Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a work group to study and improve the safety of school bus stop locations across Minnesota. The group, requiring specific membership from transportation officials, school districts, safety organizations, and disability advocates, must analyze current policies, incident data, and factors like road conditions, pedestrian access, visibility, and accessibility for students with disabilities. It will develop recommendations for safer bus stop placement standards and report findings to the legislature by December 1, 2025. The bill directly affects all Minnesota school districts, students, and school bus operators by focusing on concrete safety improvements for bus stop locations.

Maddy summarySF 2606 modifies how funds are distributed through Minnesota's Corridors of Commerce transportation program. It sets specific regional funding targets: at least 25-27.5% for projects near I-494/I-694 (Metro Projects), at least 35-37.5% for projects in the broader metro area (Metro Connectors), and at least 35-40% for other regional projects (Regional Centers). The commissioner must calculate these percentages using funds from the current and prior two project rounds. This applies to all future funding awards starting the day after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2 million for fiscal year 2026 and $2 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Board of Water and Soil Resources. The funds support Minnesota's "Lawns to Legumes" program, which helps landowners replace turf grass with pollinator-friendly plants like legumes. The program directly affects homeowners, farmers, and land managers seeking to create habitat for bees and other pollinators. The funding enables technical assistance, cost-share incentives, and educational resources to expand the initiative.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota state government entities - including departments, counties, cities, and towns - to use federal standard time year-round starting in 2025, aligning with federal law. It modifies Minnesota Statutes to ensure all state laws reference federal standard time or advanced standard time (daylight saving time), prohibiting local time variations. The provision expires when federal law permits states to permanently adopt advanced standard time year-round. It directly affects how state operations and laws reference time, with no immediate cost or new authority for local governments.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $15 million in transportation tax revenue specifically for designing and constructing suicide prevention barriers on the Washington Avenue Pedestrian Bridge at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. The funds, redirected from the Metropolitan Council's active transportation budget, will replace the existing pedestrian enclosure and barriers to prevent suicides. The University of Minnesota Board of Regents must consult with suicide prevention organizations, experts, and individuals affected by suicide when planning the project. The bill modifies standard funding allocation rules to prioritize this safety project.

Maddy summarySF 1890 establishes a $30 million reproductive health equity grant fund to expand access to abortion care in Minnesota. The fund provides one-time grants to abortion providers, government entities, and nonprofit organizations that facilitate abortion access, with specific focus on supporting staff retention, funding free or low-cost care for uninsured patients, enhancing facility security, and improving cultural competency training. Grants must be used to grow abortion care capacity, ensure affordability regardless of income, and secure physical/digital infrastructure for providers. The fund becomes operational by January 2026, with the commissioner required to award grants within 30 days of application.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $96.5 million annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the state general fund to expand the Early Learning Scholarships program. It directly provides funding for low- and middle-income families to access early childhood education services through licensed providers. The program, administered by the Commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families, increases available scholarship funds under Minnesota Statutes §142D.25. This is a concrete funding increase, not a new program or eligibility change.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's SF 2332 authorizes the Department of Public Safety (DVS) to issue electronic driver's licenses that comply with national standards. It requires secure authentication for businesses or government entities (relying parties) accepting these licenses, prohibits tracking without consent, and mandates privacy protections for user data. Drivers must still carry a physical license while operating a vehicle but can present electronic versions without surrendering devices. Electronic credentials will incur an additional fee and expire according to existing license schedules. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, with rulemaking starting immediately after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $102,000 from the clean water fund for fiscal year 2026 to the city of Wayzata. The funds are specifically for shoreline restoration projects along Lake Minnetonka, including adding native vegetation, creating pollinator habitats, and upgrading stormwater detention basins. These actions aim to improve water quality in the lake by stabilizing shorelines and reducing runoff. The city of Wayzata is the direct recipient of this grant.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 2340) modifies Minnesota school funding formulas to adjust local revenue limits for school districts. It increases the first-tier local optional revenue from $300 to $400 per adjusted pupil unit starting in fiscal year 2027, while reducing referendum allowances by $424 for 2027 and later (and an additional $100 for 2026 calculations). The bill also updates maximum levy limits for second-tier revenue based on district-specific market values, with specific dollar thresholds for each fiscal year (e.g., $671,345 for 2027+). It includes appropriations for the Department of Education for fiscal years 2026-2027. These changes directly affect all Minnesota public school districts in calculating their local funding capacity.