Sen. Cal Bahr

Maddy summaryMinnesota's SF 3254 is a joint resolution asking Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention focused on campaign finance reform. It directs Minnesota to apply to Congress by December 31, 2026, if Congress hasn't proposed a campaign finance amendment by then, seeking a convention limited to regulating money's influence in elections to ensure transparency and prevent corruption. The resolution specifies that Minnesota's application must be counted with similar applications from other states to reach the two-thirds threshold needed to trigger a convention, but cannot be combined with applications on other topics. This is a procedural request - not a law - and Minnesota retains the right to reject any proposed amendment from the convention.

Maddy summarySF 3252 establishes Minnesota's process for selecting delegates to attend an Article V constitutional amendment convention. It requires delegates to be current or former Minnesota legislators who meet specific residency, citizenship, and background qualifications (e.g., no recent federal lobbying or employment). The bill mandates that the Senate majority leader, Senate minority leader, House Speaker, and House minority leader each appoint one delegate, with the fourth appointing authority needing unanimous agreement for a fifth delegate. Crucially, the commissioning resolution bindingly limits delegates from supporting changes to the one-state-one-vote rule or amendments altering core constitutional protections like the Bill of Rights and specific amendments (Thirteenth through Twenty-Sixth). This bill directly affects Minnesota's legislature and potential delegates by defining their selection, qualifications, and strict operational boundaries for the convention.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits employers or associations from retaliating against employees or members by threatening job loss, wage cuts, or other economic penalties because they refused to discuss government actions with officials. It directly affects workers and organizations who may face pressure to engage with public officials about legislative or administrative matters. The law clarifies that this protection does not apply to jobs where political affiliation is a legitimate job requirement. Violations are punishable as gross misdemeanors under Minnesota Statutes §10A.36.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's health insurance plans serving medical assistance recipients to meet specific performance targets before receiving 5% of their monthly payments. It directly affects managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans that provide health services through Minnesota's medical assistance program. Key provisions include setting measurable targets for cost containment, service quality, and data accuracy, with withheld funds returned no earlier than July 1 of the following year if targets are met. The bill also mandates that plans verify coverage for recipients and report rate increases to the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 411) requires Minnesota public school districts to allow all home-schooled students who reside in the district and comply with state home schooling laws (Minnesota Statutes 120A.22 and 120A.24) to fully participate in school extracurricular activities on the same basis as public school students. It amends statute 123B.49 to mandate that school boards must permit these students to join activities like sports, clubs, and arts programs. The bill defines extracurricular activities as non-credit, non-graduation-required programs typically held outside school hours and determined primarily by student participants under adult guidance. School districts must fund these activities using district revenues and cannot use school names for such activities without board approval.

Maddy summarySF 413 amends Minnesota law to allow students attending nonpublic schools (excluding home schools) who reside in a district to fully participate in public school extracurricular activities on the same terms as public school students. The bill specifically updates Minnesota Statutes section 123B.49, subdivision 4, to require school boards to permit these students to join activities like sports, clubs, or arts programs without discrimination. Key provisions clarify that extracurricular activities must not be credit-bearing, typically occur outside school hours, and be student-directed under adult guidance. This policy change directly affects nonpublic school students and public school districts in Minnesota, ensuring equal access to existing activities without altering funding mechanisms or creating new requirements.

Maddy summarySF 412 amends Minnesota law to require public school districts to allow charter school students (and home-schooled students meeting specific criteria) to fully participate in extracurricular activities - such as sports, clubs, and arts - on the same terms as public school students. The bill directly affects resident students attending charter schools across Minnesota, ensuring they have equal access to activities defined as non-credit, student-led, and managed outside regular school hours. Key provisions mandate that districts treat charter school students identically for eligibility, cost coverage (using dedicated school funds), and administrative oversight, while clarifying that these activities must not be credit-bearing or graduation-required. This change updates Minnesota Statutes section 123B.49 to eliminate barriers preventing charter school students from joining school-run programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill lowers the minimum age to hunt big game (like deer, bear, or moose) from 10 to 8 years old in Minnesota. It directly affects children aged 8-11 who wish to hunt under parental supervision, requiring them to obtain a license and be within immediate reach of a parent or guardian. Key provisions include amending licensing statutes to include ages 8-12 in fee-exempt categories for big game hunting (e.g., no fee for 8-12-year-olds to hunt bear or deer) and updating supervision requirements. The change applies to both residents and nonresidents under 16, maintaining existing safety certification rules for older youth. This is a policy adjustment to hunting regulations, not a procedural or commemorative measure.

Maddy summarySF 821 is a technical amendment to Minnesota's renewable energy law that clarifies which hydroelectric projects qualify under the state's renewable energy standard. The bill updates the definition to specify that hydroelectric capacity qualifies if it is under 100 megawatts or 100 megawatts or more (if operational by February 8, 2023). This change ensures electric utilities generating qualifying hydroelectric power can count it toward renewable energy requirements. The bill directly affects utilities operating hydroelectric facilities meeting these specific capacity and operational criteria. It does not alter the 100-megawatt threshold or the February 2023 operational date, merely restating existing eligibility rules for clarity.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 572 modifies the state's renewable energy standards by changing hydroelectric capacity requirements to allow facilities over 100 megawatts (if operational by February 2023) to qualify. It permits electric utilities to request delays in meeting renewable energy or carbon-free standards if the commission determines it serves the public interest, considering factors like customer costs, environmental impacts, and reliability. The bill also prohibits demolition of fossil-fuel power plants under certain conditions, promotes carbon capture technology as a greenhouse gas reduction method, and removes barriers to building new nuclear power plants. Additionally, it expands sales tax exemptions for residential heating fuels and electricity. The bill directly affects electric utilities, renewable energy developers, and residential energy consumers.