Sen. Rob Kupec

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $170,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $170,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the clean water fund to the Red River Watershed Management Board. The funds will support expanding school-based water quality and watershed monitoring activities within the Red River of the North watershed. The Board must submit a report to the commissioner and relevant legislative committees by February 15, 2028, detailing how the funds were used. (Procedural bill; summary focuses solely on the funding allocation and reporting requirement.)

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $9.7 million from state bond proceeds to fund Phase 1 of the West Central Regional Water System. It directly affects Norman County, Clay County, and Polk County, or any combination of two, by providing funds for land acquisition, design, and construction of a trunk pipeline and water infrastructure. The money will be used to transport clean drinking water to cities within these counties. The state will issue bonds to cover the cost, following Minnesota's bond sale procedures.

Maddy summarySF 1220 transfers a one-time amount from the state general fund to the University of Minnesota's Forever Green Initiative for fiscal year 2026. The initiative focuses on helping Minnesota farmers incorporate perennial and winter-annual crops into existing farming practices to protect natural resources while improving farm efficiency, profitability, and productivity. This bill allocates existing state funds to support the University of Minnesota's existing program without creating new regulations. The funding is specifically designated for this purpose and is a one-time budget transfer.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $100 million in state bond proceeds to rehabilitate public housing for low-income residents. The funds, managed by the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, will finance repairs to preserve federally financed public housing under state law. Priority is given to projects improving health, safety, and energy efficiency while maximizing federal or local funding. The bill authorizes the state to sell up to $100 million in bonds to cover these rehabilitation costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers $11.1 million annually from Minnesota's general fund into the AGREETT account for agricultural research, education, and extension programs. It allocates these funds to specific priorities: $3 million for agricultural education grants (including farm transition planning and urban specialty crops), $1 million for disease research, $802,000 for the Forever Green Initiative promoting sustainable farming, and smaller amounts for potato breeding, wild rice research, and rapid response efforts. The funds support Minnesota farmers, researchers, and agricultural educators by supplementing existing programs without replacing current funding. Annual reports are required for the Forever Green Initiative to track how funds are used and their impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a dedicated "agricultural growth, research, and innovation program account" within Minnesota's existing agricultural fund. The account will hold money from gifts, grants, reimbursements, or appropriations for agricultural research and innovation purposes. Funds in this account will be directly allocated to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture commissioner to support those specific initiatives. The bill does not change existing agricultural policies but establishes a new funding mechanism to consolidate and direct resources toward research and innovation efforts.

Maddy summarySF 592 adds a $45 surcharge to the registration fee for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) used on public land, increasing the total fee for public use from $60 to $105. It also raises the fee for nonresident all-terrain vehicle state trail passes from $30 to $45. The collected surcharge and increased trail pass fees will fund grants to counties and municipalities for building and maintaining ATV trails. This bill directly affects ATV owners who register vehicles for public use and nonresident trail users.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's rules for optometrists prescribing and administering prescription medications. It removes previous restrictions on optometrists prescribing oral antivirals (limited to 10 days), oral steroids (14 days without physician consultation), and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (7 days). The changes specifically allow optometrists to prescribe these medications within the new time limits, while maintaining existing restrictions on intravenous/intramuscular drug administration, invasive surgery, and Schedule II/III oral drugs. These provisions directly affect optometrists practicing in Minnesota, expanding their limited prescribing authority for specific eye-related treatments.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a refundable $200-per-month income tax credit (capped at $2,400 annually) for unpaid family caregivers providing daily in-home care to qualifying relatives. It directly affects family members who care for relatives at risk of nursing home placement but not living in licensed facilities, as certified by county long-term care teams. To qualify, the caregiver must provide care meeting specific criteria (like daily in-person assistance that delays institutional care), and the recipient must be screened by a county team as eligible for potential nursing home placement. The credit is reduced for higher-income households and requires certification under new provisions added to Minnesota’s long-term care consultation team requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies requirements for physician assistants (PAs) in Minnesota to practice under collaborative agreements with physicians. It removes the current restriction that collaborative agreements must involve physicians licensed under Minnesota law (Chapter 147), allowing PAs to instead work under agreements with physicians licensed in other states or U.S. territories. The bill maintains the existing 2,080-hour practice requirement within a collaborative setting but broadens the pool of eligible collaborating physicians. This change directly affects PAs seeking licensure or renewal who need to establish collaborative arrangements to meet practice experience requirements.