Sen. Jim Abeler

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that chiropractic practice in Minnesota includes providing services via telemedicine, allowing chiropractors to offer remote consultations. It also grants the Board of Chiropractic Examiners authority to discipline chiropractors who fail to comply with executive orders, such as public health directives. Additionally, the bill reorganizes and defines animal chiropractic care, explicitly stating it does not include surgery, medications, or traditional veterinary services. These changes update Minnesota’s chiropractic licensing statutes to reflect modern practice standards and regulatory needs.

Maddy summarySF 1689 increases funding for dementia support programs by appropriating $750,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 and another $750,000 for fiscal year 2027. The bill directs these funds to the Minnesota Board on Aging, which administers regional and local dementia grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 256.975, subdivision 11. This funding directly supports community-based dementia care services provided through local and regional programs. The bill makes a concrete policy change by securing specific annual funding levels for these existing grant programs.

Maddy summarySF 1600 eliminates the statute of limitations for prosecuting first-degree arson in Minnesota. This means prosecutors can file charges for this crime at any time, regardless of when the offense occurred, removing the current 6-year deadline. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 628.26 to specifically remove the time limit for violations of section 609.282 (which covers first-degree arson). It applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025, or if the limitations period hadn't expired before that date. This change directly affects prosecutors and individuals who commit first-degree arson, allowing for potential charges to be filed years or decades after the crime.

Maddy summarySF 1732 establishes a state grant program to fund family permanent supportive housing for vulnerable households. It provides $15,000 per family to nonprofit organizations or Tribal governments operating housing that is affordable (at or below 30% of area median income), non-time-limited, and offers specialized services like child education, mental health referrals, job training, and 24/7 on-site staffing. The program requires grantees to serve 60% of families in the seven-county metro area and 40% outside it, with at least 10% served by Tribal Nations. Funds are a one-time appropriation for fiscal year 2026, available until June 2027, and grantees must report annually on families served and services provided.

Maddy summarySF 276 requires Minnesota's medical assistance programs (like Medicaid) to cover violence prevention services starting January 1, 2026. It directly affects individuals who have experienced community violence (e.g., injury or trauma symptoms) and certified violence prevention providers, including those offering counseling, peer support, conflict mediation, and care coordination. The bill establishes provider certification standards through the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention, sets a minimum $25 per 15-minute service payment rate, and defines eligible services that must prevent future violence or improve health outcomes. This policy change expands coverage for trauma-informed violence prevention services within existing healthcare frameworks.

Maddy summarySF 1685 updates Minnesota's landlord-tenant laws to strengthen tenant protections. It requires landlords to provide written leases specifying the exact rental unit before signing, prohibits unilateral lease changes, and mandates 24/7 accessible contact information (name, address, phone, email) for landlords and property managers. The bill also bans listing minor children as tenants in leases or defendants in eviction cases (with exceptions only if the minor is the sole tenant) and grants prospective tenants the right to view rental units before signing. Violations will trigger penalties including treble damages or $500 (for lease issues) or $1,000 (for minor-related issues), plus attorney fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's licensing standards for child care centers by updating requirements for staff qualifications, ratios, and group sizes. It establishes specific education and experience options for directors (e.g., 24 quarter credits for some credentials), requires all staff to be at least 16 years old, and mandates that substitutes and unsupervised volunteers complete training and background checks. The bill repeals existing Minnesota Rules about staff ratios and group size standards while preserving the core structure for child care center operations. These changes directly affect licensed child care centers, their directors, and all staff members providing direct care to children.

Maddy summarySF 91 makes a temporary rule about child care center staffing permanent. It requires Minnesota's commissioner of children, youth, and families to permanently amend licensing rules allowing child care centers to use teacher's aides under specific conditions. This change directly affects licensed child care centers statewide by modifying their staffing requirements for teacher's aides. The rule change takes effect immediately upon the bill's enactment.

Maddy summarySF 1556 amends Minnesota's retirement law to require that one of the six trustees elected by the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) membership must be a member of the local government correctional service retirement plan. This change directly affects correctional service workers covered by that specific retirement plan, ensuring their representation on PERA's board. The bill modifies section 353.03 of Minnesota Statutes to add this requirement to the existing rule that elected trustees must include a police/fire fund member and a former member meeting specific criteria. The change does not alter the total number of board members or the election process, only specifying the required background for one elected position.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 1489) allows Minnesota school districts and charter schools to transfer unassigned funds between operating accounts for fiscal years 2025-2027 without increasing state aid or property tax authority. It also permits school boards to formally opt out of certain state laws or rules enacted after January 1, 2023, for the 2024-2025 through 2026-2027 school years. To use these provisions, school boards must adopt a written resolution specifying the purpose and amount of fund transfers or non-compliance with mandates, post the resolution online, and notify the education commissioner electronically. The bill applies only to the specified time periods and does not change existing state funding obligations.