Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's hunter-harvested venison donation program. It requires hunters donating legally taken deer to provide their DNR license number to the meat processor and to donate the entire deer carcass with the hide attached. Processors may offer donors a portion of the meat for a fee if requested and paid for, but the primary donation must be the full carcass for charitable food programs. The bill directly affects hunters, licensed meat processors, and food assistance organizations receiving the donated venison.

Maddy summarySF 2852 modifies Minnesota's optometry scope of practice by adding specific restrictions to optometrists' authority. It directly affects licensed optometrists in Minnesota by limiting their ability to prescribe or administer certain medications and treatments. The bill explicitly prohibits: administering prescription drugs via IV/IM/injection (except for anaphylaxis), performing invasive surgery (including laser procedures), prescribing Schedule II/III oral drugs or steroids, prescribing oral antivirals beyond 10 days, and prescribing oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors beyond 7 days. These changes clarify the boundaries of optometric practice under existing law. The bill does not expand optometrists' authority but defines specific limitations on their current scope.

Maddy summarySF 3633 would allow the City of Wayzata to impose a 1% sales tax on all restaurant food and beverage sales (including alcohol) within its limits. This tax would apply to businesses like restaurants and cafes, with the collected funds required to cover city park operations/maintenance, public safety services, and downtown business programs. The bill specifies that proceeds cannot be used for general city expenses but must fund these three designated areas, including capital improvements like park renovations or public safety facilities. Wayzata could also choose to partner with the state tax agency to collect and enforce the tax, following standard state procedures. The bill is currently in committee referral after its introduction on February 19, 2026.

Maddy summarySF 3652 would require Minnesota law enforcement agencies to use vehicles specifically designed for safely transporting people when detaining or moving suspects. The bill mandates that such vehicles must be owned or leased by a law enforcement agency, display clear agency markings, and include seats and seat belts for each person transported. Exceptions allow non-compliant vehicles during immediate threats to safety or undercover investigations. This bill directly affects all Minnesota law enforcement agencies responsible for transporting individuals in custody.

Maddy summarySF 3691 establishes an "intelligent speed assistance" program requiring certain drivers to use certified speed-limiting devices. It extends license revocation periods for extreme speeding offenses (driving 30 mph or more over the limit or exceeding 100 mph) to six months, and creates a new "speed-controlled license restriction" for drivers with multiple speeding violations. Specifically, the bill adds three speeding offenses within 12 months as grounds for license revocation, effective January 2027. This directly affects drivers convicted of repeated speeding violations or extreme speed offenses, requiring them to comply with device mandates or face extended license suspensions.

Maddy summarySF 3692 requires businesses performing commercial or retail paving with hot mix or warm mix asphalt to register as construction contractors. Sellers must verify a buyer’s registration before selling for commercial use, unless the buyer provides a valid personal-use attestation and stays within limits (five tons per transaction, ten tons annually). Unregistered buyers who falsely claim registration or personal use face criminal penalties, while sellers complying with the law are protected from civil liability. Violations by sellers can result in civil fines up to $3,000 per incident. The law takes effect on August 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySF 3690 appropriates $300,000 from the general fund for the I-494 Corridor Commission in fiscal year 2026. The funds must support programming and service expansion - including staffing, communications, outreach, education, and operations management - but cannot cover administrative costs. The Metropolitan Council must disburse the full amount by June 30, 2026, as a one-time appropriation. This bill directly affects the I-494 Corridor Commission’s ability to operate and engage communities along the I-494 corridor.

Maddy summarySF 3582 creates a refundable sales tax exemption for construction materials used in six specific projects in Wayzata, Minnesota, from January 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030. The exemption applies to materials for expanding Depot Park, building community docks on Lake Minnetonka, restoring shorelines with native plants, restoring the Section Foreman House as a learning center, constructing Eco Park (including water quality improvements), and building a regional multiuse trail. Purchasers must pay the sales tax upfront but will receive a refund processed by the state commissioner of revenue, with refunds delayed until after June 30, 2026. The state appropriates funds from the general fund to cover these refunds.

Maddy summarySF 3581 allows the City of Wayzata to use tax increment financing (TIF) funds from TIF District No. 6 for specific local projects, including a lakefront pedestrian walkway, Eco Park improvements (like shoreline restoration and water quality projects), Section Foreman House restoration, and Depot Park accessibility upgrades. The bill amends existing law to permit these expenditures, which are deemed to occur within the TIF district, overriding standard TIF spending rules. It applies exclusively to Wayzata's TIF District No. 6 and requires the city to meet administrative procedures before taking effect. This is a targeted authorization for local infrastructure, not a statewide policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $5.3 million from state bond proceeds to fund the demolition and reconstruction of Minnetonka's Fire Station #2 in the city's northeast quadrant. The funds cover new construction, equipment, and specific upgrades needed for 24-hour operations - including housing, decontamination, gear storage, and training space. The state will issue bonds up to $5.3 million to cover this cost, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law. The project directly affects the city of Minnetonka and its fire department operations. The bill is currently in early legislative stages, having been introduced on February 17, 2026.