Sen. Bonnie Westlin

Maddy summarySF 2146 creates a new legal process for vulnerable adults (Minnesota residents aged 18+ with diminished capacity) or their representatives to seek court orders preventing financial exploitation. It allows petitions to be filed in any county where the vulnerable adult, petitioner, or respondent lives (no residency requirement), with waived filing fees and a court hearing within 14 days. The court must consider factors like prior exploitation history, the adult's financial decision-making capacity, and investigative findings from agencies. Petitioners must also file a maltreatment report within five days of filing the petition.

Maddy summarySF 756 amends Minnesota Statute 346.021 to require finders of lost animals (estrays) to give notice to the owner within seven days if the owner is known, or to file a public notice within ten days if the owner is unknown. It directly affects individuals who find lost animals by imposing a legal obligation to provide this notice. The key provision creates civil liability for finders who fail to comply, making them liable for double the damages the owner suffers due to the lack of notice. This change aims to streamline the process for owners to reclaim lost animals while clarifying consequences for non-compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $15 million from regional transportation tax proceeds to the University of Minnesota for replacing suicide prevention barriers on the Washington Avenue Pedestrian Bridge in Minneapolis. The funds must be used to design and construct new pedestrian enclosure and deterrent barriers, with requirements to consult suicide prevention organizations and experts during planning. It directly affects the University of Minnesota (as the grant recipient) and bridge users, particularly those at risk of self-harm. The provision modifies standard transportation fund allocation rules to prioritize this specific safety project.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the funding amount for existing innovative service-learning grants under Minnesota law. It directly affects eligible schools (public school districts, charter schools, tribal schools) and their community partnerships, which use these grants to develop student-led projects addressing community needs. The key mechanism is amending the current funding provisions to provide higher award amounts for grants that support service-learning programs integrated into school curriculum. These programs require student participation, alignment with academic standards, and collaboration between schools and community partners to foster civic engagement and career readiness. The change does not alter program requirements but provides more financial support for existing initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota Statutes to strengthen oversight of child care providers receiving state assistance. It defines "kickbacks" (such as payments for child care subsidy benefits) as intentional program violations, requiring administrative disqualification for three years on first offense or permanently for repeat violations. The bill mandates written notice 15 days before disqualification, includes a 30-day appeal period, and requires the Department of Human Services to prove violations by a preponderance of evidence. Additionally, it allows electronic signatures for required documentation and prohibits hiring practices designed to obtain child care assistance funds.

Maddy summarySF 1457 requires all Minnesota public school districts and charter schools to develop and implement cardiac emergency response plans by the 2026-2027 school year. The plan must include AED placement guidelines, annual staff training in CPR and AED use, cardiac emergency simulations before each school year, and clear protocols for responding to cardiac arrests on school grounds or at school events. The bill appropriates $2 million (available until June 2027) to help schools purchase AEDs, CPR equipment, and cover related training costs. It directly affects schools, athletic programs through the Minnesota State High School League, and school staff responsible for emergency response.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act and Official Records Act to strengthen privacy protections for personal data held by government entities. It requires government agencies to implement stricter procedures for maintaining data accuracy, securing private information (like email addresses and library borrowing records), and limiting access to confidential data only to authorized personnel. The changes specifically clarify that contact information provided to government entities for notifications or subscriptions is private data and may only be used for its intended purpose. These provisions directly affect all state and local government agencies that collect or maintain personal information, ensuring consistent handling of sensitive data across departments.

Maddy summarySF 2618 creates a new grant program administered by Minnesota’s Pollution Control Agency to help counties clean up environmental contamination and address blight on properties that have become county-owned through tax forfeiture or foreclosure. Counties can apply for grants to remediate pollution, conduct testing, or fix unsafe conditions on these properties, with funding proposed for fiscal years 2026-2027. To qualify, counties must submit detailed applications showing property ownership, contamination evidence, blight documentation, and a remediation plan. The program prioritizes counties’ ability to cover costs without grants and ensures equitable regional distribution of funds. This bill directly affects local governments managing tax-forfeited properties with environmental or safety hazards.

Maddy summarySF 1721 clarifies reporting requirements for Minnesota's community supervision system. It requires the Corrections commissioner to submit annual reports by January 15 each odd year to legislative committees, including workload studies, caseload data, and projections for community supervision populations. The bill also creates a 19-member Community Supervision Advisory Committee with diverse representation - including county probation directors, behavioral health providers, individuals with supervision experience, victims' advocates, and judicial/prosecution/defense representatives - to develop standards for probation and community supervision. Additionally, it exempts federal law enforcement agents transporting individuals from being classified as "protective agents" under state law and removes outdated provisions related to civil commitment for incarcerated individuals with mental illness.

Maddy summarySF 828 establishes a working group to examine whether local campaign finance reports for county, city, school district, and township candidates should be filed with the state Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board instead of local officials. The group, composed of state board members, local government representatives, and legislative leaders, must study filing logistics, current local support capabilities, reporting requirements, and budget impacts, then submit recommendations by January 15, 2026. The bill appropriates funds from the general fund to cover the group's administrative costs through June 2026. This procedural bill focuses on studying potential changes to reporting systems without altering current campaign finance laws.