Sen. Rob Kupec

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for Minnesota employers who misrepresent information to the unemployment system. It amends statutes to set penalties at the greater of $500 or 100% of the financial harm caused - such as overpaid benefits, unpaid benefits, or unpaid employer contributions - instead of fixed amounts. Employers who collude with applicants to fraudulently obtain benefits face similar scaled penalties. Additional penalties of up to $10,000 may apply per employee misclassified as an independent contractor instead of an employee. The bill directly affects employers who commit fraud or fail to properly classify workers under Minnesota's unemployment and labor rules.

Maddy summarySF 1173 would amend Minnesota law to allow individuals on probation or parole to access certain mental health services that were previously excluded. Currently, contracts for mental health services cannot be provided to people on probation or parole (Minnesota Statutes 245.50, subd. 3). The bill would add a new exception to this rule, removing the prohibition and enabling these individuals to receive covered services. This change directly affects Minnesotans under community supervision for criminal offenses, potentially improving access to mental health care during their supervision period. The bill modifies existing statute language but does not create new funding or service requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $3.15 million grant program to support training for court reporters and closed captioners (real-time stenographic writers) at Minnesota colleges and universities. It allocates $300,000 annually to two institutions - one in the seven-county metro area and one outside it - to expand training programs and job placement. Grants require institutions to report on program effectiveness and must fund direct training (not AI or digital recording), with scholarship recipients agreeing to work in the field for six months per semester received. The funding is available through 2029 to address workforce needs in transcription services.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2.95 million for fiscal year 2026 and $2.95 million for fiscal year 2027 to fund Minnesota's existing county feedlot program. The funds, coming from the general fund, will be distributed as grants to delegated counties through the Pollution Control Agency. This funding supports counties in administering feedlot regulations under Minnesota Statutes section 116.0711, specifically for managing manure and waste from livestock operations. Unused funds from 2026 can carry over to 2027. The bill does not create new regulations or alter program requirements.

Maddy summarySF 2252 appropriates $5 million for county grants and $40 million for state agency IT upgrades in human services. It provides one-time funding to Minnesota counties to offset costs for implementing new service delivery systems and modernizing information technology infrastructure that connects with state agencies like the Department of Human Services and Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Counties will receive grants based on population served, while the $40 million targets specific system improvements for the Children, Youth, and Families Department. The bill focuses on enabling counties to interface with legacy state systems and supports collaborative IT projects between larger and smaller counties. All funding is designated for fiscal year 2026 with the state agency funds available until June 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public Minnesota colleges and universities to maintain a supply of naloxone (an opiate overdose reversal drug) on every campus building, with at least two doses of nasal naloxone available per building. It mandates that campus health staff and other designated personnel (like nurses and emergency responders) receive training to administer naloxone during overdose emergencies. The law also directs the state health department to provide training resources, such as videos, to help institutions implement the policy. The requirement takes effect for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Maddy summarySF 1175 creates a presumptive disability process for Minnesotans under 65 who need medical assistance but haven't been formally determined disabled by Social Security. It requires state agencies to refer applicants meeting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) criteria but not yet classified as disabled to a state medical review team for a disability determination. This allows faster access to medical assistance while awaiting formal disability verification, directly affecting disabled Minnesotans under 65 who face delays in eligibility. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to establish this process, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families to conduct a statewide assessment of out-of-school programs for youth under age 21, including current funding, program availability, and community access barriers. The assessment must include direct input from youth, families, program providers, and experts to identify gaps and improve service quality. By February 15, 2026, the commissioner must submit a report with findings and recommendations to legislative committees. The bill appropriates one-time funding from the general fund to cover the assessment and reporting process.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) benefits and funding. It allows teachers with 30 years of service to retire at age 60 with a full annuity (previously required age 62), reduces early retirement penalties, and increases postretirement adjustments. It also raises employer contribution rates: for most districts, the rate increases to 9.5% for coordinated members and 13.5% for basic members starting July 1, 2025. School districts receive adjusted pension revenue funding based on new rates (e.g., 3.25% for St. Paul districts starting 2026), effective for fiscal years 2026 and later. The bill directly affects public school teachers and school districts participating in the TRA.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's school finance law to adjust how local school districts calculate optional revenue from property taxes. It sets specific dollar amounts for first-tier ($300 in 2025-2026, rising to $550 in 2027) and second-tier ($424 in 2025-2027) local revenue allowances, based on student enrollment (adjusted pupil units). Districts can levy local taxes up to limits tied to property values per student, with equalizing factors increasing annually (e.g., $626,450 for second-tier in 2025). The changes take effect for fiscal year 2027, directly affecting all Minnesota public school districts receiving state education funding.