Sen. Karin Housley

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota school districts and charter schools calculate transportation funding adjustments. It changes the formula for "transportation sparsity revenue" by requiring districts to increase their adjustment by the greater of zero or 35-70% of the difference between their actual transportation costs and certain revenue components (like basic revenue and prior transportation aid). The change affects all independent, common, and special school districts, as well as charter schools, which receive the same per-pupil adjustment. The new calculation method applies to fiscal year 2026 and later funding.

Maddy summarySF 1488 exempts tip income from Minnesota's individual income tax and tax withholding requirements. The bill defines "tips" as amounts reported to an employer under IRS rules (Section 6053(a)) or reported to the IRS as wages subject to employer taxes (Section 3121(q)). This means tips reported by workers (like servers) will no longer be included in taxable income for state tax purposes. The exemption applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health professionals (including students and residents in training) to obtain written informed consent before performing pelvic, breast, urogenital, or rectal exams on patients who are anesthetized or unconscious, except in specific situations. Exceptions include when the exam is part of a previously consented surgical procedure, necessary for urgent diagnosis/treatment when the patient cannot consent, or ordered by a court for evidence collection. Violating this requirement is a gross misdemeanor and may lead to disciplinary action by the relevant health licensing board. The law takes effect August 1, 2025, directly affecting medical providers and patients in healthcare settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Minnesota property assessors to reduce the taxable value of land subject to certain conservation easements or restrictions. It directly affects landowners who hold qualifying conservation easements on their property, particularly in rural areas. The key provision requires that the easement must be for conservation purposes, recorded on the property, and the land must be used according to the easement terms. However, the reduction does not apply to easements covering riparian buffers, properties in counties with specific farmland protection programs, or properties with easements entered before May 2013. The change takes effect for property tax assessments starting in 2026.

Maddy summarySF 2377 appropriates $6.5 million from the general fund for the Community Energy Transition Grant Program in fiscal year 2026. This funding, administered by the commissioner of employment and economic development, directly supports communities and organizations applying for grants to advance local energy transition projects like renewable energy installations or efficiency upgrades. The bill provides concrete financial resources under Minnesota Statutes, section 116J.55, without creating new policy requirements or altering existing regulations. It focuses solely on authorizing state funds for this specific grant program.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a technical amendment to the Minnesota Constitution to update specific language in Article I for consistency with current Minnesota Statutes. It corrects minor grammatical inconsistencies and outdated phrasing (e.g., changing "his the member's peers" to "his peers" in Section 2) without altering any substantive rights or legal protections. The amendment directly affects the wording of the state constitution itself, aligning it with modern statutory drafting standards. It has no direct impact on citizens, policies, or voting rights, as it only addresses technical language. This is a procedural update, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's regulations for commercial dog and cat breeders and animal dealers. It requires the Board of Animal Health to publicly post more information online, including lists of licensed kennels/dealers (with business names and animal counts), inspection records from the past five years, and details on expired or revoked licenses. It also updates advertising rules to mandate that all sales ads include a current license number or a link to it. These changes directly affect commercial breeders, kennels, and dealers who must now comply with new transparency requirements. The bill aims to increase public access to licensing and inspection data while updating advertising standards.

Maddy summarySF 2933 authorizes $258.3 million in state funding for capital improvements to public buildings and infrastructure across Minnesota. It directly affects state universities (University of Minnesota and Minnesota State Colleges), public libraries, and state academies by providing specific appropriations for projects like campus utility upgrades, library construction, and facility repairs. Key provisions include $40 million for university infrastructure projects (e.g., heating plants, HVAC systems, and building code compliance), $177.1 million for library construction grants (including $1 million for a new Clara City library), and $1.2 million for state academy facility preservation. Funds must be used for capital improvements only, with recipients required to demonstrate financial readiness to complete projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $6.5 million in bonds to fund a new National Loon Center in Crosslake, Minnesota. The funds will be granted to the city of Crosslake to construct a building and outdoor public spaces - including visitor facilities, educational exhibits, and parking - for the center. The money comes from the state's bond proceeds fund, not new taxes, and the project must comply with Minnesota's bond issuance laws. The center will serve as a public education and visitor facility focused on loon conservation.

Maddy summarySF 2817 requires Minnesota public school athletic teams to be designated as "male," "female," or "coed" based solely on participants' biological sex at birth. It directly affects all school-sponsored interscholastic, intramural, and club athletic programs in Minnesota. The bill mandates that teams designated for females must only include participants who were biologically female at birth, with no exceptions for transgender or non-binary students. This policy change alters how schools organize and admit students to gender-specific sports teams.