Sen. Mary Kunesh-Podein

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $1.2 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to design and build a memorial honoring Native American U.S. veterans on the Minnesota Capitol complex. It requires forming a 13-member advisory task force (including tribal veteran representatives) to select a Native American artist, materials, and design, with final approval from the Indian Affairs Council. The memorial must use Minnesota-made materials and be constructed within specified Capitol complex boundaries. The task force must complete its work by late 2025, with the artist selection process beginning by September 2025.

Maddy summarySF 2927 appropriates $6.8 million from state bonds to fund the design and construction of a missing trail connection on the east side of Minneapolis between East River Road and St. Anthony Parkway. This project, known as the "Grand Rounds Missing Link," will connect existing sections of the Grand Rounds trail system. The funds will be provided as a grant to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board through the Metropolitan Council. The bill authorizes the state to sell bonds up to $6.8 million to cover these costs, directly supporting trail development for public recreational use in Minneapolis.

Maddy summarySF 733 requires pipeline owners in Minnesota to remove abandoned pipelines and related infrastructure from landowners' property after ceasing operations. Pipeline owners must provide landowners 60 days' notice before stopping operations and remove all abandoned equipment within 90 days of landowner requests, which must include specific written removal demands. Landowners can choose to have pipelines left in place by submitting a notarized request, but pipeline owners remain responsible for land restoration, including topsoil replacement, erosion control, establishing vegetation, and managing invasive species for five years. This bill directly affects pipeline companies and landowners whose property contains abandoned pipelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies how Minnesota public school districts can manage their school food service funds. It specifies that costs for meal preparation, serving, and related technology (like automated systems) can be charged to the food service fund, while lunchroom supervision, furniture, and utilities must remain in the general fund. The bill also updates rules for handling deficits (allowing up to three years to resolve with a plan) and surpluses (permitting some administrative costs to shift to the food service fund when surpluses exist). These changes apply to school districts starting in fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summarySF 1627 requires the Minnesota Department of Corrections to develop a policy providing cultural programming services to American Indian inmates in state correctional facilities and community-based programs. The policy must include services such as teaching work skills for post-incarceration self-sufficiency, fostering cultural pride, improving staff understanding of American Indian culture, and involving tribal leaders and family partnerships. These services aim to support rehabilitation and community reentry while building trust with Tribal Nations. The bill directly affects American Indian inmates and the Department of Corrections, which must implement these programs within available funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's multidisciplinary child protection team requirements to specifically address missing and murdered Indigenous relatives. It requires counties to include at least one representative from a nonprofit agency serving youth at risk of going missing or families affected by missing and murdered Indigenous relatives, in addition to existing team members like welfare agencies, law enforcement, and health services. The team must assist local agencies in developing responsive programs for these youth and families. These changes apply directly to all Minnesota counties establishing such teams under current law.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to support mental health outreach and farm safety programs for Minnesota's agricultural community. It directly funds services like a 24-hour mental health hotline, stigma reduction efforts, and education for farmers, ranchers, and others in agriculture. The funding is allocated under Minnesota Statutes section 17.1195, with unspent balances from 2026 carrying over to 2027. This is a funding measure with no policy changes beyond the allocation of specific resources for targeted outreach.

Maddy summarySF 1247 modifies pesticide regulations to protect wild rice waters in Minnesota. It requires a "wild rice risk justification" before certain pesticide permits are issued, prohibits watercraft operations threatening uncultivated wild rice beds, and mandates maintaining official maps of wild rice waters. The bill also amends statutes to direct the Department of Natural Resources to develop a pesticide management plan specifically addressing wild rice waters, coordinate with Minnesota Tribal governments, and deposit penalty funds into a pesticide regulatory account. This directly affects pesticide users (farmers, applicators), state agencies, and Tribal governments, with the goal of preventing pesticide contamination in wild rice habitats.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies how Minnesota school boards can renew expiring referendums without requiring a new voter vote. It directly affects school districts that need to extend existing funding referendums. Key provisions require school boards to: keep the same per-student funding level (or inflation-adjusted), renew for no longer than the original term, hold a public hearing with recorded votes, and submit the resolution by specific deadlines (June 15 before expiration, with a September 1 submission deadline). The changes apply retroactively to resolutions adopted since June 16, 2024.

Maddy summarySF 1742 appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to support the Center of American Indian and Minority Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Duluth. The funds are designated for the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to operate this specific center. This bill directly affects the center's budget and operations by providing dedicated state funding for its programs. It is a straightforward funding measure with no substantive policy changes beyond the allocated appropriations.