount.

Maddy summarySF 2355 extends the deadline for using existing funds allocated to reconstruct U.S. Highway 8 in Chisago County. The bill amends a 2023 law to allow the project to use bond proceeds until December 31, 2029 - instead of the original 2024 deadline. This directly affects the Chisago County highway reconstruction project, which includes work from Karmel Avenue to Interstate 35, such as potential lane expansions and pedestrian/bike trail improvements. The change only modifies the timeline for spending previously approved funds; it does not alter the project scope or funding amount.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies background check requirements for housing support providers in Minnesota. It adds a new requirement that providers must demonstrate (by July 1, 2017) that all individuals needing background checks (controlling individuals, managers, staff/volunteers with direct contact or unsupervised access) either have no disqualifications under state law or have a set-aside for disqualifications. The bill also specifically exempts supportive housing and emergency shelter providers from needing to conduct background studies under Chapter 245C. This directly affects housing support providers, particularly those operating supportive housing or emergency shelters, by altering their background check obligations.

Maddy summarySF 2232 modifies Minnesota's election administration laws to improve accuracy and efficiency. It establishes detailed technology requirements for electronic rosters at polling places, requiring systems to verify voter eligibility, prevent duplicate voting, and provide clear instructions for election judges. The bill also changes absentee ballot application deadlines (allowing in-person submissions up to the day before an election but requiring mail applications to be received at least seven days prior) and mandates that nongovernment entities sending absentee materials include a specific notice. These changes apply directly to voters, election officials, and local election administrators across Minnesota.

Maddy summarySF 2182 establishes performance thresholds for Minnesota's Northstar Commuter Rail line, directly affecting the Metropolitan Council (which operates the service) and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The bill requires the line to meet specific ridership targets (less than 450,000 riders in any six-month period or less than 900,000 annually) or maintain a farebox recovery ratio above 40% in any calendar year starting in 2026. If these thresholds are not met, the bill mandates the permanent termination of the rail service, including decommissioning stations, ending all related agreements, and returning assets to the state. The law applies to the Minneapolis-Big Lake corridor and requires the Metropolitan Council to seek federal waivers if performance targets are missed.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 12.31, subdivision 2, to require a **supermajority (three-fifths) vote in both the Senate and House** to extend a peacetime emergency beyond 14 days. Currently, a simple majority suffices for such extensions. It directly affects **governors** who declare emergencies and the **legislature** responsible for approving extensions. The key change strengthens legislative oversight by raising the voting threshold for extensions beyond the initial 14-day period. This policy shift applies to all emergencies declared under the statute, including those triggered by natural disasters, cyberattacks, or civil disturbances.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $600,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to Metropolitan State University. The funds will allow the university to contract with a cyber range vendor to create a simulated environment for cybersecurity training. This training will be available to enrolled students and state/local government agencies to develop skills for countering cyberattacks. The funding is a one-time appropriation, available until June 30, 2028.

Maddy summarySF 1988 requires Minnesota state and local government agencies to retain all correspondence (including emails and letters) for a minimum of three years. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 15.17 and 138.17 to explicitly define "correspondence" as part of government records and establish this three-year retention period. This applies to all public entities, such as state departments, counties, cities, and school districts. The change standardizes the retention of government communications to support transparency and accountability, without altering retention rules for other record types.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the structure and authority of Minnesota's Legislative Auditor. It requires deputy auditors for financial divisions to hold active CPA licenses and expands the definition of "obligated officers" (including agency CEOs, CFOs, and data officers) who must immediately notify the auditor of suspected misuse of public funds or unauthorized access to classified government data. The bill also grants the auditor broader power to access state information systems without entity approval during audits and allows the auditor to classify data provided by legislators or staff as nonpublic. These changes directly affect state agency officials, legislative staff, and the auditor's own staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $15 million annually from the general fund to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for manufactured home park infrastructure grants and loans. It directly affects manufactured home park owners (including private, cooperative, and municipal operators) by providing funding for essential infrastructure improvements like roads, water, and sewer systems. The bill establishes a reporting requirement where the agency must annually detail funded projects, ownership types, loan amounts, and repayment usage to legislative committees. Funding begins in fiscal year 2026 and continues at $15 million per year thereafter.