Sen. Bonnie Westlin

Maddy summarySF 4042 requires all Minnesota public K-12 schools to implement 24/7 anonymous reporting systems by July 2028. These systems must include mobile apps, multilingual crisis centers staffed by trained professionals, and coordinated responses to threats involving students or staff. Schools must also provide evidence-based violence prevention training for students and public awareness about the system. Nonpublic schools are exempt, and the Department of Education must maintain a list of compliant third-party systems by 2027. The bill aims to improve school safety through accessible reporting while ensuring data privacy compliance.

Maddy summarySF 1204 requires dental insurance organizations in Minnesota to pay out at least 85% of premiums as claims (a "loss ratio" of 85%). If they fail to meet this, they must provide rebates or improved benefits to policyholders. Dental organizations must annually report their loss ratios and financial details to the Commerce Department by March 1, starting in 2027, with the data published online for public comparison. This directly affects dental insurers and their enrollees (policyholders) by increasing accountability for how premiums are used. The bill takes effect between 2026 and 2028, depending on the provision.

Maddy summarySF 42 appropriates $2,026 from the general fund to the Minnesota Department of Health for a one-time grant to the Division of Indian Work. The funds will support developing and piloting a culturally specific suicide prevention curriculum for Native American youth. The curriculum must cover mental health, emotional intelligence, depression, and suicide prevention to help students understand mental wellness and learn practical support tools. This bill directly affects Native American youth in Minnesota through targeted educational programming.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Minnesota school districts and charter schools to continue counting all students enrolled before January 1, 2026, in their average daily membership for funding purposes through the end of the 2025-2026 school year, even if those students are not attending regularly. It directly affects school districts and charter schools by ensuring they maintain funding eligibility for students who remained enrolled but may have been absent due to circumstances like the pandemic. The key provision retroactively applies from January 1, 2026, and is limited to the 2025-2026 school year only. This change modifies existing enrollment counting rules under Minnesota Statutes section 126C.05, subdivision 11.

Maddy summarySF 2940 modifies Minnesota's Consumer Data Privacy Act to explicitly classify consumer health data as "sensitive data," requiring stronger protections. This affects Minnesotans whose health information (like diagnoses, treatments, medications, or mental health status) is collected by businesses, and the businesses handling this data. The bill amends specific sections of Minnesota Statutes (325M.11, 325M.12, etc.) to add health data to the list of sensitive data types, mandating additional safeguards for its collection, use, and sharing. These changes align with existing protections for other sensitive data like biometrics under the law. The bill does not introduce new enforcement mechanisms but clarifies that health data requires the same heightened privacy standards as other sensitive categories.

Maddy summarySF 3837 allocates $ from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund a public awareness campaign about extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs). The campaign, run by the state public safety agency, aims to educate both the public and law enforcement about ERPOs. The agency may contract with private organizations to help develop and deliver this information. This bill solely provides funding for awareness efforts and does not change ERPO laws or procedures.

Maddy summarySF 3631 prohibits possessing dangerous weapons, ammunition, or explosives in Minnesota's Capitol complex courthouses and specific state buildings (excluding the National Guard Armory). It makes this a felony punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. The law includes exemptions for law enforcement officers on duty, permit holders who notify authorities, individuals displaying weapons as evidence with sheriff approval, and retired officers with specific security roles. The bill takes effect on August 1, 2026, directly affecting anyone entering these buildings without an exemption.

Maddy summarySF 3601 authorizes the city of Plymouth to impose a local sales and use tax of up to 0.5% (one-half of one percent) on taxable purchases, pending voter approval. The tax revenues must fund specific projects: $45 million for Plymouth Ice Center improvements (including a parking ramp), $40 million for Plymouth Community Center upgrades (including a fieldhouse), and $35 million for regional sports complexes. The city may also issue up to $120 million in bonds to finance these projects, with the tax repaying the bonds, and the tax would expire after 20 years or when project costs are fully covered. This bill directly affects Plymouth residents and businesses through the new tax, while directing funds toward local recreational infrastructure.

Maddy summarySF 3632 requires Minnesota's Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training to create a model safety policy for elected officials by December 2026, which must include maintaining officials' addresses, establishing communication methods, and providing security as needed. Local law enforcement agencies must adopt identical or substantially similar policies by September 2027. The law directly affects all local police departments and sheriff's offices in Minnesota that serve communities with elected officials at federal, state, or local levels. Noncompliance could result in licensing penalties or court-ordered enforcement.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's SF 3630 raises minimum auto insurance coverage requirements for bodily injury and property damage. It increases liability coverage limits from $30,000/$60,000 to $100,000/$200,000 per person/accident and property damage from $10,000 to $30,000 per accident. The bill also raises uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage minimums from $25,000/$50,000 to $75,000/$150,000 per person/accident for vehicles registered or garaged in Minnesota. These changes apply to all new or renewed policies issued on or after August 1, 2026.