Sen. Bonnie Westlin

Maddy summarySF 1685 updates Minnesota's landlord-tenant laws to strengthen tenant protections. It requires landlords to provide written leases specifying the exact rental unit before signing, prohibits unilateral lease changes, and mandates 24/7 accessible contact information (name, address, phone, email) for landlords and property managers. The bill also bans listing minor children as tenants in leases or defendants in eviction cases (with exceptions only if the minor is the sole tenant) and grants prospective tenants the right to view rental units before signing. Violations will trigger penalties including treble damages or $500 (for lease issues) or $1,000 (for minor-related issues), plus attorney fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to Duluth Public Schools. The funds support the Duluth Promise initiative, which provides career planning, pathway training, and wraparound services for students in Duluth and St. Louis County. Key provisions include creating early college credit opportunities, connecting students with employers in high-demand fields like healthcare and manufacturing, and covering program costs such as instructor salaries and supportive services. The initiative aims to reduce employment barriers and address local workforce shortages.

Maddy summarySF 1606 creates a new $1,000 exemption for funds in bank accounts during garnishment proceedings. It modifies Minnesota law to protect up to $1,000 in any debtor's depository accounts (regardless of source), requiring financial institutions to leave this amount untouched during garnishment. The exemption applies to all account holders, cannot be combined with another specific exemption (subdivision 28), and takes effect for cases filed on or after August 1, 2025. This change directly affects individuals facing debt collection efforts who hold money in bank accounts.

Maddy summarySF 1609 clarifies a process for people convicted of certain felony murders to seek retroactive relief. It allows individuals convicted under Minnesota Statutes sections 609.185 (paragraph a, clause 3) or 609.19 (subdivision 2, clause 1) to petition courts if they prove they didn’t cause the death and either didn’t intentionally aid the killing or weren’t a major participant in the underlying felony. If approved, courts must vacate the original murder conviction and resentence the person for the most serious remaining offense, a related felony, or a lesser included offense. The bill ensures sentences don’t increase total confinement time and requires victim notification for any resentencing hearing.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $25 million in state bond funds to improve Hennepin County's regional trail system. The funds will be used by the Three Rivers Park District to build 10.7 miles of new trails, reconstruct 11.4 miles of existing trails, and extend the life of 30.2 miles of current trails. The money comes from state bonds sold under Minnesota's bond laws, with the project directly benefiting Hennepin County residents who use the regional trail network. The bill authorizes the sale of bonds to cover these trail improvements, effective upon final enactment.

Maddy summarySF 1071 would allow Minnesota local governments (like cities and counties) to choose ranked choice voting for their local elections. The bill creates procedures for jurisdictions to adopt the system, including rules for counting votes where voters rank candidates by preference instead of selecting just one. It specifies that if a voter ranks multiple candidates equally or ranks more than one at the same position, that vote is handled as a partial defect. This bill does not require any jurisdiction to adopt ranked choice voting, only permits them to do so if they choose, and applies only to local elections, not state or federal races.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $24.4 million in state bond funds to improve Hennepin County's regional trail system. The funds will go to the Three Rivers Park District to design, construct, and extend 52 miles of trails - adding 10.7 miles of new trails, reconstructing 11.4 miles of existing trails, and extending the life of 30.2 miles of trails. The project is funded through the sale of state bonds authorized under Minnesota law. It directly affects Hennepin County residents who use the regional trail network by enhancing trail safety, accessibility, and longevity.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's school funding rules to allow public school districts to use long-term facilities maintenance revenue for school safety facility enhancements. Specifically, it adds "school safety facility enhancements" to the list of eligible uses, including security remodeling, violence prevention equipment, and facility security modifications. School districts must now include these safety projects in their required ten-year facility plans, which also address health/safety programs and gender-neutral restrooms. The change takes effect for fiscal year 2026 funding.

Maddy summarySF 1285 authorizes the state to issue up to $32 million in bonds to fund specific public infrastructure projects in Plymouth's City Center area. The funds will support designing, constructing, and renovating infrastructure including stormwater ponds, a public parking ramp, Plymouth Boulevard reconstruction, and an expanded Plymouth Ice Center with roadway realignment. The money comes from bond proceeds, with the commissioner of management and budget responsible for selling the bonds per state law. This appropriation directly affects the city of Plymouth, providing state funding for local infrastructure improvements.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $26 million in bonds to fund specific public infrastructure improvements in Plymouth's City Center area, bounded by Vicksburg Lane and Highway 55. The funds will support constructing a public parking ramp, rebuilding Plymouth Boulevard, expanding the Plymouth Ice Center, and addressing stormwater management. The money comes from the state's bond proceeds fund and is allocated to the city of Plymouth for design, construction, and equipment. The bill directly affects Plymouth residents and businesses in this designated area through physical infrastructure upgrades.