Sen. Grant Hauschild

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $15 million from the Minnesota forward fund to reimburse businesses for unpaid claims related to investments in bioindustrial facilities. It directly affects companies that constructed facilities producing advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, or biomass thermal energy before June 30, 2024, and submitted claims under statutes 41A.16-41A.18 before April 30, 2025. Payments will be made to cover unpaid claims from those submissions, starting August 1, 2026, with funds available until July 1, 2027. The bill cancels an equal amount from a prior fiscal year appropriation.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.5 million from the general fund for Minnesota's "Lawns to Legumes" program in fiscal year 2026. The funding, available until June 30, 2029, supports the Board of Water and Soil Resources in replacing traditional lawns with legume-rich plantings that improve soil health and support pollinators. The program will partner with local governments, Metro Blooms, and other organizations to implement this initiative. It directly affects landowners participating in the program and local entities managing public or private green spaces.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3314) provides a temporary exception for unemployment insurance benefits to workers laid off from the iron ore mining industry between April 1 and July 2, 2025. If these workers take a short-term job in emergency medical services (EMS) within their local area during that period, it will not count against their eligibility for unemployment benefits. Specifically, their temporary EMS work will not be considered "failing to seek or accept suitable employment," and earnings from that work will not reduce their weekly unemployment benefit amount. The exception applies retroactively from April 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $5.5 million from the workforce development fund for fiscal year 2026 to build a regional career technical education center in Northeastern Minnesota. The funds will be provided as a grant to Independent School District No. 704 (Proctor) to construct the center, which must be operated through a partnership between Proctor, Hermantown, and Esko school districts. The center will provide cost-effective workforce training aligned with regional industry needs, using the funds for property purchases, construction, remodeling, and equipment. This directly affects the participating school districts and future students seeking career technical education in the region.

Maddy summarySF 3312 clarifies when certain brewers must file monthly tax returns in Minnesota. It specifically states that qualified brewers (as defined in Minnesota law) do not need to file a return when no excise tax is due, removing ambiguity in the existing requirement. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 297G.09 to make this exemption clear for brewers producing fermented malt beverages. This change applies to returns required on or after July 18, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2 million from the general fund for the WonderTrek Children's Museum in Baxter, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The funds are designated for phase I capital improvements to their nine-acre campus, including site infrastructure, landscaping, a 2,400-square-foot indoor-outdoor classroom, four acres of nature play exhibits, and outdoor recreation facilities. The appropriation is one-time and available until project completion, per Minnesota Statutes. It directly affects the museum’s physical expansion plans and requires the commissioner of employment and economic development to disburse the grant.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts qualifying small rural ambulance services from Minnesota's health care gross receipts tax. It directly affects ambulance services operating outside major cities (like Duluth and Rochester) and metropolitan counties, with annual revenues of $10 million or less. The exemption applies to services meeting both location and revenue criteria, effective January 1, 2026, or after federal approval of the tax change. Federal approval is required for implementation, with the state human services commissioner responsible for seeking it.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates targeted unemployment benefits for workers laid off from the iron ore mining industry or related explosive manufacturing during March 15-June 15, 2025, due to significant workforce reductions (50%+ layoffs). Eligible workers must have exhausted regular unemployment benefits and meet standard eligibility requirements, receiving up to 26 weeks of additional benefits at their prior weekly rate. The bill also establishes standards for storing reactive mine waste to prevent water quality impacts, defining "reactive mine waste" as material causing sustained pH decreases in contact water. It is effective retroactively from March 15, 2025.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate Bill 3197 establishes a tax on large social media platforms that collect consumer data from Minnesota residents. It directly affects for-profit social media businesses with more than 100,000 Minnesota users monthly, imposing a tiered tax based on user volume: $0 for ≤100,000 users, $0.10 per user over 100,000 for 100k-500k users, $40,000 plus $0.25 per user over 500k for 500k-1 million users, and $165,000 plus $0.50 per user over 1 million users. The tax applies to data collection (not just user count), with platforms required to verify Minnesota residency and pay quarterly. Revenues fund the state general fund, and businesses can claim credits for similar taxes paid to other states.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that workers who accepted a deferred resignation offer from their employer between January 27 and February 13, 2025, will not be considered to have quit their job for unemployment benefits purposes. It directly affects those workers by ensuring they remain eligible for unemployment benefits under Minnesota's existing rules. The key provision retroactively changes the eligibility standard for this specific group, treating their acceptance of deferred resignation as not a voluntary quit. The rule applies to all such cases within that two-week window, effective from January 27, 2025.