Sen. Warren Limmer

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $450,000 in state funds to Hennepin County and two cities, Medina and Independence, for railroad crossing safety improvements at Town Line Road. The legislation modifies an existing appropriation to allow the project to continue until December 31, 2029, rather than following the standard funding timeline. These funds are designated for the design, engineering, and construction of the necessary safety upgrades. The bill takes effect immediately upon final passage by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill permits agents to represent landlords that are corporations or limited liability companies in eviction court cases. To exercise this authority, the agent must attach a copy of a power of authority form to the eviction complaint at the time of filing. The provision becomes effective on August 1, 2026, and applies to any eviction actions filed on or after that date. It clarifies that agents may appear in these proceedings despite any other laws or rules that might restrict such representation.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's correctional industries program to increase transparency and fairness when state prisons contract with private businesses. It requires the Minnesota Correctional Industries Corporation (MINNCOR) to clearly separate and report costs related to inmate labor versus private business operations, while also disclosing how confinement fees impact its profitability. Key provisions mandate that MINNCOR use prevailing wage rates for inmate work, prohibit using inmate labor to subsidize private companies, and ensure contracts do not displace existing local workers or exceed a 70% inmate labor threshold. Additionally, the program must charge fair market rates for the use of prison space and storage, and all wage data must be posted publicly on MINNCOR's website.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's mortgage foreclosure process to allow for online sales and the use of private selling officers, expanding how properties can be sold during foreclosure proceedings. It requires foreclosure notices to include specific information about online sales websites and private selling officer contact details, while also clarifying rules for calculating damages when proper notice is not sent to interested parties. The legislation updates various statutes to reflect these procedural changes and includes standardized language for foreclosure advice notices to help homeowners understand their options. These changes affect lenders, borrowers, and other parties involved in the foreclosure process by altering how sales are conducted and how notices are delivered.

Maddy summarySF 2126 establishes January 9 as Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in Minnesota, requiring the governor to issue an annual proclamation. It encourages school districts to partner with law enforcement agencies to create middle and high school "explorer programs" about law enforcement careers, which can count as course credit. The bill appropriates $6 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2027 to reimburse agencies for mandatory peace officer training, and $1 million for fiscal year 2026 to fund grants covering up to 50% of costs for local "pathway to policing" programs recruiting non-traditional candidates. These provisions directly affect schools, law enforcement agencies, and local governments seeking to support officer training and recruitment.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to create a new criminal offense in Minnesota for riding in a vehicle when a person should reasonably know it was taken without the owner's permission. It also increases penalties for tampering with or entering a motor vehicle without consent, reclassifying the act as a gross misdemeanor. These changes would apply to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025, and directly affect individuals involved in unauthorized vehicle use or interference.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase penalties for stealing motor vehicles in Minnesota by reclassifying such theft as a more serious offense. Under the new rules, stealing a car would result in a maximum prison sentence of ten years and a fine of up to $20,000, provided the theft occurred on or after August 1, 2025. The legislation also updates sentencing guidelines for other property crimes by adjusting fine limits and imprisonment terms based on the value of stolen goods and specific circumstances like prior convictions. These changes directly affect individuals charged with theft and the courts that determine their sentences.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.75 million from the state general fund to support the development and implementation of a new 911 communication platform. The funds are allocated to the Commissioner of Public Safety, who will grant the money to the Metropolitan Emergency Services Board for the project. The platform is designed to enable 911 centers to share information and coordinate emergency responses across different jurisdictional boundaries in real time. Additionally, the grant allows the recipient to use the money for two years of ongoing maintenance for the system.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota classifies agricultural land and clarifies the definition of market farming for property tax purposes. It updates the rules for Class 2 land, which includes agricultural homesteads, rural vacant land, and managed forests, by adjusting valuation rates and specifying how different types of land must be categorized. The legislation also refines the criteria for what counts as agricultural use, such as requiring at least ten acres of contiguous land for farming or specific conditions for intensive livestock operations. Additionally, it provides clearer guidelines on how assessors should handle parcels with mixed uses, like wooded areas interspersed with farmland, and sets application deadlines for reduced tax rates on managed forest land.

Maddy summarySF 1373 expands Minnesota's driver's license suspension policy to apply to all cases where a person is suspected of committing vehicular homicide (causing death while driving) or criminal vehicular operation (serious reckless driving). It directly affects drivers suspected of these offenses and requires peace officers to report all such cases to the state commissioner of public safety. The bill mandates automatic license suspensions upon officer certification of probable cause, rather than limiting suspensions to specific prior scenarios, and adds a requirement for officers to formally notify the state in every qualifying case. This change takes effect August 1, 2025.