Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $15 million from state bond proceeds to fund specific improvements at The Marsh facility in Minnetonka. The funds will support the city's acquisition of property, renovation of the facility (including ADA accessibility upgrades, energy-efficient systems, and safety features), and exterior repairs with environmental enhancements. The money is authorized through the sale of up to $15 million in state bonds under existing bond law. The city of Minnetonka directly receives the grant to implement these facility upgrades.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 479 modifies how sales tax revenue from vehicle repair and replacement parts is distributed in Minnesota. It directs 43.5% of this tax revenue to the highway user tax distribution fund each year, with increasing percentages (starting at 3.5% in 2024 and rising to 56.5% by 2030) going to the transportation advancement account. The remaining revenue after these allocations is deposited into the state general fund. This change affects state transportation funding by shifting more resources toward road maintenance and improvement programs over time.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $153 million from Minnesota's general fund to the state transportation commissioner for matching federal funds under the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). It directly enables Minnesota to access additional federal infrastructure funding for transportation projects by providing the required state match. The funds are a one-time appropriation available until June 30, 2029, and must comply with existing requirements from 2023 legislation. This allows Minnesota to leverage federal IIJA dollars for road, bridge, and transit projects without creating new state programs.

Maddy summarySF 216 appropriates $15 million from state bond proceeds to fund the Opus Public Space project in Minnetonka. The funds will be used by the city of Minnetonka to acquire land, design, build, and equip a public gathering space with a plaza, parking, trails, and visitor amenities near the Southwest Light Rail Transit Opus station. This appropriation is in addition to prior funding authorized in Laws 2023, chapter 71. The bill authorizes the state to sell up to $15 million in bonds to finance this project under Minnesota bonding statutes. The project directly benefits Minnetonka residents and visitors using the new public space.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's tax credit for teachers by expanding eligibility to include master's degrees in special education. It directly affects licensed teachers pursuing advanced degrees in special education fields, such as those focusing on developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, or learning disabilities. The key change adds "special education" to the list of qualifying fields under the existing $2,500 tax credit, which covers tuition and related costs for eligible degrees completed after June 2017. The credit remains capped at the lesser of $2,500 or actual qualified expenses, and can only be claimed once per degree. The change takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.