Sen. Karin Housley

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Minnesota to issue free "Legion of Merit" special license plates to qualifying individuals. It directly affects recipients of the Legion of Merit military decoration who own eligible vehicles (passenger cars, pickup trucks, motorcycles, or RVs) for personal use. Key provisions include: the plates are issued at no cost, can be transferred to another vehicle owned by the same person without fee, and are exempt from certain registration fees. The plates must display "LEGION OF MERIT" and are effective for vehicles registered on or after January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySF 294 modifies Minnesota's driver's license road skills examination process. It requires the driver's license department to provide real-time online appointment availability showing next available dates/times at each location, with options to search by address. The bill also increases cancellation fees: $50 for same-day cancellations (up from $20) and keeps $20 for cancellations between 24-72 hours. These changes apply to individuals scheduling road skills exams for driver's license applicants, effective August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10 million in bond proceeds to fund Minnesota's Safe Routes to School grant program, which helps communities improve walking and biking infrastructure around schools. The funds will be distributed by the commissioner of transportation to support projects like safer crosswalks, bike lanes, and pedestrian pathways near schools. It directly affects students, families, and school districts by making it easier and safer for children to travel to school on foot or by bike. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $10 million in bonds to finance these grants under existing law (Minnesota Statutes § 174.40).

Maddy summarySF 372 reallocates specific portions of an existing flood hazard mitigation appropriation to fund targeted projects. It designates $3.3 million for Browns Valley's Toelle Coulee project, $5 million for Red River Watershed districts (excluding Moorhead), $11 million for Moorhead's flood infrastructure (including levee projects), $6 million for Carver's levee restoration protecting a historic district, and $175,000 for Chisago Lakes weirs. The bill specifies that these funds must cover defined project components like construction, design, and FEMA certification for eligible flood mitigation work. It directly affects the cities of Browns Valley, Moorhead, and Carver, as well as the Red River Watershed Management Board and Chisago Lakes Improvement District.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to sell up to $100 million in bonds to fund Minnesota's Corridors of Commerce program, which supports transportation infrastructure projects. The funds would be appropriated to the Commissioner of Transportation for use under Minnesota Statutes § 161.088. The bill specifies that bond proceeds must be used solely for the designated program and follows state bond sale procedures outlined in Minnesota law. It directly affects state transportation funding and projects managed under the Corridors of Commerce program.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota law regarding blackout special license plates. It requires applicants for these plates to contribute $30 annually to the driver and vehicle services operating account instead of an unspecified fund. The change directly affects vehicle owners who purchase blackout special license plates for passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles. The key provision specifies that these $30 contributions must be deposited into the highway user tax distribution fund, effective July 1, 2025. The bill does not alter plate eligibility or fees, only the destination of the annual contribution.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $7.2 million for fiscal year 2025, $2.9 million for 2026, and $2.9 million for 2027 from the trunk highway fund to hire additional Minnesota State Patrol troopers. The funds cover staff salaries and equipment costs for these new troopers. It directly affects the Minnesota State Patrol by providing dedicated funding for expanding their personnel. This is a funding measure with no policy changes, solely supporting increased staffing levels.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $9 million from state bond proceeds to fund hangar construction at Minnesota airports. The funds will be deposited into a dedicated revolving account managed by the commissioner of transportation, as authorized under Minnesota law. The state will issue bonds up to $9 million to cover this appropriation, following standard bond issuance procedures for capital projects. This is a funding mechanism for infrastructure, not a policy change affecting specific groups or services.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $25 million from state bond sales to fund Minnesota's Small Cities Assistance Program, which helps small municipalities with infrastructure projects. The funds will be administered by the commissioner of transportation under existing law (Minnesota Statutes §162.145). The state will sell up to $25 million in bonds to cover this appropriation, following standard bond procedures. The program directly supports small cities for road, bridge, and other local infrastructure improvements.

Maddy summarySF 354 would create a new special license plate for Minnesota veterans who received the National Defense Medal. This plate would be added to Minnesota's existing veterans' plate program, requiring applicants to provide proof of the medal. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 168.123 to include this new category, following the same application process as other veterans' plates (including fee payment and verification of service). It directly affects eligible Minnesota veterans who served with the National Defense Medal, without changing existing requirements for other veteran plate types.