Sen. Heather Gustafson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota schools to implement wearable panic alert systems that connect directly to 911 emergency services and can trigger campus-wide lockdown notifications. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, every school must provide these devices to all staff members and ensure they receive annual training on how to use them properly. The legislation also mandates that schools share security information like camera feeds and building maps with local law enforcement while retaining ownership of the data generated by the alert systems. The bill includes funding provisions to reimburse schools for the costs of purchasing and installing these panic alert devices.

Maddy summarySF 3895 appropriates a one-time emergency funding amount (not specified in the text) from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to support food shelves and food banks operating under Minnesota Statutes section 142F.14. This funding is intended for immediate distribution to help address urgent food assistance needs and expires on June 30, 2027. The bill directly affects Minnesota food shelves and food banks that serve communities in need, providing them with emergency financial support. It is a procedural funding measure with no new policy requirements, effective upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Minnesota's "Minnesota Clearance Grant Program" to help law enforcement agencies improve their resolution rates for nonfatal shooting incidents. It directly affects local police departments and sheriff's offices that investigate nonfatal shootings by providing state funding for targeted resources. Key provisions include granting priority to agencies with high unsolved cases or limited staffing, allowing funds for hiring investigators, forensic equipment, victim-witness coordinators, and technology to share data across agencies, and requiring biannual reports on clearance rates and program impact. The bill appropriates specific funds for fiscal years 2026-2028 to support these concrete improvements in investigating nonfatal shootings.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows courts to sentence offenders below standard guidelines if they were victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or sex trafficking. It requires presentence reports to include information about such victimization and permits courts to order reduced sentences when the victimization contributed to the offense and serves the public interest. Offenders placed on probation may also be required to participate in trauma-focused treatment. The law applies to felony sentencing hearings starting August 1, 2025, and affects individuals convicted of crimes who were previously victims of these specific offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state employees, University of Minnesota staff, and other specified organization workers to report suspected theft, embezzlement, or misuse of public funds in writing to the legislative auditor. The requirement applies unless reporting would knowingly interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation. Violations of this reporting requirement are classified as gross misdemeanors. The law takes effect on August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a requirement for social media platforms to report behavioral threat assessments to educational facilities and religious institutions in Minnesota. It defines key terms like social media platforms, user-generated content, and targeted violence to clarify the scope of the reporting requirement. The legislation specifically targets platforms that allow users to create and share content for social interaction, excluding services like search engines and email providers. Social media companies would need to assess and report potential threats related to user behavior that could lead to violence at schools, childcare centers, and religious organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the toboggan as Minnesota's official state sled, formally naming it in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 1. It directly affects state symbolism by establishing a ceremonial designation for a specific type of sled. The bill contains no substantive policy changes or funding mechanisms - its sole purpose is to recognize the toboggan as the state's official sled through a symbolic legislative act. As a procedural resolution, it has no practical impact on state operations or constituent services.

Maddy summarySF 3713 increases school safety funding by establishing a new state aid of $100 per student (adjusted pupil unit) for all Minnesota public school districts, charter schools, and cooperative units starting in fiscal year 2027. This replaces the previous system by combining the state aid with existing local safe schools levies ($36 per student) to create total safe schools revenue. Funds must be used for specific safety purposes including security personnel, mental health services, facility upgrades, cybersecurity, and violence prevention programs. The bill directly affects all Minnesota public schools receiving state education funding, with implementation beginning in 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill would classify kratom as a Schedule II controlled substance in Minnesota, placing it in the same category as drugs like morphine and fentanyl that have high abuse potential. The legislation adds mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (the active compounds in kratom) to Minnesota's Schedule II list while repealing previous provisions that had separate rules for kratom. This change would subject kratom to the same strict regulations as other Schedule II substances, including prescription requirements, secure storage, and detailed recordkeeping. The bill would affect anyone selling or possessing kratom in Minnesota, including those under 18 who currently face misdemeanor charges for possession under the repealed section.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3.5 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to the commissioner of public safety. The funds will be granted to the Fencing Consortium to help local government facilities (that are members of the consortium) purchase anti-scale fencing, pedestrian doors, and vehicle gates. The stated purpose is to improve equitable access to "a de-escalation and safety tool" for these facilities. This is a one-time appropriation, not a recurring funding source.