Maddy summaryThis bill expands Minnesota's public safety officer death benefit program by broadening the definition of "killed in the line of duty" to include deaths from heart attacks, strokes, or vascular ruptures caused by on-duty stress (e.g., during emergency response or training), PTSD-related suicide within 45 days of a traumatic event, and complications from specific infectious diseases (like COVID-19 or tuberculosis) contracted during duty. It also clarifies that more public safety roles qualify for benefits, including volunteer firefighters, good Samaritans assisting officers, and certain medical responders. The changes apply retroactively from February 1, 2020, allowing families to file claims for past deaths that now meet the expanded criteria, with a filing deadline of July 1, 2027, for retroactive cases. This directly affects the families of qualifying public safety officers who died under these new circumstances.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota law to expand the criminal offense of damaging or stealing telecommunications equipment to explicitly include broadband and cable services. It adds "broadband services, cable services, radio transmitters and receivers, satellite equipment, microwave equipment, and other transporting media including wire, cable, fiber, poles, and conduit" to the list of protected infrastructure under Minnesota Statutes §609.593. The law now covers equipment used for transmitting or transporting these services, such as routers, fiber lines, and poles. This change directly affects anyone who intentionally damages or removes such infrastructure without authorization. The policy update ensures existing penalties for damaging telecom equipment apply to modern broadband and cable systems.
Maddy summarySF 2693 modifies Minnesota's requirements for verifying a candidate's residence on an affidavit of candidacy. Candidates must now submit proof of address (such as a driver's license or approved documentation) and can request privacy for their address if they provide safety documentation (e.g., police report or order for protection). False statements on these forms carry criminal penalties, including up to 90 days in jail or a $10,000 fine. The bill applies to most elected offices, excluding judicial, county attorney, and sheriff positions.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires voters who register in person on election day to cast provisional ballots instead of regular ballots. It directly affects voters who register at polling places on Election Day but do not present acceptable identification documents at the time of registration. The key provision amends election statutes to mandate that these voters receive provisional ballots, which must later be verified for eligibility by election officials. This change ensures that same-day registrants' votes are counted only after verification, aligning with existing provisional ballot procedures for other voter registration scenarios.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands Minnesota's definition of "killed in the line of duty" for public safety officers, specifically adding three scenarios where deaths are presumed work-related: heart attacks/strokes during nonroutine stressful activities (like emergency responses), suicides linked to PTSD or traumatic events within 45 days, and deaths from infectious disease exposure during duty. It directly affects police officers, firefighters, EMTs, correctional staff, and other public safety personnel covered under the expanded definition in Minnesota Statutes §299A.41. The changes apply retroactively to November 1, 2022 (for most scenarios) and February 1, 2020 (for infectious disease cases). Additionally, the bill requires the commissioner of public safety to annually report federal changes affecting these benefits.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires city officials in Minnesota cities classified as first, second, or third class to file a statement of economic interest with the state Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board within 60 days of taking office. It updates existing state law to explicitly include these local city officials under the economic interest filing requirement. The filing aims to increase transparency about potential conflicts of interest for officials in these municipalities. The requirement applies to all such city officials upon assuming their roles, not just those running for office. This is a routine disclosure measure focused on accountability, not policy changes to services or programs.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires voters to verify their identity when applying for absentee ballots in Minnesota. It mandates that applicants provide either a Minnesota driver's license number, state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number during the application process. The Secretary of State must then verify this information against government databases before mail delivery of the ballot. This applies directly to voters submitting absentee ballot applications electronically or by mail, ensuring only verified applicants receive absentee ballots by mail.
Maddy summarySF 2606 modifies how funds are distributed through Minnesota's Corridors of Commerce transportation program. It sets specific regional funding targets: at least 25-27.5% for projects near I-494/I-694 (Metro Projects), at least 35-37.5% for projects in the broader metro area (Metro Connectors), and at least 35-40% for other regional projects (Regional Centers). The commissioner must calculate these percentages using funds from the current and prior two project rounds. This applies to all future funding awards starting the day after the bill becomes law.
Maddy summarySF 2534 allows cities and counties in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties to formally opt out of the Metropolitan Council's regulatory authority over local development and infrastructure. To do so, a local government must pass a resolution filing with the Council, after which it is exempt from metropolitan system plans and requirements starting January 1 following the filing. The bill also specifies that opting out does not exempt local governments from certain transit-related taxes in designated districts, and they may later opt back in after a four-year waiting period. This change directly affects local governments seeking greater autonomy over their own planning and development decisions within the metropolitan region.
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $950,000 from state bond proceeds to fund the design, construction, and equipment of two security kiosks inside the Minnesota Senate Building. The commissioner of administration will manage the project, coordinating with the secretary of the senate on design, locations, and construction timing. The funds come from bonds authorized under Minnesota law, requiring the commissioner of management and budget to issue the bonds up to $950,000. The bill directly affects Senate Building operations and security protocols, with no broader policy changes beyond this specific infrastructure project.