Sen. Mary Kunesh-Podein

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota health insurance plans to include all payments made by enrollees (or on their behalf) toward out-of-pocket costs when calculating their annual maximum out-of-pocket limit. It specifically mandates that co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles count toward this limit, ensuring all contributions are properly tracked. The law applies to health plans offered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. This directly affects health plan members and insurers in Minnesota by standardizing how out-of-pocket spending is calculated.

Maddy summarySF 507 requires Minnesota school districts to adopt specific policies ensuring parents of children with disabilities can meaningfully participate in their child's education. The bill mandates districts to provide free translation and interpretation services, list available documents in multiple languages, and ensure parents understand education documents - especially before meetings. It also requires districts to establish reasonable accommodations (like sign language interpreters) for parents with disabilities without requiring health information disclosure. These policies must be posted online in the top three languages spoken in the district and shared annually with parents, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySF 504 authorizes $250,000 annually for 2026 and 2027 to fund two types of grants for nonprofit organizations serving high school students. The first grant supports digital technology skills programs, requiring nonprofits to develop shareable curricula, offer hands-on activities, and create student fellowships outside regular school hours. The second grant provides digital learning and homework support, focusing on social-emotional skills, adult mentoring, and career exploration through internships. All recipients must submit detailed applications and reports to the state education department to meet evidence-based grant requirements.

Maddy summarySF 392 allows Minnesota school districts to donate surplus schoolbooks (including textbooks, library books, and classroom materials) to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations registered with the attorney general for educational use. This provision, added to Minnesota Statutes section 123B.52, specifically permits districts to bypass standard competitive bidding requirements for these donations. The bill directly affects school districts managing unused educational materials. It creates a clear, streamlined process for donating surplus books to eligible charities, promoting resource reuse without requiring new procurement procedures.

Maddy summarySF 471 prohibits possessing dangerous weapons in public libraries under Minnesota law. It makes unauthorized possession a felony punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine, while allowing licensed firearm permit holders to carry weapons (as a misdemeanor) and exempting licensed peace officers. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 609.66 and applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025. It directly affects library patrons, staff, and law enforcement by defining legal boundaries for weapon possession in public library buildings.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate Bill 474 authorizes Minnesota school districts and charter schools to use existing student support personnel aid funds to hire staff specifically focused on reducing chronic absenteeism. The bill defines "student support services personnel" to include both licensed professionals (like counselors and nurses) and non-licensed staff whose primary role is addressing absenteeism. Schools can use these funds to create new positions, increase part-time roles, or make temporary positions permanent - particularly those initially funded by federal pandemic relief acts. This change, effective for fiscal year 2025, allows schools to directly address attendance issues using state education aid without new funding.

Maddy summarySF 43 authorizes the state to issue $12 million in bonds to fund a public works facility in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. The funds will support the city's construction of a new public works facility, expanded recycling area, access road, and related infrastructure improvements. The bill appropriates the bond proceeds directly to Columbia Heights for predesign, construction, and property acquisition related to this project. This is a capital investment measure affecting only Columbia Heights, with no broader policy changes beyond the specified infrastructure project. The bonds will be sold under existing Minnesota state bond laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a refundable sales tax exemption for construction materials used in building Columbia Heights' new city hall. It applies to materials purchased between September 2021 and April 2024, covering costs for construction, renovation, or expansion of the city hall facility. The city will pay sales tax normally but receive a refund through the same process used for other eligible projects, with refunds not issued before June 2025 and claims accepted until December 2025. The exemption applies retroactively to qualifying purchases made after August 2021.

Maddy summarySF 192 revises Minnesota's correctional policy to expand cultural programming services for American Indian inmates. It requires the Commissioner of Corrections to develop a policy providing specific services - including work training, cultural identity development, and spiritual programming - to all American Indian inmates in state correctional facilities and community programs. Key provisions mandate including tribal leaders in programming, improving staff cultural understanding, and fostering partnerships with Tribal Nations. The bill directly affects American Indian incarcerated individuals and aims to support their rehabilitation and reentry through culturally tailored services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's commissioner of natural resources to transfer all state-owned land within one mile of Upper Red Lake's shoreline and all land within Red Lake State Forest to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians at no cost. It appropriates $20 million for fiscal year 2026 to facilitate these land transfers, including acquiring any necessary land. The commissioner must identify legal barriers to the transfers by January 15, 2026, and submit a report with recommendations to legislative committees. The transfer is effective upon enactment, directly affecting the Red Lake Band as the recipient of the land.