Sen. Mary Kunesh-Podein

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to classify domestic assault involving strangulation as a violent crime under Minnesota law. It achieves this by adding a specific reference to strangulation statutes within the state's existing definition of violent crimes. The change would apply to offenses committed on or after August 1, 2026, affecting individuals charged with domestic violence incidents that involve choking or strangulation.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $12.963 million in bonds to fund a new public safety facility for St. Anthony Village. The money will be used to design, build, and equip a building that houses the city's police and fire departments, as well as providing space for staff, training, and public meetings. The project will serve residents of St. Anthony Village, Falcon Heights, and Lauderdale. Once passed, the state will immediately begin the process of selling these bonds to raise the necessary funds.

Maddy summarySF 3625 modifies Minnesota's educator licensing system by establishing a statewide credential for paraprofessionals who assist teachers in classrooms. It requires local assessments for paraprofessionals to meet specific academic criteria in reading, writing, and math, shifting rulemaking authority from the licensing board to the commissioner. The bill also mandates that teacher preparation programs include a supervised early literacy field experience in schools for candidates starting in 2027-2028, with rules for implementation. These changes directly affect paraprofessionals, teacher training programs, and school districts.

Maddy summarySF 3685 prohibits Minnesota public libraries, school libraries, and the Minitex network from entering contracts with publishers that restrict their ability to lend digital books and audiobooks. The bill bans terms that prevent libraries from loaning digital materials, including through interlibrary loans, or limit standard lending functions. It only applies after Minnesota's secretary of state confirms other states with at least 7 million combined population have enacted similar laws. This ensures libraries maintain control over digital lending without restrictive publisher terms.

Maddy summarySF 3870 modifies Minnesota education laws to better support students experiencing homelessness. It defines "child experiencing homelessness" broadly to include those in motels, cars, shelters, or sharing housing due to hardship, and requires schools to immediately enroll these students without standard documentation like proof of residency. The bill mandates schools to provide comparable educational services, transportation to their school of origin when beneficial, and remove enrollment barriers like lack of medical records. It also requires school districts to designate a homeless liaison to coordinate housing and support services, ensuring students remain in their school of origin unless it conflicts with their best interests.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires large industrial or commercial groundwater users - such as data centers or major facilities whose new or additional water use would exceed 100 million gallons per year or 50% of a municipality's current annual water allocation - to apply for their own water-use permits instead of modifying existing municipal permits. It mandates that the state department prepare a draft permit and allow a 30-day public comment period before issuing a permit for these large users. Additionally, these users must report their water usage monthly by the 15th of each month, while other users report annually. The changes aim to improve transparency, ensure public health and watershed protections, and prevent conflicts in water use.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution expresses the state's appreciation for the long-standing partnership between Minnesota and the Province of Québec. It highlights specific achievements such as increased trade, shared environmental goals, and mutual economic investments in sectors like aerospace and aluminum. The bill does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a formal statement of goodwill to be shared with the public and media.

Maddy summarySF 3684 modifies Minnesota's Mary C. Murphy Library Construction Grants Program to increase the maximum grant amount for library renovations, expansions, or new construction from $1 million to $2 million (or 50% of approved costs, whichever is less). It changes the required matching funds from "local" to "non-state" funds, allowing libraries to use broader non-state funding sources like private donations or local revenue. The bill appropriates $10 million in state bond proceeds to fund the program, with bonds authorized for sale to cover this cost. These changes will take effect for grants awarded after June 30, 2026, directly affecting public library jurisdictions statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new special license plate in Minnesota for grandparents, requiring them to pay a standard registration fee plus an additional $35 contribution annually. The plates will feature baby footprints and the text "Minnesota proud grandparents," and can be transferred to another vehicle owned by the same person if they meet the eligibility requirements. All $35 contributions collected from plate holders will be deposited into a food shelf support account, with funds used to administer the program and provide grants for food shelf programs. The bill takes effect on January 1, 2027, for plates issued on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Environmental Quality Board to update state rules so that building data centers must include an environmental impact statement. The provision directly affects developers and operators of data centers, including large-scale facilities, by mandating environmental reviews before construction begins. The bill allows the board to use a streamlined rulemaking process to implement this requirement without following standard procedures. This change ensures that potential environmental effects of data center construction are formally assessed and documented.