Sen. Bonnie Westlin

Maddy summarySF 3833 establishes a 14-member Legislative Commission on Legislative Security to study security needs for Minnesota state legislators and staff while working in their districts. The commission, composed of seven Senate members (appointed by the Rules Committee) and seven House members (appointed by the Speaker), must analyze security issues and review proposed legislation affecting officials' safety. It will elect a chair alternating between Senate and House members annually and may hire staff to support its work. The bill creates a formal process for ongoing security assessment but does not change existing security policies or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Minnesota counties, cities, and towns to prohibit or restrict the possession of dangerous weapons, ammunition, or explosives in their owned or leased buildings and land. Local governments must post conspicuous, prominently displayed signs with specific wording (e.g., "BANS GUNS") to communicate the ban, and exceptions apply for law enforcement officers on duty or individuals with written permission. Violating the ban would be classified as a misdemeanor, with the law taking effect on August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the role of volunteers in Minnesota's guardian ad litem program, which advocates for the best interests of children, minor parents, and incompetent adults in juvenile and family court cases. It amends existing state law to explicitly state that the program includes both volunteers and paid staff working under the State Guardian Ad Litem Board. The legislation requires the board to establish standards, policies, and procedures for the program while approving budgets and distributing funding, and allows the board to adopt rules ensuring quality advocacy for clients.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires social services agencies in Minnesota to provide new or like-new luggage to children entering, moving between, or exiting foster care. The law specifically prohibits agencies from using disposable bags or cardboard boxes and prevents them from reclaiming the luggage once provided. Agencies may accept donations of suitable bags and must report annually on their compliance with these requirements. The changes take effect on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill, SF 4829, limits access to child care centers in Minnesota by restricting when immigration enforcement officials can enter these facilities. It directly affects licensed child care centers, license-exempt centers, and their employees. Under the new law, employees cannot allow immigration officials to enter for civil enforcement purposes unless those officials present a warrant signed by a judicial officer, and employees must request valid identification and a written statement of purpose from any official entering the facility. The law does not prevent entry by officials administering state or federally supported child care programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Minnesota State Patrol to provide security and protective services to the governor, governor-elect, supreme court justices, legislators, and other constitutional officers when credible threats to their safety are identified. It requires the commissioner of public safety to consult with the governor before deploying State Patrol members for protection duties and allows for overtime compensation for those providing security services. The legislation also creates a new Capitol Complex Security Division within the Department of Public Safety, placing it under the supervision of a director who must be a State Patrol member. Additionally, the bill mandates that the State Patrol provide security to state buildings and property as needed after consultation with the governor.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prohibit individuals from possessing firearms in buildings owned or controlled by state or local governments in Minnesota, with exceptions for licensed peace officers, military personnel on duty, and those with written permission from building supervisors. The law would classify firearm possession in these government-administered buildings as a felony punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000, or both. The prohibition would take effect on August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes committed on or after that date, while excluding locations already covered by other firearm restrictions in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $1,000,000 from the state's general fund to the Secretary of State for election administration in 2026 and to replace federal funding that will no longer be available. It also requires a one-time transfer of $1,000,000 to a dedicated account for voting operations, technology, and election resources. The funds are designated for fiscal year 2027 and are intended to support election services and resources without changing existing statutory requirements.

Maddy summarySF 3834 expands Minnesota's data privacy protections to include current and former state legislators, who were previously excluded. The bill defines "covered officials" to explicitly include legislators and protects specific personal information like residential addresses, phone numbers, children's names, and school details from public posting. It requires businesses or government entities to remove such protected information within 30 days upon a written request from a covered official, with legal remedies available for noncompliance. Additionally, the bill creates a legislative task force to study broader privacy protections for all Minnesota government officials, including potential improvements to current laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill, SF 3710, prevents Minnesota's Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board from publishing individuals' street addresses on its website in campaign finance reports. It classifies full street addresses as private data, directly affecting candidates and officeholders who file campaign reports. Key provisions include requiring the Board and local governments to remove or modify existing reports with street addresses online and allowing candidates to use campaign funds for security-related expenses (up to $5,000 for monitoring and $25,000 for services) after elections. The bill also removes certification requirements for designating an address as private on campaign filings.