Sen. John Marty

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $500,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to the Ramsey County Historical Society. The funds will support design, renovation, construction, and equipment for improvements at Gibbs Farm Museum, which focuses on early Minnesota agriculture history and the relationship between the Dakota people (Heyata Othunwe) and the Gibbs family. The project directly affects the museum's facilities and its ability to present this historical narrative. The bill does not change laws but provides specific funding for physical upgrades to the site.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's unemployment insurance rules for workers involved in labor disputes. It changes the eligibility timeline: workers participating in a dispute lose benefits until the dispute ends, while non-participants lose benefits until the dispute begins. Exceptions include cases where workers quit due to safety violations, lockouts, or being discharged before a dispute starts. The bill directly affects Minnesota workers who stop working because of workplace labor conflicts. It does not change the core definition of "labor dispute" but clarifies eligibility periods and adds specific exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies St. Louis County's unclassified civil service rules and removes outdated funding for historical work. It updates which county positions (like the legislative lobbyist/grant coordinator and county administrator roles) fall under unclassified service, while repealing obsolete statutes that allocated $2,500 annually for county historical society activities. The changes specifically affect St. Louis County government operations and its historical society funding mechanism. The bill makes no new funding commitments but eliminates an existing, unused appropriation provision.

Maddy summarySF 1245 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Natural Resources to consider decommissioning off-highway vehicle (OHV) roads or trails when presented with evidence of significant environmental harm, such as impacts to water quality, aquatic life, or wildlife. The bill mandates that such consideration must be triggered by petitions signed by at least 50 local residents or 100 residents from the county or adjacent counties. It also adds new requirements for environmental assessments before constructing or expanding OHV trails, particularly near sensitive waterways (within 150-200 feet of public waters). This bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 84.777 to strengthen protections for natural resources affected by OHV use.

Maddy summarySF 929 would establish the Minnesota Health Plan to guarantee comprehensive healthcare coverage for all Minnesota residents. The plan requires coverage for all medically necessary care - including medical, dental, vision, mental health, prescription drugs, and long-term services - with premiums based on ability to pay and no co-pays. It mandates automatic eligibility for all Minnesotans (including temporary out-of-state residents and border community visitors), while requiring cost reductions through negotiated provider prices rather than care restrictions. The bill also creates new entities like the Minnesota Health Board and Health Fund to administer the plan.

Maddy summarySF 978 legalizes and regulates mobile sports betting in Minnesota for adults aged 21 and older. The bill establishes licensing requirements for operators, prohibits local governments from banning sports betting, and creates a tax structure for revenue. It defines key terms like "mobile sports betting" (placing wagers via apps) and "athletic event" (excluding high school sports and fantasy contests), while requiring operators to maintain player accounts tracking deposits, wagers, and winnings. The legislation also sets civil and criminal penalties for violations and amends multiple existing statutes to implement these changes. This directly affects Minnesotans who place bets, licensed betting operators, and tribal casinos operating under existing compacts.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 1073 is a symbolic joint resolution designating January 16 as Religious Freedom Day in Minnesota. It recognizes the historical significance of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (enacted January 16, 1786) and commits the state legislature to celebrating religious diversity while affirming that religious freedom is a fundamental right for all Minnesotans, regardless of their beliefs or lack thereof. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but encourages respect for all individuals' religious practices and promotes the protection of religious freedom from interference.

Maddy summarySF 264 prohibits possessing dangerous weapons, including rifles and shotguns, within Minnesota's Capitol complex (excluding the National Guard Armory) starting August 1, 2025. It directly affects individuals with concealed carry permits who previously had an exception allowing them to carry rifles/shotguns in public places, by eliminating that exception specifically in the Capitol area. The bill amends existing law to clarify that permit holders may no longer carry these weapons in the Capitol complex without violating felony possession rules, though exceptions remain for law enforcement on duty and for evidence display with permission. This creates a uniform ban on rifles and shotguns in the Capitol complex, aligning it with existing restrictions for other dangerous weapons.

Maddy summarySF 271 modifies licensing requirements for substance abuse counselors in Minnesota and strengthens protections for individuals objecting to religious elements in treatment. It requires counselors to complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years, including specific training on diversity, ethics, and secular treatment approaches for clients with religious objections. The bill prohibits courts or treatment programs from forcing individuals to participate in religious components of care, mandates documentation of religious objections, and requires offering equivalent non-religious alternatives. This directly affects licensed counselors (through updated education rules) and people in substance use disorder treatment programs (particularly those with religious objections to treatment). The bill amends multiple statutes including 241.415 (release plans for offenders) and 244.0513 (treatment program requirements).

Maddy summaryThis bill asks the U.S. Congress to approve Minnesota's request to swap its existing statue of Henry Mower Rice for a new statue of former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey in the National Statuary Hall. Under federal law, states can replace their donated statues after ten years, and Minnesota has chosen Humphrey to honor his long career in public service and his role in passing the Civil Rights Act. The state will handle the costs of removing the old statue and installing the new one, while the original Rice statue will be given to the Minnesota Historical Society. This resolution is a formal step in a process that requires final approval from the Library of Congress Joint Committee before the change can happen.