Sen. Karin Housley

Maddy summarySF 2811 establishes a free test and professional licensure preparation program for public college students and dislocated workers in Minnesota. The program provides free access to exam prep services for tests like the MCAT, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, nursing, teaching, real estate, and securities exams. The commissioner must contract with a vendor to deliver these services, prioritize participants receiving state grants if funds are limited, and submit annual reports on program effectiveness and participation. The bill appropriates $5 million for fiscal year 2026 and $5 million for fiscal year 2027 to fund this initiative.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $4 million in state bond funds to provide a grant to Washington County for land acquisition supporting its wood waste and diseased tree utilization program. The program helps manage wood waste and diseased trees by utilizing them for beneficial purposes like biomass energy or mulch. The state will issue bonds up to $4 million to cover this grant, following standard Minnesota bond procedures. The funding directly supports Washington County's efforts to handle forestry waste, benefiting local land management and potentially reducing disposal costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases local optional aid for Minnesota schools and limits state-paid free school lunches to families with incomes at or below 500% of the federal poverty level. It creates a "free enhanced school meals program" requiring participating schools (those with high student poverty rates) to provide two free, federally reimbursable meals daily to all eligible students. The bill amends funding formulas to adjust state aid payments for school lunch programs based on this new income threshold, effective for fiscal year 2026. It directly affects Minnesota public schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and their students from households meeting the income criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Housing Finance Agency to allocate at least 25% of its Housing Affordability Fund (Pool 3) in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 specifically for grants supporting workforce and affordable homeownership development - such as single-family homes, townhomes, and manufactured homes - under Minnesota Statutes § 462A.38. Funds directed this way cannot be used for loans, administrative costs, or other financing programs. The agency must also report annually by June 30 on the number and amount of grants issued, broken down by home type, income category, and county. This directly affects the Housing Finance Agency's budget decisions and local housing programs receiving these targeted grants.

Maddy summarySF 1531 repeals Minnesota Statutes sections 181.211 through 181.217, which established the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board and related requirements. This bill removes the legal framework for the board, ending its authority to set workforce standards in nursing homes. Nursing home employers would no longer be subject to the board's oversight or compliance requirements under these repealed statutes. The bill does not create new policies but eliminates existing administrative structures related to nursing home staffing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for existing child support and maintenance orders in Minnesota. It removes the provision requiring payments to increase annually based on inflation, meaning current payment amounts will remain fixed without future adjustments. The change directly affects parents who pay or receive child support, as their court-ordered payments will no longer automatically increase with inflation. The bill amends specific statutes (repealing Minn. Stat. § 518A.75) to eliminate this adjustment mechanism while leaving other support calculation methods unchanged.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a refundable tax credit for developers converting underutilized buildings in Minnesota. It allows a credit equal to up to 30% of qualifying conversion costs for projects that meet specific criteria: the building must be at least 15 years old, either repurposed from one commercial use to another or had 50% vacancy for 5+ years, and retain at least 75% of existing external walls and structural framework. The credit is claimable in the year the project is completed and placed in service, with applicants required to apply before conversion begins and submit financial details. The credit expires after a set period (sunset provision), and applications are processed through the Department of Employment and Economic Development.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Minnesota to return excess tax revenue to taxpayers. It would create a "Minnesota tax relief account" funded by revenues exceeding 105% of projected spending, as determined in the biennial budget forecast. Funds in the account must be used for tax refunds or rebates (non-taxable to recipients) or to offset costs of tax reductions. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2026 general election. It directly affects all Minnesota taxpayers by mandating a mechanism to return surplus state revenue.

Maddy summarySF 2534 allows cities and counties in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties to formally opt out of the Metropolitan Council's regulatory authority over local development and infrastructure. To do so, a local government must pass a resolution filing with the Council, after which it is exempt from metropolitan system plans and requirements starting January 1 following the filing. The bill also specifies that opting out does not exempt local governments from certain transit-related taxes in designated districts, and they may later opt back in after a four-year waiting period. This change directly affects local governments seeking greater autonomy over their own planning and development decisions within the metropolitan region.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $950,000 from state bond proceeds to fund the design, construction, and equipment of two security kiosks inside the Minnesota Senate Building. The commissioner of administration will manage the project, coordinating with the secretary of the senate on design, locations, and construction timing. The funds come from bonds authorized under Minnesota law, requiring the commissioner of management and budget to issue the bonds up to $950,000. The bill directly affects Senate Building operations and security protocols, with no broader policy changes beyond this specific infrastructure project.