Sen. Judy Seeberger

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $22.5 million in state bond proceeds to fund the design and construction of realigning County Road 19A and 100th Street South in Cottage Grove, Washington County. The funds will be provided to Washington County through a grant administered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The state will issue bonds up to $22.5 million under existing state bond laws to cover this project. The bill becomes effective the day after final enactment.

Maddy summarySF 1935 prohibits the elective declawing of cats in Minnesota, meaning it bans surgical removal of claws for cosmetic or convenience reasons (like making cats easier to handle). The bill allows declawing only for medically necessary procedures addressing infections, injuries, or health issues. It imposes civil penalties of $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second, and $2,500 for third or subsequent violations, recoverable by county attorneys or the state. This directly affects veterinarians performing such procedures and cat owners who might request elective declawing.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's requirements for restrictive procedures and seclusion in schools, directly affecting school districts and students with disabilities. It mandates that schools maintain publicly accessible plans detailing their use of restrictive procedures, including positive behavior strategies, de-escalation training, and oversight committee reviews. The bill also requires schools to notify parents within two days of any restrictive procedure use and mandates meetings to review seclusion data and modify behavior plans when procedures are used frequently. Additionally, it specifies which trained professionals may legally apply these procedures and requires districts to document any medical or psychological limitations that contraindicate their use.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state employees, University of Minnesota staff, and other specified organization workers to report suspected theft, embezzlement, or misuse of public funds in writing to the legislative auditor. The requirement applies unless reporting would knowingly interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation. Violations of this reporting requirement are classified as gross misdemeanors. The law takes effect on August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a task force within the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs to improve access to mental health services for veterans living in rural areas. The task force will be responsible for reviewing current challenges and developing recommendations to address veterans' mental health needs in these regions. Funding is allocated to support the task force's operations over three fiscal years, with the exact amounts to be determined later. The legislation directly affects rural veterans and the state veterans affairs agency tasked with their care.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3.5 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to the commissioner of public safety. The funds will be granted to the Fencing Consortium to help local government facilities (that are members of the consortium) purchase anti-scale fencing, pedestrian doors, and vehicle gates. The stated purpose is to improve equitable access to "a de-escalation and safety tool" for these facilities. This is a one-time appropriation, not a recurring funding source.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases property tax refunds and renters credits in Minnesota by lowering the portion of rent that taxpayers must pay out of pocket. It directly affects renters in the state whose rent includes property taxes, adjusting the income thresholds and co-pay percentages they must contribute. The key change involves raising the household income limits for various credit tiers and reducing the percentage of rent that claimants must pay, which increases the maximum credit amount available to eligible renters. These adjustments are designed to provide greater financial relief to renters by allowing them to claim a larger portion of their property tax burden as a refundable credit. The legislation amends existing Minnesota statutes to implement these new calculation standards for renters credits.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the time limit for prosecuting certain theft and fraud crimes in Minnesota, particularly those involving public funds or significant financial losses. It directly affects prosecutors and law enforcement by allowing them more time to file charges against individuals accused of stealing government money or committing large-scale fraud. The key change increases the statute of limitations for theft of public funds to ten years and for high-value thefts over $35,000 to five years, while also adding provisions that pause the clock if defendants participate in pretrial diversion programs or if DNA evidence is being analyzed. The law applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2026, and to older crimes if their prosecution deadline has not yet expired.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that employees in Minnesota can voluntarily choose to skip their mandatory meal breaks, provided they do so in writing or electronically and can revoke the waiver with reasonable notice for future shifts. It requires employers to pay employees for any time worked during a waived meal break and explicitly prohibits employers from forcing employees to give up their breaks. The changes apply to all workers covered under Minnesota's meal break laws and aim to formalize the process for requesting and revoking break waivers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires manufacturers of menstrual products sold in Minnesota to list intentionally added synthetic ingredients on the outer packaging that consumers first see. The law applies to any menstrual product distributed in the state that contains synthetic ingredients, affecting manufacturers and retailers who sell these items. Manufacturers must clearly identify these synthetic components on the primary packaging visible to buyers, while enforcement would follow existing consumer protection regulations. The measure aims to increase transparency about product contents without specifying which synthetic ingredients must be disclosed.