Sen. Bonnie Westlin

Maddy summarySF 931 establishes the Minnesota Health Plan, a state-run program guaranteeing health coverage for all Minnesota residents. It requires the plan to cover all necessary medical, dental, vision, mental health, and prescription services without co-pays, with premiums based on income. The bill creates a Minnesota Health Board to manage the plan, a Health Fund for financing, and new oversight roles like a patient advocate ombudsman. All residents automatically qualify, with specific rules for temporary out-of-state residents, visitors, and nonresident workers.

Maddy summarySF 65 authorizes special tax increment financing (TIF) rules for Maple Grove, Minnesota, specifically for areas with challenging soil conditions. It creates "soil deficiency districts" where the city can use TIF to fund infrastructure preparation (like filling or grading) when soil issues impair development and the preparation cost exceeds the land's pre-preparation value. This applies to parcels making up at least 80% of a project area (excluding streets/rail rights-of-way) with conditions like peat soils or terrain requiring substantial filling for commercial use. The bill amends existing TIF laws to allow Maple Grove to utilize this special funding mechanism for qualifying land development projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's child support law to clarify when the public authority must redirect payments to a caregiver (like a relative or foster parent) when children live with them. It requires the public authority to send written notice to the child support recipient, payer, and caregiver detailing the redirected amount, children involved, and date, plus the right to contest the change within 30 days. If contested, a hearing must be held within 30 days, and payments stay with the recipient until resolved. The redirection automatically ends if the caregiver no longer receives public assistance, the placement agreement expires, or the court order ends. The bill affects child support recipients, payers, and caregivers in cases where children reside with a third party.

Maddy summarySF 529 proposes adding a new constitutional section to Minnesota's state constitution that states: "Elections shall be free, fair, and equal. No civil or military power shall, at any time, interfere with the free exercise of the right to vote." If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, this amendment would take effect January 1, 2027, directly affecting all Minnesotans participating in state elections. The bill requires voters to approve the amendment with a "Yes" or "No" vote on the question: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide for free, fair, and equal elections and prohibit civil and military powers from interfering with the right to vote?"

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Revenue to create an online system for taxpayers to claim refunds on political contributions. It directly affects individuals who contribute $10+ to candidates or parties (eligible for up to $75 individually or $150 for couples) and political organizations that must issue electronic refund receipts. Key provisions include mandating unique receipt validation numbers, enabling secure electronic data sharing between the Campaign Finance Board and Revenue Department, and classifying receipt data as nonpublic. The system becomes effective January 2027, with civil penalties of up to $3,000 for improper receipt issuance.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's sales tax exemption to include firearm safety devices (like trigger locks) and secure firearm storage units (locked containers sold by licensed dealers). It directly affects gun owners purchasing these items, as they will no longer pay sales tax on them, and sellers of these products. The bill also prohibits sellers from collecting or sharing personal data about buyers of exempt items, treating such information as private data under existing law. The changes take effect for sales after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summarySF 894 establishes "Donate Life" special license plates for Minnesota drivers. To obtain these plates, vehicle owners must pay an additional $10 annually to a special account supporting Donate Life's mission of promoting organ and tissue donation. The bill requires the commissioner to design plates featuring Donate Life branding and specifies that funds collected will cover administrative costs before supporting Donate Life's work. These plates are transferable between eligible vehicles owned by the same person for a $5 fee.

Maddy summarySF 914 allocates funding to Minnesota's State Board of Civil Legal Aid for legal services programs serving low-income residents. It appropriates $43 million for fiscal year 2026 and $55 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund, with future base amounts set at $69 million for 2028 and $84 million for 2029. The funds will be distributed to legal aid organizations under existing law (Minnesota Statutes § 480.242) to support civil legal assistance. This bill directly affects nonprofit legal aid providers across Minnesota that help vulnerable populations with housing, family law, and other civil matters. The measure focuses solely on funding levels without altering program eligibility or service requirements.

Maddy summarySF 893 requires Minnesota school districts and charter schools to provide annual violence prevention training for middle and high school students, including identifying warning signs and using threat-reporting systems. It mandates new electronic reporting of active shooter incidents, threats, and dangerous weapon use in school zones to the commissioner of education and the Minnesota Fusion Center, detailing incident circumstances, costs, and responses. The bill also directs the Department of Public Safety and Education to jointly develop and publicly list research-backed, no-cost violence prevention programs by July 1, 2024, updating the list biennially. These changes directly affect school districts, students, and state agencies responsible for safety data collection and resource coordination.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the city of Plymouth to establish up to two tax increment financing (TIF) districts within its city center district (as defined in the 2024 zoning map). It modifies standard TIF rules by automatically meeting certain requirements, exempting the districts from a specific state rule, and extending two key time periods: the initial planning period from five to ten years and the post-expiration use period from five to eleven years. The bill directly affects Plymouth's local government and future redevelopment projects in the designated city center area. The authority to create these districts expires December 31, 2031.