Sen. Mark Koran

Maddy summaryThis bill requires voters in Minnesota to present a photo identification card to register to vote and to cast a ballot, while also establishing a new state-issued voter identification card program. The legislation creates a free voter ID card system where applicants can obtain a certified vital record without fees, and it mandates that the state provide absentee ballots to program participants without requiring them to submit a separate application each election cycle. Additionally, the bill establishes a children's abuse prevention trust fund and includes reporting requirements for vital record requests related to voter ID cards.

Maddy summarySF 1273 repeals Minnesota Statutes section 297A.9925, which established a 0.25% sales and use tax on retail purchases in metropolitan counties. This tax funded housing assistance programs, distributing 25% to state rent assistance, 25% to city housing aid, and 50% to county housing aid. The repeal takes effect July 1, 2025, eliminating this dedicated revenue source for housing programs in the metro area. The bill directly affects metropolitan counties and the housing assistance accounts funded by this tax.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 1219 establishes a centralized Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the state, replacing agency-specific inspector general offices. The bill requires all state agencies to halt payments when fraud is suspected and mandates a public fraud hotline for reporting misconduct. It defines "fraud" as intentional deception to obtain state funds or benefits, and specifies that the OIG’s work must complement (not duplicate) the Legislative Auditor’s responsibilities. This bill directly affects state agencies, contractors receiving state funds, and any entity managing public resources, with funding appropriated for the new OIG operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits nonprofit organizations from registering to provide payment to satisfy court-ordered bail conditions. It directly affects nonprofits that currently help people pay bail to avoid pretrial detention, banning them from operating under Minnesota's nonprofit corporation laws. The key provision (Section 1.7-1.9) states that nonprofits cannot organize or register to engage in bail payment services, effectively excluding them from this activity. The law establishes this restriction as the "Bail Abatement Nonprofit Exclusion (BANE) Act" within Minnesota Statutes. This is a direct policy change targeting nonprofit bail assistance services.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $4 million in bonds to fund road improvements in Forest Lake. Specifically, it appropriates $4 million from bond proceeds to the city of Forest Lake for land acquisition and construction of the Forest Road North realignment and intersection improvements at 11th Avenue. The funds will be provided through state bond sales, following Minnesota's bond issuance procedures under statutes 16A.631-16A.675. The project directly affects Forest Lake residents and infrastructure in that city.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate Bill SF 1215 prohibits the sale of flavored nitrous oxide to consumers within Minnesota. The bill defines "flavored nitrous oxide" as containers that impart taste or smell and are sold by retailers, and it bans retailers from selling or offering these products to consumers in the state. Violating this prohibition is classified as a misdemeanor. The law directly affects retailers who currently sell flavored nitrous oxide canisters in Minnesota, including out-of-state retailers targeting Minnesota consumers. The bill does not include exceptions for medical or industrial use.

Maddy summarySF 1230 requires most state multimember agencies (like commissions or task forces, excluding licensing boards) to automatically expire two years after their creation unless their original law specifies a different end date. The bill also mandates that the Legislative Coordinating Commission submit a detailed report by February 1, 2026, listing all such agencies, their enabling laws, expiration dates, recent meeting history, and duties. The report must identify any redundant or unnecessary groups. This policy change directly affects how state agencies operate by creating a built-in review process and limiting the lifespan of temporary bodies.

Maddy summarySF 1222 requires school districts and charter schools that mandate face coverings to allow parents to opt their children out without needing to provide a reason or evidence. Parents may notify school officials (such as the principal or school board) to request the opt-out, and schools cannot demand health or educational justification. The bill prohibits schools from disciplining or treating differently students whose parents have opted them out. This law becomes effective the day after it is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the legal requirement to retreat when using force in self-defense outside one's home in Minnesota. It expands the definition of "dwelling" to include temporary living spaces like tents, porches, and mobile homes, and creates a legal presumption that someone acting in self-defense was justified. The changes apply to force used on or after August 1, 2025, and directly affect Minnesotans defending themselves in non-residential settings. The bill clarifies that reasonable force may be used without retreat when a person reasonably believes it's necessary to prevent imminent harm.

Maddy summarySF 1243 would abolish Minnesota's Metropolitan Council, the regional governing body for the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. It transfers the Council's duties - including land use planning, transportation functions, and oversight of the Metropolitan Airports Commission - to other state agencies like the commissioners of administration and natural resources, and the Department of Transportation. The bill also creates a new metropolitan area sanitary sewer district and repeals the Council's land use planning authority. These changes would directly affect the Council's operations and the agencies assuming its responsibilities.