Sen. Mary Kunesh-Podein

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's education finance system and teacher training requirements. It mandates that school districts provide evidence-based professional development to teachers by specific deadlines: K-3 educators and reading intervention staff by July 2026, and grades 4-12 reading teachers by July 2027. The bill also updates how schools calculate compensatory revenue eligibility using direct certification and education benefits, requires at least 80% of compensatory funds to be spent at the school building where students generating the revenue are served, and increases funding for teacher training and school unemployment aid accounts. These changes directly affect school districts, teachers, and students in Minnesota's public education system.

Maddy summarySF 930 establishes the Minnesota Health Plan, a universal health care program requiring all Minnesota residents to be covered. The plan mandates comprehensive coverage for medical, dental, vision, mental health, prescription drugs, and long-term care, with premiums based on income and no co-pays. It creates new entities including the Minnesota Health Board and Minnesota Health Fund to administer the program, ensure provider access, and negotiate fair prices. The bill requires the state to seek a federal waiver under the Affordable Care Act to implement this system. All Minnesotans, including temporary out-of-state residents and nonresident workers in Minnesota, would be eligible for coverage under this plan.

Maddy summarySF 1200 clarifies how Minnesota calculates general education revenue for charter schools, directly affecting all charter schools receiving state funding. The bill specifies that charter schools' revenue must be calculated as if they were traditional school districts, including adding state average revenue plus certain local aid allowances while subtracting a specific formula allowance. It also adds a 25% increase for charter schools offering extended day/week/summer programs and provides separate funding for special education charter schools based on unreimbursed costs. The changes apply to fiscal year 2026 and later revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies how Minnesota school districts adjust their state aid and budget limits when they receive excess funds from tax increment districts (TIDs) that are either returned or decertified. Specifically, it requires districts to reduce their current year aid by a calculated amount based on the previous year's excess payment and the district's certified levy history from two years prior. The adjustment affects both aid payments and budget limits, but only applies to excess payments exceeding $25,000 per year. The changes take effect for fiscal year 2027 and directly impact school districts receiving such tax increment returns.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies St. Louis County's unclassified civil service rules and removes outdated funding for historical work. It updates which county positions (like the legislative lobbyist/grant coordinator and county administrator roles) fall under unclassified service, while repealing obsolete statutes that allocated $2,500 annually for county historical society activities. The changes specifically affect St. Louis County government operations and its historical society funding mechanism. The bill makes no new funding commitments but eliminates an existing, unused appropriation provision.

Maddy summarySF 1245 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Natural Resources to consider decommissioning off-highway vehicle (OHV) roads or trails when presented with evidence of significant environmental harm, such as impacts to water quality, aquatic life, or wildlife. The bill mandates that such consideration must be triggered by petitions signed by at least 50 local residents or 100 residents from the county or adjacent counties. It also adds new requirements for environmental assessments before constructing or expanding OHV trails, particularly near sensitive waterways (within 150-200 feet of public waters). This bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 84.777 to strengthen protections for natural resources affected by OHV use.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.5 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1.5 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of health. The funds are designated for grants supporting sexual and reproductive health services, distributed under Minnesota Statutes section 145.925. These grants directly support health service providers offering such care, including clinics and community organizations. The bill creates no new requirements but allocates existing state funds to expand access to these services. It does not change eligibility criteria or create new program rules.

Maddy summarySF 949 appropriates $3 million annually for 2026 and 2027 to fund registered special education apprenticeship programs in four specific intermediate school districts in Minnesota: 287, 288, 916, and 917. Each district receives $740,000 per year to support these programs. The funds cover program administration, apprentice stipends and tuition, mentor teacher stipends, and substitute teacher costs. This bill directly affects these districts and their special education apprenticeship participants.

Maddy summarySF 943 prohibits an open season for taking wolves in Minnesota, ending the legal hunting season for wolves that was previously allowed. The bill amends multiple statutes to remove wolf hunting from license provisions (such as lifetime small-game and sporting licenses) and increases criminal penalties for taking wolves without authorization. This directly affects hunters who participated in wolf hunting and shifts state management toward conservation-focused policies. The key policy change eliminates public wolf hunting through the prohibition of open season, with enforcement through higher penalties for violations.

Maddy summarySF 133 expands how Minnesota school districts and charter schools can use student support personnel aid. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 124D.901, allowing districts to hire or contract for licensed student support staff (like counselors, psychologists, or nurses) when they cannot fill full-time positions with the aid. It also permits using the aid to make temporary pandemic relief-funded positions permanent or to increase part-time positions. This change applies to aid used for fiscal year 2026 and later. The bill directly affects school districts managing student support staff budgets.