Sen. Mary Kunesh-Podein

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Ramsey County Economic Development Authority (RCEDA), a new body with seven commissioners appointed by the county board. It expands the existing Ramsey County Housing and Redevelopment Authority to have all the powers of the RCEDA, including economic development and housing/redevelopment authority under Minnesota law. The bill allows Ramsey County to exercise city-level powers for these purposes within its entire territory, treating the county board as a city council and the county chair as a mayor for these functions. The changes take effect after Ramsey County complies with specific administrative procedures under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's school library aid program to clarify what funds can be used for. It specifies that library aid must directly cover: salaries/benefits for library media specialists, electronic/computer/audiovisual equipment, information technology infrastructure, digital tools, and library furniture/supplies. The changes take effect for fiscal year 2026 and later, meaning current funding remains unaffected. School libraries receiving this state aid will be required to use funds only for these defined purposes. The bill does not change funding amounts or create new requirements beyond these spending restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3 million annually (fiscal years 2026-2027) from the arts and cultural heritage fund to the Minnesota Department of Education for grants to the state's 12 regional library systems. The funds must support educational programs in Minnesota arts, history, literary arts, and cultural heritage, with 25% distributed proportionally to all qualifying library entities (including public libraries and counties). A separate $250,000 is allocated for water safety grants to nonprofit organizations and local parks programs providing swimming lessons to low-income youth. The bill modifies prior appropriations to extend funding availability through 2029 and specifies distribution formulas under Minnesota Statutes §134.355.

Maddy summarySF 2359 requires Minnesota's commissioner of natural resources to obtain advance review from affected tribes before processing mining permit applications. It directly affects tribes with reservation land in the same or adjacent county to a proposed mining project. The bill mandates tribes complete cultural reviews and submit their project review to the commissioner before permit processing can begin, or the commissioner must wait 24 months from the application date. This establishes a formal process for tribes to comment on projects and recommend permit conditions or denials, building on existing tribal consultation requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes specific eligibility criteria for mental health case management and community support services for adults with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). It defines C-PTSD as meeting criteria including PTSD symptoms interfering with daily functioning due to intergenerational, racial, or historical trauma, plus documentation from a mental health professional confirming significant impairment and future risk without services. The bill requires healthcare providers to refer eligible clients to case management services and mandates counties to provide these services to qualifying individuals by January 1, 1989 (though this date appears to be a typo in the bill text). It directly affects adults in Minnesota with C-PTSD who meet the new clinical and documentation standards.

Maddy summarySF 1405 requires Minnesota public schools to allow American Indian drumming at school events - including graduation ceremonies - when requested by the school's American Indian parent committee or an American Indian student organization. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to prohibit schools from banning this cultural practice and adds a new requirement for drumming at other school activities upon request. It directly affects all public school districts and charter schools in Minnesota, ensuring they cannot restrict this form of cultural expression. The policy change is triggered solely by formal requests from designated committees, with no additional requirements for schools.

Maddy summarySF 2258 amends Minnesota law to clarify and modify the process for requesting environmental assessment worksheets (EAWs) for certain projects. It allows petitions from 100+ residents or Minnesota Tribal governments to trigger an EAW review if a proposed project may cause significant environmental effects. The bill specifies that EAWs are required for ethanol/biobutanol facilities exceeding production thresholds (e.g., 125 million gallons of ethanol annually), but exempts smaller facilities meeting those thresholds. It also sets timelines for government review (15 days for petition decisions) and requires public comment periods (30 days) on EAWs. This directly affects local governments, biofuel facility developers, and residents seeking environmental reviews.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's law prohibiting public schools from using American Indian mascots, nicknames, or symbols as team names. Starting September 1, 2026, most schools must stop using such mascots unless they obtain tribal consent or qualify for an exemption (e.g., schools on tribal reservations with 95% American Indian students). It requires schools to report compliance progress to legislators and creates a new process for schools to apply for state funding - appropriating $2.026 million for fiscal year 2026 - to replace prohibited mascots on uniforms, facilities, and digital platforms. The bill directly affects public school districts and requires written consent from all nearby Tribal Nations for exemption requests.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.5 million to study microplastics in meat and poultry sold in Minnesota. The Agriculture Commissioner, working with the Health Commissioner and the University of Minnesota, must complete this study by February 1, 2026, and report findings to relevant legislative committees. The study will examine the presence of microplastics in these food products, with no regulatory changes or ongoing funding included. This is a one-time study, not a new law affecting food safety standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Northstar Care for Children benefits to provide full payments to specific children under age six in kinship or adoption assistance programs. It requires that children entering these programs while under six and placed with relatives (under section 260.773 placement preferences) receive the full benefit amount, rather than the previous 50% rate. The change applies to children who enter the program while under six or are transferred into it, eliminating the reduced rate for these cases. The bill also adjusts state funding calculations to reflect this change in benefit payments. It directly affects children under six in relative care and their families receiving Northstar Care for Children assistance.