Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits hotels in Minnesota from selling, offering, or providing single-use plastic bottles containing shampoo or conditioner to their guests. The law applies to all establishments classified as hotels under existing state definitions and takes effect on January 1, 2027. Hotels found in violation could face civil penalties of up to $50 per bottle, with a maximum fine of $10,000, and the state attorney general would be responsible for enforcement. The legislation aims to reduce plastic waste by eliminating these specific disposable items from hotel amenities.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's transportation design standards to give local governments more flexibility in requesting variances from state engineering rules for county state-aid projects. It requires the Department of Transportation commissioner to evaluate variance requests within 30 days and mandates that denials include written justification shared with legislative committees. The law specifically prioritizes variances for designs that narrow lanes in urban areas, improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists near schools and transit, or follow nationally recognized design guides. These changes apply to roadway projects approved on or after July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota municipalities to hold at least two public hearings before approving the construction of new data centers. The legislation mandates that specific information about the proposed facility be disclosed to the public at least 48 hours before each hearing, including details about the applicant, the end user, the site location and size, security guard arrangements, and utility requirements. These disclosure rules apply regardless of any private agreements that might otherwise restrict information sharing. The law takes effect on August 1, 2026, and applies to data center agreements entered into on or after that date.

Maddy summarySF 3694 authorizes the City of Minnetonka to impose a local 0.5% sales and use tax, subject to voter approval, to fund specific public projects. The revenue must be used exclusively for: new fire stations (Fire Station 2 and 3), trail construction, renovations to The Marsh health center, and a community park. The city may also issue bonds up to $116.1 million to finance these projects, with repayment secured by the tax revenue. This tax would expire after 30 years or once project costs are fully covered, whichever comes first.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the deadline for the Minnesota Compensation Council to set salaries for certain state officials. Specifically, it moves the required date from April 1 to May 1 in each odd-numbered year for prescribing salaries for constitutional officers (like governors and attorneys general) and agency heads. The change affects the Council's schedule for recommending these salaries, which take effect on July 1 of the same year and subsequent even-numbered years. The bill does not alter the salary amounts or other existing deadlines for judges' salaries or board member compensation.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's wetland replacement ratio requirements. It changes the standard 2:1 replacement ratio (two acres restored for each acre drained) to a 1:1 ratio specifically for wetlands on agricultural land or in areas with over 80% agricultural use. This directly affects farmers, developers, and landowners working with wetlands on agricultural properties. The key provision simplifies compliance for agricultural wetland impacts while maintaining stricter requirements for nonagricultural land. The change applies to all wetland replacement plans under Minnesota Statutes sections 103G.222 and 103G.2242.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow individuals in Minnesota to request a speech condition identifier, such as one for stuttering, on their driver's licenses or state identification cards. The change would require the commissioner to add a graphic or written symbol upon the applicant's written request while prohibiting the inclusion of specific medical details on the document. Applicants could also request the removal of this identifier when renewing or replacing their license by paying the standard fee. The measure directly affects Minnesota residents seeking to indicate speech conditions on their identification documents without disclosing private medical information.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a 10-cent excise tax on each plastic bottle sold in Minnesota that holds less than three liters of beverage, targeting bottle distributors or beverage producers who sell directly to retailers. The tax revenue would be collected quarterly and deposited into a dedicated water infrastructure account to fund projects like sewer systems, water treatment facilities, and drinking water improvements. Funding from the account would prioritize projects in local governments with lower tax bases, and the measure would take effect on January 1, 2026, with provisions expiring on December 31, 2030.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new special license plate program in Minnesota for vehicles used in winter sports conservation. Vehicle owners who register for these plates will pay a fee that contributes money to a dedicated conservation account. The collected funds will be split evenly between snowmobile trail development and waste reduction efforts on ice. The special plates will feature the phrase "WINTER SPORTS CONSERVATION" and can be transferred between vehicles owned by the same person. The program will begin operating on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Minnesota state agencies and local governments to use untreated rainwater or stormwater for outdoor purposes like irrigating parks or gardens, as long as there's no risk of people or animals consuming it or swimming in it. It explicitly prohibits using this water for drinking, swimming, or growing food crops for humans or livestock. The law applies to all government entities that set water-quality standards, expanding permitted outdoor water reuse without requiring treatment for low-risk applications. It focuses on practical, non-potable uses while maintaining safety restrictions.