Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart

Maddy summarySF 3839 authorizes Minnesota to issue $200 million in housing infrastructure bonds to fund housing projects. It establishes annual transfers from the state general fund to a housing bond account, with specific amounts and timeframes: up to $6.4 million yearly from 2015-2037 for one bond series, $800,000 annually from 2017-2038 for another, and smaller amounts for additional series through 2049. The bill directly affects the state budget process and future housing infrastructure projects by creating a dedicated funding mechanism. It does not specify particular housing projects but provides a structured way to finance them through bond issuance and state payments. The bill is currently in committee referral stage and not yet enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota law to allow schools to share a student's home address with school-age child care programs (as defined in state law) specifically for mailing program information to the student's home. It directly affects schools and licensed child care programs serving school-aged children. The key provision creates an exception to the general rule prohibiting schools from sharing home addresses as "directory information," but only for the limited purpose of mailing program materials. Child care programs receiving this information are prohibited from further sharing or using it for any other purpose.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $150,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for a grant to the Women's Environmental Institute. It directly supports aspiring Black, Indigenous, and People of Color farmers facing limited land access by funding direct farm expense grants, training in regenerative organic farming, infrastructure, and project coordination. One-third of the funds must serve communities outside Minnesota's seven-county metro area. The one-time appropriation expires June 30, 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies water supply planning and reporting requirements for the Metropolitan Council and related agencies in Minnesota's metropolitan area. It establishes two new advisory committees - a policy committee with representatives from state agencies, counties, municipalities, and Tribal groups, and a technical committee with water system experts - to guide regional water planning. The policy committee will develop a metropolitan water supply plan emphasizing conservation, cooperation, and sustainability, while both committees provide recommendations to streamline decision-making and clarify funding needs. The bill also requires the Metropolitan Council to submit regular reports to the legislature on water planning activities and findings.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for Metropolitan Council grant programs to include Tribal governments and Tribal development entities in seven Minnesota counties. It modifies state statutes to formally recognize Tribal entities alongside cities, counties, and other development authorities when applying for funding related to housing initiatives, community development, and environmental projects like tree planting and forest management. The changes allow Tribal governments to receive grants for affordable housing projects, local housing incentives, and environmental improvements such as shade tree planting and climate-adapted forest establishment, provided they meet the same distribution criteria and matching fund requirements as other eligible recipients.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Minnesota's current law that prevents cities and counties from creating their own firearm regulations. It allows local governments to establish zoning rules for where firearm dealers can operate (e.g., location restrictions for stores), which they could not do under existing law. The bill specifically repeals sections of Minnesota Statutes that previously blocked local control over firearm sales locations and other firearm-related regulations. This change directly affects cities and counties, giving them new authority to address firearm safety concerns through local zoning decisions.

Maddy summarySF 3799 modifies Minnesota's Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission rules to update its operations and extend specific grant deadlines. It changes how the commission elects a chair (from annually to biennially), requires that park and trail projects receiving funds must be part of a commission-approved master plan, and updates annual reports to show recommendations by regional district. The bill extends the deadline for five specific projects to use allocated parks and trails funds until June 30, 2027 (for four projects) or 2028 (for one project), including the Mesabi Trail in St. Louis and Lake Counties and Oxbow Park in Olmsted County. These changes affect the commission, the six regional districts outside the seven-county metro area, and the counties/cities named in the extensions.

Maddy summarySF 2240 prohibits websites, apps, software, or programs from allowing users to access, download, or use "nudification technology" - defined as altering images or videos to reveal intimate body parts without consent or making such depictions appear realistic. It directly affects platform operators and users who might employ this technology, with penalties including civil fines of at least $500,000 per violation. Victims of violations can seek compensatory damages (up to three times actual harm), punitive damages, injunctions, and attorney fees. The law takes effect August 1, 2025, and applies to violations occurring after that date.

Maddy summarySF 3997 modifies Minnesota's rules for delivering nonoxygenated gasoline in bulk. It adds a new requirement that such deliveries (500 gallons or less) must go directly into either (1) the attached fuel tank of a vehicle exempt under another law, or (2) a bulk tank on the premises. The bill maintains existing limits: nonoxygenated gasoline can only be sold for exempt vehicles, and only one storage tank per location may be used. This affects businesses delivering nonoxygenated gasoline to qualified vehicles or facilities, ensuring deliveries align with specific exemption criteria.

Maddy summarySF 4041 appropriates $225 million in state bond proceeds to fund clean water infrastructure projects across Minnesota. It directly affects municipalities by providing grants for emerging contaminants cleanup ($22 million), matching federal water infrastructure loans ($19 million), municipal water system upgrades ($60 million), and point source pollution control ($124 million). The bill authorizes the state to sell general obligation bonds to raise this funding, with specific allocation requirements for qualified capital projects. This legislation enables local communities to improve drinking water safety and wastewater treatment systems through dedicated state financial support.