Sen. Judy Seeberger

Maddy summarySF 674 appropriates $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Minnesota Commissioner of Veterans Affairs. The funds are designated for a grant to Hometown Hero Outdoors, a Stillwater-based nonprofit, to provide outdoor recreational activities combined with mental health services. This program directly supports currently serving military personnel and veterans across Minnesota, aiming to improve mental health outcomes and quality of life through structured outdoor engagement. The bill focuses on funding a specific existing nonprofit's services rather than creating new state programs or regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 1640) creates tax and fee exemptions for volunteer firefighters' vehicles in Minnesota. It allows volunteer firefighters who provide documentation from their fire department chief to be exempt from registration taxes, administrative fees, filing fees, and plate/sticker fees on eligible vehicles (passenger cars, pickup trucks, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles). The exemption applies to up to two vehicles registered jointly with a spouse or domestic partner, but does not cover personalized plate fees or special plate donations. It directly affects volunteer firefighters by reducing their vehicle ownership costs under Minnesota Statutes. The exemption takes effect for registration periods starting January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $110,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. The funds will support the Society in providing resources and training specifically for home gardeners, educators, community gardeners, and urban farmers across Minnesota. The training focuses on adapting to Minnesota's cold climate growing conditions. This is a direct funding allocation with no new regulations or requirements for recipients.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's requirements for Community Emergency Medical Technicians (CEMTs) and expands Medicaid coverage for their services. It adds new certification rules, including cultural competency training and practice under physician-approved protocols, while limiting CEMT scope to non-medication services like health assessments and discharge follow-up. Medicaid will now cover CEMT post-hospital visits (for vital signs, medication access, and home safety) and safety evaluations for high-risk patients, paid at $100/hour or $25/15-minute increments. These changes directly affect CEMTs, Medicaid recipients receiving post-discharge care, and healthcare providers coordinating patient services.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's requirements for individualized education programs (IEPs) by directing the commissioner of education to amend rules to require only measurable annual goals in IEPs, removing the prior requirement for benchmarks or short-term objectives. It directly affects school districts and IEP teams developing plans for students with disabilities. The key change simplifies documentation while maintaining focus on measurable annual outcomes, as specified in Section 2 of the bill. The amendment applies to Minnesota Rules, part 3525.2810, subpart 1, item A.

Maddy summarySF 2123 appropriates funds from the workforce development fund for teacher apprenticeship programs in Minnesota, directly affecting school districts and teacher training programs. It requires funded programs to include five key components: school district involvement, mentor-led on-the-job training, approved related instruction, wage increases tied to skill levels, and a path to a Tier 3 teaching license. School districts can partner with higher education institutions or other entities to develop these programs, and funding is a one-time appropriation for fiscal years 2026-2027. The commissioner of education must report to legislative committees on program implementation and recommend improvements by 2026.

Maddy summarySF 2085 establishes a pilot program to help seniors aged 55+ in Lake, St. Louis, and Washington counties reduce living costs by matching them with adults needing affordable housing who can rent spare rooms in their homes. The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency will administer the program using $150,000 in state funds, requiring participating organizations to handle communications, manage payments, conduct background checks, and verify renters' employment or school status. The program directly affects seniors seeking to offset housing costs and adults needing affordable housing in those three counties. It creates a structured matching system rather than direct subsidies, focusing on connecting available housing space with housing needs through a state-funded pilot.

Maddy summarySF 2111 repeals Minnesota Statutes section 626.892, which established a specific process for selecting neutral arbitrators in disputes between peace officers and their employers over disciplinary actions. This bill directly affects peace officers and their law enforcement employers by eliminating the requirement to use a roster of six pre-approved arbitrators appointed by the Bureau of Mediation Services. The key mechanism is removing the detailed rules for creating the arbitrator roster, including qualifications related to cultural competency and the three-year term structure. The repeal means future grievance arbitrations for peace officers will no longer follow this mandated selection procedure.

Maddy summarySF 2125 increases payment rates for nonemergency medical transportation providers serving Minnesota health care program beneficiaries (such as Medicaid recipients). The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 256B.0625, specifically subdivision 17, to adjust the reimbursement rates these providers receive when transporting patients to covered medical appointments. This change directly affects transportation companies, ambulances, taxicabs, and public transit systems enrolled in Minnesota’s health care programs. The policy update ensures providers are compensated at higher rates for services that help beneficiaries access nonemergency medical care.

Maddy summarySF 2129 imposes a 50% gross revenue tax on Minnesota-based manufacturers and retailers selling products containing PFAS (perfluoroalkyl substances), defined as fluorinated chemicals with at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom. Manufacturers pay tax on revenue from PFAS products sold to distributors, while retailers pay tax on retail sales within Minnesota. Revenue from this tax will fund a dedicated cleanup account in the special revenue fund, managed by a newly established XX Advisory Commission, to support statewide environmental remediation. The bill requires monthly reporting but no immediate tax payments, with annual filings due by the same schedule as other Minnesota taxes.