Sen. Judy Seeberger

Maddy summaryThis bill requires certain facilities handling hazardous chemicals to immediately notify local emergency responders when a reportable chemical release occurs. Specifically, it amends Minnesota law to mandate that oil processing facilities (defined under state law) must contact local emergency personnel *in addition* to reporting to the State Emergency Management Operations Center. The requirement applies to releases of hazardous substances listed under federal law (42 U.S.C. §§ 9602, 11002), excluding incidents affecting only on-site personnel or authorized releases. The law ensures faster local response by streamlining notification to both state and community emergency teams.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota law to expand the definition of a "prior qualified human trafficking-related offense" for sentencing purposes. It changes the definition to include any prior conviction or adjudication for human trafficking-related violations committed at any time in a person's lifetime (not just within the past ten years), as well as similar offenses from other states. This affects individuals convicted of human trafficking crimes under Minnesota law or comparable out-of-state laws, potentially increasing sentencing severity based on broader prior offense history. The amendment applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases criminal penalties for assaulting firefighters, emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, or health providers in hospital emergency departments who suffer demonstrable bodily harm. Currently, assaulting firefighters or EMS with bodily harm is a gross misdemeanor (up to 2 years or $4,000 fine), but the bill elevates this to a felony (up to 3 years or $6,000 fine). It also expands protections to include physicians, nurses, and other health care providers working in hospital emergency departments. The law takes effect August 1, 2025, applying to assaults committed on or after that date.

Maddy summarySF 1330 requires that if an inmate in a county jail or similar local facility assaults a sheriff or deputy, the new sentence for the assault must run consecutively to any prior sentence. This means the person cannot have time served for earlier offenses counted toward the new assault sentence and must serve the full consecutive term in a state facility. The bill directly affects inmates in local correctional facilities who commit assaults against law enforcement officers, changing their sentencing rules under Minnesota Statutes 609.2232. It applies to assaults committed on or after August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10 million from state bond proceeds to fund Washington County's design and construction of a public works and environmental center. The funds will be provided as a grant to Washington County through the commissioner of employment and economic development. The state will issue up to $10 million in bonds under existing bond laws to cover this cost. The bill directly affects Washington County residents by enabling a new public facility for maintenance and environmental services.

Maddy summarySF 1147 appropriates $7.5 million for fiscal year 2026 and $7.5 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Metropolitan Council. The funds are specifically for hiring additional sworn officers and covering their staff and equipment costs within the Metro Transit Police Department. This bill directly affects Metro Transit Police operations by providing dedicated funding to expand their staffing capacity. The measure focuses solely on allocating state funds for this purpose, with no additional policy provisions.

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 summarySF 901 appropriates $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to provide equine-experiential mental health therapy to eligible first responders through Abijah's on the Backside. It directly affects active or retired peace officers, firefighters (full-time and volunteer), ambulance personnel, 911 telecommunicators, and correctional officers suffering from job-related trauma or PTSD. The bill requires the grant recipient to submit two reports detailing program budget, expenditures, participants served, and services provided - due January 2026 and January 2028. This is a one-time appropriation with no ongoing funding mechanism.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates unspecified funds for Minnesota's existing Soil Health Financial Assistance Program, which provides financial support to farmers adopting soil health practices. It allocates money for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, limiting grants to $50,000 per recipient annually and allowing up to 6.5% of the total appropriation for program administration. Unspent funds from 2026 automatically carry over to 2027, and contracts signed by June 30, 2027, remain valid until June 30, 2029. The program directly benefits agricultural producers who implement soil health practices, with funding administered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture under existing law (M.S. §17.134).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Commerce Commissioner to apply for a federal waiver to continue the state's "premium security plan" (a health insurance program) after 2027, with an application due by December 31, 2026. It also authorizes a one-time transfer of $413 million from the state's general fund to the premium security plan account in fiscal year 2026. The plan provides health coverage to eligible Minnesotans, and this funding ensures continued operation and access to federal support. The bill directly affects participants in Minnesota's premium security plan and the state's budget management.