Sen. Karin Housley

Maddy summarySF 754 (Penalty enhancement for assaulting a police officer) amends Minnesota law to increase penalties for assaulting peace officers. It makes it a felony (up to 3 years in prison or $6,000 fine) if an assault causes demonstrable bodily harm or involves throwing bodily fluids or feces at an officer. This directly affects individuals who commit these specific acts against police during lawful duties. The bill takes effect August 1, 2025, applying to crimes committed after that date.

Maddy summarySF 804 authorizes the state to issue $24,796,000 in bonds to fund capital improvements at the St. Croix Valley Recreation Center in Stillwater. The appropriation directly affects the City of Stillwater, which will receive a grant to renovate and expand the center, including new locker rooms, lobby space, common areas, stormwater systems, parking, and a regional curling center facility. The bill establishes a mechanism for the state to sell bonds under Minnesota law to cover these costs, with funds drawn from the bond proceeds fund. This legislation provides concrete funding for physical upgrades to a public recreation facility serving Stillwater residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $20 million for the Safe Routes to School program in fiscal year 2026 and another $20 million in 2027, totaling $40 million from the general fund. It directly funds infrastructure improvements like sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike lanes near schools to make walking or biking safer for Minnesota students. The funding is allocated to the commissioner of transportation to implement the program under Minnesota Statutes, section 174.40. This is a straightforward funding measure with no new policy requirements, solely expanding existing program resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits individuals convicted of using a commercial vehicle for specific felony offenses from ever operating such vehicles again. It directly affects commercial drivers convicted of felony drug crimes (under Chapter 152) or certain human trafficking offenses (under sections 609.281, 609.282, or 609.322). The key provision mandates a permanent disqualification by the commissioner upon conviction for these offenses. The law applies to offenses committed on or after August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $5.6 million in state bonds from the transportation fund and $2.4 million from the trunk highway fund to improve intersections along U.S. Highway 14 in Byron. It funds environmental analysis, design, and construction of grade-separated interchanges (replacing at-grade crossings with overpasses or underpasses) at key intersections, including those with Olmsted County State-Aid Highways 3 and 5. The funds cover the city of Byron and Olmsted County's share for these infrastructure upgrades. The project directly affects local drivers, residents, and businesses in Byron by enhancing traffic flow and safety at these intersections.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's definition of "retail delivery" to clarify which goods are included when calculating delivery fees. It specifies that retail deliveries of taxable goods (like clothing, excluding diapers and cloth) to Minnesota residents count as retail delivery, while in-store pickup or curbside delivery does not. The bill repeals an outdated definition of "clothing" from the statutes (previously defined in section 168E.01, subdivision 4). These changes, effective July 1, 2025, directly affect retailers shipping goods to Minnesota customers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 655) does not regulate fireworks manufacture, sale, or use as its title suggests. Instead, it amends Minnesota tax statutes to change how revenues from specific sales are allocated. Key provisions direct 43.5% of tax revenues from motor vehicle repair and replacement parts (including parts sold with fireworks) to the highway user tax distribution fund, with additional percentages increasing annually through 2033. The bill affects state tax collection processes and funding for highway infrastructure, not fireworks consumers or vendors. The title is misleading; the bill’s actual focus is tax revenue allocation, not fireworks regulation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 638) amends Minnesota law to create a new misdemeanor offense for knowingly entering or being found in a stolen motor vehicle. It directly affects individuals who enter a vehicle they know was stolen, such as passengers or drivers who were not involved in the initial theft but are aware of its stolen status. The law imposes a misdemeanor penalty for the first offense and elevates it to a gross misdemeanor for repeat violations. The change applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025, and modifies existing provisions under Minnesota Statutes section 609.52.

Maddy summarySF 244 proposes establishing Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) in Minnesota for eligible students. It would provide state funds to parents for qualifying education expenses at approved providers (like private schools, tutors, or online programs), targeting families with incomes under four times the reduced-price lunch threshold. Key provisions include a cap on participants (starting at 5% of public school enrollment, increasing by 3% annually), priority for kindergarten students and siblings already in the program, and strict definitions of allowable expenses like tuition, curriculum materials, tutoring, and up to $400/year for supplies. The bill explicitly excludes reimbursement for parents providing home instruction.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota public school districts to include detailed safety plans in their long-term facility plans, covering physical modifications for student/staff safety and gender-neutral restrooms at each school. It creates school security grants to fund multilayered security systems, mandating approved vendors to install specific features like classroom duress alarms, bullet-resistant doors, emergency notification systems, and access controls. The grants prioritize schools serving the most students across all geographic regions, with applications due by August 1, 2025. Public school districts (excluding charter schools for facility plans) and charter schools (for grants) are directly affected, with plans effective for submissions after August 1, 2025.