Sen. Michael Kreun

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 1883) creates a specific exemption in Minnesota's Human Rights Act for women's athletics. It allows schools, sports organizations, and other entities to limit participation in women's sports teams solely to individuals assigned female at birth based on biological sex, excluding trans-identifying athletes. The exemption defines "sex" as biological sex at birth (including chromosomes and genetics), separate from gender identity, and protects organizations from complaints or penalties if they enforce this policy. It does not affect men's sports teams or allow exclusion of individuals based on gender identity in other contexts.

Maddy summarySF 1368 prohibits the Minnesota Department of Human Rights from creating or maintaining any database or collection of incidents involving protected speech, such as free speech, assembly, or petitioning activities guaranteed by the U.S. or Minnesota Constitutions. The bill explicitly bans the department from offering rewards for reporting such incidents and removes the ability to collect data on protected speech incidents that were previously allowed under existing law. This amendment to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 363A.06, specifically targets the department's data collection practices without altering its core duties in investigating discrimination. The bill affects only the department's data management related to protected speech, leaving unchanged its responsibilities for addressing discrimination in housing, employment, or public accommodations.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $762,000 from the state general fund to the City of Columbus for specific street improvements. The funds will cover Hornsby Street Northeast from Trunk Highway 97 to Eureka Avenue, including design, construction, stormwater upgrades, street reconstruction, and adjacent road work. The City of Columbus directly receives and uses these funds for the project, which must be completed or abandoned within the funding timeframe. This is a straightforward funding allocation for local infrastructure, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $16.5 million in bonds to fund improvements at the intersection of Trunk Highway 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard Northeast in Ham Lake. The funds will cover engineering, environmental work, design, land acquisition, and construction of the interchange and associated roads. The project directly affects Ham Lake residents and drivers using this major intersection, with no requirement for local matching funds. The bond proceeds will be deposited into the state's trunk highway fund to finance the project.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new distribution program for certain small municipalities in Minnesota. It provides funding from the state general levy to "low-aid" municipalities meeting specific criteria: those with populations under 5,000, located in Anoka County, and not receiving other state aid programs like municipal street funds or local government aid. The distribution amount is calculated based on a municipality's tax capacity and fiscal needs, paid by county treasurers by December 1 each year. The program begins for property taxes payable in 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $150,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to provide grants for legal representation. The grants are specifically for organizations serving two groups: children in need of protection or services, and children in out-of-home placement (such as foster care). The grant requires a matching amount of nonstate funds - either cash, volunteer attorney time, or a combination - to be provided by the recipient organization. This funding is in addition to any existing appropriations for children's legal representation.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $762,000 from the state transportation fund to fund improvements on Hornsby Street Northeast in Columbus, Minnesota, from Trunk Highway 97 to Eureka Avenue. The funds cover street reconstruction, stormwater system upgrades, and related work like planning and adjacent road improvements. The state will issue bonds to finance the appropriation, with the money provided directly to the City of Columbus for implementation. This project directly affects Columbus residents, businesses, and commuters using this specific corridor.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers $1.425 million from the state general fund to a special account that provides low-interest or no-interest loans to Minnesota farmers. The funds support agricultural best management practices - conservation methods farmers use to protect soil and water quality. The transfer applies to fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with a base amount of $1.425 million starting in 2028. This enables farmers to access loans for implementing these conservation practices through an existing state program.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 1659 appropriates $11.95 million from state bonds to fund capital improvements at the Rum River Dam in Anoka. The funding supports safety upgrades, hydroelectric power generation enhancements, river surfing facilities, and fish passage modifications (or a lock if needed). The city of Anoka will receive a grant from the commissioner of natural resources to implement these specific dam improvements. The bill authorizes the state to sell bonds to cover the cost, effective upon enactment.

Maddy summarySF 1600 eliminates the statute of limitations for prosecuting first-degree arson in Minnesota. This means prosecutors can file charges for this crime at any time, regardless of when the offense occurred, removing the current 6-year deadline. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 628.26 to specifically remove the time limit for violations of section 609.282 (which covers first-degree arson). It applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025, or if the limitations period hadn't expired before that date. This change directly affects prosecutors and individuals who commit first-degree arson, allowing for potential charges to be filed years or decades after the crime.