Sen. Eric Lucero

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 722 allows Minnesota individual income taxpayers to subtract health insurance premiums from their taxable income. The bill adds a new provision (Minnesota Statutes 290.0132, subdivision 36) specifying that premiums paid for health insurance - defined under federal law - can be deducted, excluding amounts used for other tax credits. This directly affects Minnesota residents who purchase health insurance individually or through their employers, reducing their taxable income for state tax purposes. The change takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a fictional definition of "Trump Derangement Syndrome" to Minnesota's mental health statutes. It defines the term as "acute onset of paranoia" reacting to Donald Trump's policies, with symptoms including "intense hostility" toward him and "overt acts of aggression" against his supporters. The bill amends two sections of Minnesota Statutes to include this non-clinical term in official definitions of "mental illness" and "mental health disorders." As a procedural addition with no basis in medical practice, it does not affect actual mental health care or policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending Minnesota's constitution to explicitly protect citizens' digital privacy. It would add "electronic communications and data" to the existing constitutional right against unreasonable searches and seizures, ensuring digital information receives the same protections as physical items like papers or homes. The amendment requires warrants for accessing digital data, specifying the exact communications or data to be searched. If passed by voters in 2026, it would directly affect all Minnesotans by strengthening constitutional safeguards for their digital activities. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits installing apps on another person's smartphone that collect or share their geolocation, texts, microphone, or camera data without explicit consent. It requires apps to visibly display tracking permissions and mandates two-factor authentication for installation and every 30 days to verify user identity. The law allows individuals to sue if their data was recorded or shared without consent, while exempting parents tracking minors, schools with notice, employers with written disclosure, and law enforcement under court orders. It directly affects smartphone users, app developers, and entities collecting device data, aiming to prevent unauthorized surveillance.

Maddy summarySF 1007, the "Education Savings Accounts for Minnesota Students Act" (ESA-4-MSA), creates state-funded accounts for low-income Minnesota students to cover educational expenses. It directly affects eligible students (residing in Minnesota with household income ≤4x the National School Lunch Act standard) who can use funds for tuition at eligible schools, tutoring, curriculum materials, textbooks, and approved technology. The bill sets annual enrollment caps (starting at 5% of public school enrollment, increasing by 3% yearly) and prioritizes kindergarten students, public school attendees, and siblings already in the program. Funds can cover K-12 expenses and limited postsecondary costs, but exclude home instruction reimbursement for parents.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate Bill 720 withdraws Minnesota from the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC), a multi-state agreement to award presidential electors based on the national popular vote. The bill repeals Minnesota laws (208.051 and 208.052) that implemented the compact, ending the state's participation in the agreement. As a result, Minnesota will no longer commit to awarding its electoral votes to the national popular vote winner; instead, presidential electors will be chosen based on the state's own popular vote outcome. This change affects how Minnesota's presidential electors are selected in future elections, reverting to the state's standard electoral process.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a product stewardship program for wind and solar energy infrastructure in Minnesota, requiring producers (like manufacturers and importers) to manage the end-of-life recycling of solar panels and wind turbine components. It imposes a fee on retail sales of this infrastructure to fund the program, which must include a plan for collecting, transporting, and processing discarded equipment for recycling. The bill also bans the disposal of wind and solar infrastructure in landfills and requires producers to submit their stewardship plans to the state by March 2026. These changes directly affect producers and retailers of renewable energy systems, aiming to reduce waste and support recycling.

Maddy summarySF 719 proposes adding a constitutional amendment to Minnesota's Constitution, protecting the right to keep and bear arms as part of Article I. If approved by voters, it would insert the text: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." The bill requires submitting this amendment to voters in the 2026 general election with a specific yes/no question about adopting the change. This is a procedural proposal requiring voter approval, not an immediate law, and would directly affect all Minnesotans by potentially altering the state constitution.

Maddy summarySF 721 modifies Minnesota's resident tuition eligibility rules for certain non-immigrant students without legal U.S. work authorization. It adds specific documentation requirements: students must have attended Minnesota high school for three+ years, graduated or earned an equivalent, and provide proof of selective service registration (if applicable) plus federal immigration application documentation (if a process exists). This directly affects non-immigrant students seeking resident tuition rates at Minnesota state universities and colleges. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 135A.043 (residency for tuition) and 136A.101 (definition of "resident student") to include these new conditions.