Sen. Cal Bahr

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota election officials to test voting systems at least ten days before absentee ballots are used. It mandates specific testing procedures to verify systems correctly mark and count all ballot types - including those using assistive technology - and reject invalid votes. The tests must be observed by election judges from different parties, open to the public, and include pre-audited ballots with predetermined results. After testing, detailed precinct reports must be made publicly available within 24 hours. The bill directly affects election officials managing voting systems in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 2490) amends Minnesota Statutes section 201.171 to improve how voter registration status is updated based on voting history. It requires county auditors to post voting history within 52 days after each election, and the secretary of state to automatically mark voters as "inactive" in the statewide system if they haven’t voted in four consecutive years. Voters marked inactive must re-register to vote in future elections, but late/rejected mail ballots still count toward maintaining active status (though not for public voting history lists). The change directly affects Minnesota registered voters whose voting patterns lead to inactive status under the updated process.

Maddy summarySF 4019 increases penalties for impersonating a peace officer in Minnesota. It raises the base offense from a misdemeanor to a felony, punishable by up to two years in prison or a $4,000 fine. The bill also increases penalties for impersonation committed while committing other crimes (like accessing restricted buildings or using fake police vehicle markings) to up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. Repeat offenders within five years face up to ten years in prison or a $20,000 fine. The law directly affects individuals who falsely pose as police officers to deceive others or commit additional offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires inmates to pay all court-ordered restitution before becoming eligible for "supervision abatement status," which is a reduced supervision level after serving time. It directly affects individuals on supervised release who have restitution obligations, as they cannot transition to this lower supervision tier until payments are fully completed. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 244.46 to add this requirement, overriding previous eligibility rules that considered time served and public safety factors. This change applies to all supervised release terms, including conditional release for life sentences. The policy does not alter existing public safety risk assessments or time-served calculations.

Maddy summarySF 3818 repeals Minnesota's estate tax, meaning estates of people who die after December 31, 2025, will no longer owe state tax on inherited assets. The bill removes specific tax provisions from Minnesota Statutes (including sections 270C.585, 289A.10, and others) and updates related definitions to reflect the repeal. It directly affects heirs and executors of estates passing to beneficiaries after the effective date. The change eliminates a state tax that previously applied to estates above certain value thresholds.

Maddy summarySF 3788 would authorize Isanti County to impose a 0.25% local sales tax, pending voter approval, to fund a new highway department facility and related bond costs, with a total project funding cap of $25 million. The tax revenues must cover collection costs and finance up to $25 million for the facility construction and associated bond expenses, with the county allowed to issue bonds up to $25 million without standard debt limits or a separate election. The tax would expire after 25 years or once the $25 million target is met, whichever occurs first.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 3811 prohibits public school classroom instruction about gender identity for students in kindergarten through grade 8, effective for the 2026-2027 school year. It requires schools to notify parents about changes to a student's health or well-being services, obtain parental permission for health screenings in early grades, and adopt procedures ensuring parental involvement in health-related decisions. The bill also establishes a grant program to fund firearms safety, archery, hunting, and angling instruction in school physical education courses, with appropriated funding. These provisions apply to all public schools in Minnesota and aim to align classroom content and parental notification practices with specific legislative requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public referendums (voting) before certain capital improvement projects can proceed. It directly affects cities and economic development authorities when projects are financed through revenue bonds issued by those authorities. Specifically, cities must hold a public vote before entering lease-purchase agreements for qualifying capital improvements (like buildings or infrastructure) if the project is funded by bonds from an economic development authority. The requirement applies when the project meets specific capital improvement criteria under state law. This change modifies existing statutes to mandate local voter approval for these types of projects.

Maddy summarySF 3727 repeals a Minnesota law that automatically confirmed certain state appointments if the legislature didn't act within 60 days. This bill directly affects state appointments requiring legislative confirmation (like many executive branch positions), ending the current rule where inaction by the Senate or House automatically approved appointments. The key change removes the "automatic confirmation" provision in Minnesota Statutes § 15.066, requiring active legislative rejection instead of passive approval. This shifts the process so appointments no longer become effective without explicit legislative action.

Maddy summarySF 3816, the Minor Party Ballot Access Act, modifies Minnesota's rules for minor political parties to appear on election ballots. It establishes specific requirements for parties to maintain minor party status, including having a candidate receive at least 1% of statewide votes (or 10% in legislative districts) in the previous election, or collecting verified signatures equal to 1% of voters. Parties must also file annual certifications with the secretary of state confirming compliance with organizational requirements. This bill directly affects minor political parties seeking ballot access for statewide or district-level offices, changing how they qualify and retain their status without altering major party rules.