Sen. Karin Housley

Maddy summarySF 661 establishes a pilot program providing free information technology assistance to Minnesota small businesses, defined using the federal Small Business Act standard. The program offers computer technical support for software, hardware, networks, websites, and internet use through a dedicated hotline and website, staffed 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. It supplements existing small business assistance services and requires the commissioner to report on participation, service hours, and demographics by January 2027. The program is funded by a one-time $2026 fiscal year appropriation to the small business assistance office.

Maddy summarySF 723 appropriates $5.6 million in state bond funds to improve intersections along U.S. Highway 14 in Byron, Minnesota. The funds will support environmental analysis, design, and eventual construction of grade-separated interchanges at key intersections (including those with County Highways 3 and 5) to replace at-grade traffic signals. The money, drawn from the state transportation fund, will be provided as grants to the city of Byron and Olmsted County for their share of project costs. This includes acquiring right-of-way and building the new interchanges and associated infrastructure. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $5.6 million in general obligation bonds to finance these improvements.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's passenger rail funding by significantly reducing the 2025 appropriation from $197.5 million (2024) to $4.2 million. It directly affects the Minnesota Department of Transportation, which manages passenger rail activities under state law. The key mechanism is the substantial cut to annual funding for rail projects, including service, infrastructure, and maintenance. The bill also specifies that remaining funds from the 2024 allocation may be carried forward under certain conditions. This change impacts all passenger rail services and related projects funded through this appropriation.

Maddy summarySF 189 extends Minnesota's existing vehicle tax and fee exemptions for veterans with total service-connected disability to eligible surviving spouses of veterans (known as "Gold Star spouses"). The bill defines a Gold Star spouse as the surviving spouse of a veteran who died while serving honorably in active duty and includes them in the list of individuals exempt from registration taxes, license plate fees, title fees, driver's license fees, and motor vehicle sales taxes. These exemptions apply to up to two vehicles registered by the spouse and take effect for registration periods starting on or after January 1, 2026. The bill does not cover personalized plate fees or special plate donations, which remain subject to standard fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Minnesota's 0.25% metropolitan region sales and use tax, which was collected on retail sales in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area (including Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka, and other surrounding counties). The tax generated revenue distributed to state rent assistance (25%), city housing aid (25%), and county housing aid (50%) under Minnesota Statutes 297A.9925. The repeal removes this tax from state law, effective July 1, 2025, ending the collection of this specific revenue stream for those housing and assistance programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10 million for fiscal year 2026 and $10 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Minnesota Department of Education for the Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) Center. The funds will support an evidence-based program delivered to at least 40 qualifying schools, prioritizing geographic balance (urban, suburban, rural) and schools serving high concentrations of students in poverty or from underrepresented racial groups (including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities). The program must provide school coaching, professional development, and resources over three years to improve student social-emotional skills, academic achievement for marginalized students, teacher effectiveness, and high school graduation rates. The BARR Center must apply for the grants through the commissioner of education, with funds available until June 2028 (2026 appropriation) and June 2029 (2027 appropriation).

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 395 creates special veterans' license plates for each branch of the U.S. armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine). It allows eligible veterans who do not qualify for existing veteran plates to obtain free plates displaying "VETERAN" and their branch's emblem, provided they pay standard registration fees and meet ownership criteria for passenger vehicles, motorcycles, or specific trucks. The plates must be designed in consultation with veterans' organizations and can be transferred to another qualifying vehicle owned by the same person. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3.5 million from state highway bonds to fund a roundabout at the intersection of U.S. Highway 8 and Chisago County State-Aid Highway 21 in Shafer, Minnesota. It authorizes the state to sell up to $3.5 million in bonds, with proceeds deposited into the trunk highway fund to cover environmental analysis, design, and construction costs. The funding specifically targets the Shafer intersection project, which is eligible for bond financing under Minnesota law. The bill does not change transportation policy but provides the financial mechanism for this specific infrastructure project.

Maddy summarySF 323 amends Minnesota law to create a new felony charge for drivers who flee police officers while operating a vehicle in a culpably negligent manner - defined as driving recklessly and creating an unreasonable risk of death or serious injury to others. It specifically targets cases where drivers knowingly flee officers but operate vehicles with reckless disregard for safety, adding a distinct penalty category under Minnesota Statutes § 609.487, subdivision 3a. This new offense carries a potential sentence of up to four years in prison or an $8,000 fine, separate from existing fleeing penalties. The bill modifies license revocation rules for such offenses and takes effect August 1, 2025, applying to crimes committed after that date.

Maddy summarySF 376 prohibits the sale of menstrual products containing arsenic or "chemicals of high concern" (as defined in Minnesota law) within the state. It directly affects manufacturers and sellers of menstrual products by banning their sale if they contain these substances. The bill requires manufacturers to notify sellers of prohibited products and mandates labeling for products with intentionally added synthetic chemicals. It also establishes testing requirements and enforcement through the Pollution Control Agency and Commerce Department. The prohibition applies immediately, with rulemaking authority allowing future expansion to other product categories containing these chemicals.