Sen. Rob Kupec

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate Bill SF 2754 increases annual funding for tax reductions in border city enterprise zones from $750,000 to $1.5 million, specifically for cities on Minnesota's western border. It expands available tax tools, including higher income tax credits for new jobs ($5,000 per employee), property tax credits for commercial facilities, and reimbursement for land acquisition to prevent business relocations. The bill allows cities to use these funds to offset taxes for businesses in designated zones, aiming to retain or attract commercial activity. Restrictions remain in place, prohibiting tax benefits for entertainment facilities, golf courses, financial institutions, and certain retail franchises.

Maddy summarySF 1840 establishes a grant program to support Minnesota agricultural retailers in promoting 4R nutrient management practices (right source, rate, time, and place) to farmers. It provides $5,000 grants to retailers upon certification under the 4R program and up to 50 cents per acre for implementing approved practices like soil testing, cover crops, precision fertilizer application, and nutrient planning. The bill appropriates funds for fiscal years 2026-2027, with grants administered by the Commissioner of Agriculture, and includes strict data privacy protections for farm-specific information. This directly affects licensed agricultural retailers and farmers adopting these nutrient management techniques.

Maddy summarySF 1794 repeals a requirement that advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), including nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, must complete 2,080 hours of supervised practice under a formal agreement with physicians in hospital or integrated clinical settings before obtaining or renewing their license. This bill directly affects APRNs seeking licensure in Minnesota by removing the mandatory collaborative practice rule. The repeal takes effect August 1, 2025, applying to all license applications submitted on or after that date. The change eliminates the need for APRNs to submit written evidence of this collaborative practice experience as part of their licensure process.

Maddy summarySF 2930 appropriates $5 million from the arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 to build a cultural center for the White Earth Tribal Community. The bill directly provides funding to the White Earth Nation tribal government for construction of the facility. This is a straightforward funding measure with no additional policy provisions or requirements beyond the grant allocation. The bill focuses solely on authorizing the expenditure for this specific cultural infrastructure project.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies data access rules to help veterans verify eligibility for specific programs. It allows the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to electronically access the Human Services Department's MAXIS database to confirm eligibility for the State Soldiers Assistance Program, Veterans Stable Housing Initiative, and SSI/SSDI Outreach program. The change ensures veterans can be connected to all available state and federal resources they qualify for. The bill does not alter benefit amounts or eligibility criteria, only streamlining verification between agencies.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 660 eliminates the "shotgun use area" restriction for deer hunting. The bill repeals the existing law that limited hunters in specific northern Minnesota areas to shotguns only during the regular deer season, and instead allows all legal firearms statewide during that season. This directly affects deer hunters across Minnesota, removing geographic restrictions that previously required hunters in certain regions to use only shotguns. The key change is a statewide policy shift from restricted firearm use in defined zones to uniform access to all legal firearms during the regular deer hunting season.

Maddy summarySF 2207 removes the requirement for a permit to operate certain special vehicles on designated roadways in Minnesota. Local governments (counties, cities, towns) can now authorize motorized golf carts, ATVs, utility task vehicles, and mini trucks on specific roads through ordinance, without requiring a separate permit for each vehicle. However, local ordinances must still designate approved roadways, require insurance, and set conditions like operating hours (sunrise to sunset), slow-moving vehicle emblems for golf carts, and specific equipment standards for mini trucks. This directly affects vehicle owners and local governments managing road access for these non-traditional vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $12 million annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund local emergency management activities. It directs $12 million per year to be distributed equally among Minnesota's 87 counties, 11 federally recognized Tribes, and four cities of the first class for planning, training, equipment, infrastructure, and addressing emerging threats. Recipients must submit annual reports by March 15 detailing fund usage by activity type and maintain records for state audits. The funding cannot replace existing federal emergency management support.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $7.5 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to provide operating assistance to transit systems in Greater Minnesota (rural and non-urban areas outside Minneapolis-St. Paul). It directly affects local transit agencies that receive state funding under Minnesota Statutes §174.24, specifically replacing shortfalls when local funding falls below required state-mandated percentages. The funds must cover operating costs for these systems and are available only until June 30, 2027, as a one-time appropriation. This is a direct funding mechanism to stabilize transit services in underserved regions, not a policy change to existing statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $752,000 from the natural resources fund for St. Louis County ATV trail projects and $200,000 for a Duluth ATV route study. It funds specific projects: engineering and construction for four county trail clubs (including Alborn Dirt Devils and Seven Beavers clubs), and a connectivity study for Duluth's western trails. All funds are one-time allocations available through June 2028. The bill directly affects local ATV clubs and the City of Duluth by providing targeted funding for trail development and planning.