Sen. Ann Rest

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals participating in Minnesota's medical assistance program (Medicaid) to pay annual assessments based on their inpatient and outpatient revenue, as reported in Medicare cost data. The funds collected must cover the state's share of directed payments to these hospitals under existing law. Certain hospitals - like critical access facilities, children's hospitals, Indian Health Service providers, and rural hospitals - receive exemptions or discounts to meet federal requirements. The assessments begin no earlier than January 1, 2026, pending federal approval of the bill and related changes to state law.

Maddy summaryThis is a non-binding resolution passed by the Minnesota State Senate. It urges Congress to reject any federal proposals that would reduce Medicare or Social Security benefits, citing concerns about impacts on Minnesota seniors (over 1 million residents), disabled individuals, and veterans. The resolution specifically condemns actions that would diminish these programs and directs the Secretary of State to send it to congressional leaders. It does not create new law or alter program benefits, but formally expresses the Senate's support for maintaining these programs' current strength.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate Bill 3197 establishes a tax on large social media platforms that collect consumer data from Minnesota residents. It directly affects for-profit social media businesses with more than 100,000 Minnesota users monthly, imposing a tiered tax based on user volume: $0 for ≤100,000 users, $0.10 per user over 100,000 for 100k-500k users, $40,000 plus $0.25 per user over 500k for 500k-1 million users, and $165,000 plus $0.50 per user over 1 million users. The tax applies to data collection (not just user count), with platforms required to verify Minnesota residency and pay quarterly. Revenues fund the state general fund, and businesses can claim credits for similar taxes paid to other states.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 2879 modifies eligibility rules for the state's small business investment tax credit. It raises the private equity investment cap from $4 million to $15 million and clarifies that qualifying businesses must have at least 51% of employees, payroll, and contractual agreements tied to Minnesota operations. The bill also updates restrictions on business activities (excluding certain sectors like real estate) and requires businesses to avoid public stock exchanges for 180 days after receiving qualifying investments. These changes aim to make the credit more accessible to small Minnesota businesses engaged in innovation, as defined under Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 116J.8737.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate Bill 3065 would impose a monthly tax on social media companies based on the number of Minnesota users whose data they collect. It targets for-profit social media platforms with more than 100,000 Minnesota users per month, charging tiered rates: $0.10 per user for 100,001-500,000 users, $0.25 for 500,001-1,000,000 users, and $0.50 for over 1 million users. The tax applies to data collection (not just user count), with "Minnesota consumer" defined as residents based on address or IP. The bill would take effect for data collected after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's election administration rules, primarily affecting voters registering on election day and election officials. It expands acceptable proof of residence for same-day registration to include student fee statements and clarifies voter vouching rules (limiting registered voters to vouching for up to eight people per election day). It also requires residential facilities to provide employee lists to county auditors 20 days before elections for use in voter registration. The bill amends multiple statutes covering voter registration, absentee voting, election judge appointments, and election timelines, while repealing the voting equipment grant account.

Maddy summarySF 2983, the "Jay Boughton Evidence Access Act," requires prosecutors in Minnesota to seek a court-ordered protective measure before publicly releasing certain evidence in criminal cases that could cause significant privacy violations or emotional distress to victims (as defined in state law) or third parties. This applies specifically to evidence like 911 call recordings requested for law enforcement, fire, or medical services, with special consideration given to minors. The law mandates that prosecutors must file such evidence under seal and obtain a court order to limit unnecessary disclosure, while still allowing defendants access to evidence under existing criminal procedure rules. The bill takes effect August 1, 2025, for cases filed on or after that date.

Maddy summarySF 2999 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Administration to create and deliver an online grants management training program for state agency staff. The training must cover essential topics like grant management policies, fraud indicators, and job-specific skills, and include a required exam. All state employees assigned grant management duties must complete initial training before starting and annual refresher training each year. This bill directly affects state agency staff handling federal or state grants, aiming to standardize training across departments. (Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16B.97, amended by adding subdivision 6).

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $10,000 income tax subtraction for Minnesota taxpayers who volunteer as fire or rescue workers, increasing to $20,000 for married couples filing jointly where both spouses qualify. It directly affects volunteer firefighters (per §299N.03), ambulance personnel, emergency medical responders, and search/rescue team members who complete at least 40 hours of qualified work annually without working full-time (1,600+ hours). The subtraction reduces taxable income, not the tax bill itself, and applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024. This policy change specifically targets volunteer emergency service workers to offset their out-of-pocket costs.

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.