Sen. Karin Housley

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1,331,000 from state bond proceeds to fund the design, construction, and safety upgrades for a new intersection at Washington Avenue and North Frontage Road in Stillwater. The city of Stillwater directly receives the grant funds to complete these improvements. The state authorizes the sale of up to $1,331,000 in bonds to cover the project costs, following standard state bond procedures. The funding is specifically for roadway and safety enhancements at this intersection.

Maddy summarySF 762 increases criminal penalties for introducing contraband into Minnesota correctional facilities. It raises the felony penalty for bringing prohibited items (like drugs or weapons) into jails or prisons beyond the current maximum two-year sentence. The law applies to anyone who introduces contraband without facility staff consent, including inmates and visitors. Dangerous weapons already carry a maximum five-year sentence under existing law, and this bill expands the scope of the penalty increase to cover additional contraband types. The change directly affects facility security and those who violate rules regarding prohibited items.

Maddy summarySF 737 establishes mandatory minimum fines for drivers who fail to stop for school buses. It directly affects drivers who violate Minnesota's school bus stop arm law, imposing fines of at least $500 for first offenses, $700 for repeat violations within ten years, and $950 for two or more prior violations. The bill also defines specific scenarios as gross misdemeanors - passing a bus on the right side (passenger door) or when children are outside on the street/sidewalk - with stricter penalties. The law would take effect on August 1, 2025, applying to violations occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $33 million from state bonds to fund the design, construction, and equipment for up to three water treatment plants in Stillwater, Minnesota. The funds will specifically target removing PFAS chemicals (a type of water contaminant) from the city's drinking water wells. The money comes from state bond proceeds sold under Minnesota law, with the Public Facilities Authority administering the grant to Stillwater. This directly affects Stillwater residents by addressing PFAS contamination in their drinking water supply.

Maddy summarySF 981 increases fiscal safeguards for Minnesota state grants to nonprofit organizations. It requires nonprofits to submit two years of IRS Form 990, limit officer compensation to the governor’s salary, and prohibit state employees or elected officials from serving on their governing boards. Nonprofits receiving over 50% of revenue from state funds must also provide certified financial audits and undergo background checks for board members. The bill mandates detailed reporting on fund usage, program outcomes, and annual legislative reports to track grant effectiveness. These requirements apply to all state grant recipients under Minnesota Statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding for school district and charter school transportation by changing how transportation aid is calculated. It requires school districts to receive an adjustment equal to 35-70% of the difference between their actual transportation costs and a formula-based calculation using basic revenue and existing transportation aid. The change applies to fiscal years 2026 and later, directly affecting public school districts and charter schools that receive state transportation funding. The bill also appropriates specific funds for 2026 and 2027 to support this new calculation method.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $6 million from state bond proceeds to fund new law enforcement and government facilities in Lake of the Woods County. The funds will cover designing, constructing, furnishing, and equipping facilities to improve public safety, accessibility, service delivery, and energy efficiency - including expanded mental health and emergency operations spaces. The state will sell up to $6 million in bonds to cover this cost, following standard bond issuance procedures under Minnesota law. The project directly affects Lake of the Woods County residents by upgrading local public safety infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3 million from the general fund for a one-time grant to the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society, a nonprofit organization. The funds are specifically for renovating, constructing, furnishing, and equipping the White Bear Armory in White Bear Lake to create a history museum. The grant is available until the project is completed or abandoned, with no ongoing funding implications beyond this single project.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's definition of "employee" under the state's earned sick and safe time law. It explicitly excludes specific groups from eligibility, including volunteer/paid-on-call firefighters and ambulance personnel, elected officials or appointees filling vacancies, farm workers employed for 28 days or less annually, and inmates working in correctional facilities. The change clarifies who qualifies for sick and safe time benefits by refining the existing definition. This affects employers and workers in these excluded categories by determining their eligibility under current law. The amendment updates Minnesota Statutes section 181.9445, subdivision 5.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new public safety aid program for Minnesota counties, cities, and tribal governments, appropriating $300 million in fiscal year 2026. Aid amounts are calculated based on population using three allowances: county basic (70% of funds), county additional (30% of funds), and local unit allowance (100% for cities/towns). Funds must be used for public safety services like community violence prevention, mental health crisis response, first responder equipment, and training - but cannot cover armored vehicles, police station construction, or misconduct costs. The commissioner will certify payments by September 2025, with full disbursement by December 2025 for 2025 aid.