Sen. Ron Latz

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the authority of the Minnesota Attorney General to issue subpoenas for specific records held by various businesses and organizations. It directly affects telephone and internet providers, utility companies, financial institutions, hotels, pawn shops, transportation services, and insurance firms by allowing the Attorney General to request their data. The key provision requires that these subpoenas be used only when the records are relevant to an ongoing law enforcement investigation. By updating existing statutes, the legislation clarifies the types of entities from which the Attorney General can obtain information for public safety purposes.

Maddy summarySF 4067 adds a specific provision requiring the Minnesota State Patrol to provide security and protection to the chief justice of the Supreme Court, explicitly authorizing patrol members to act as peace officers for this purpose. It also adjusts base funding levels for Minnesota's judicial branches starting in fiscal year 2028, increasing the Supreme Court's base to $51,636,000, the Court of Appeals to $15,871,000, and the District Courts to $402,918,000. These funding changes are technical adjustments to existing base amounts, not new programs. The bill directly affects the judicial branch's budget and the State Patrol's duties regarding chief justice security.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota law to explicitly include gift cards as "retail merchandise" under the definition of organized retail theft. It affects retailers (who sell gift cards), law enforcement (who will prosecute these cases), and individuals involved in theft rings targeting gift cards. The key change redefines "retail merchandise" to cover all gift cards (both physical and digital), meaning theft of gift cards will now be treated the same as theft of physical goods under organized retail theft statutes. This update ensures gift card fraud can be prosecuted under existing penalties for organized retail theft starting August 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySF 4064 modifies several court procedures in Minnesota. It raises the mandatory arbitration threshold for small claims from $10,000 to $20,000 and increases conciliation court jurisdiction limits to $20,000 (or $4,000 for consumer credit cases). The bill also requires the Department of Revenue to share tax data with courts for jury lists and allows district courts to publish notices online. Additionally, it clarifies how driver's license data - including race/ethnicity - may be shared with the judicial branch for jury sourcing purposes. These changes primarily affect courts, plaintiffs, defendants in small claims, and jury administrators.

Maddy summarySF 4068 modifies Minnesota's driver's license rules in three key ways. It changes license revocation requirements for certain impaired driving cases under the ignition interlock program, clarifying which offenses trigger mandatory license suspension. The bill classifies driver's license indicators (like no-alcohol restrictions) as "private data" under Minnesota law, limiting how this information can be shared. It also adds new privacy protections, allowing license applicants to classify their residence address as private data for safety reasons and restricting how personal license data can be disclosed to third parties or federal agencies. These changes directly affect drivers with license restrictions, applicants seeking privacy protections, and the state's handling of driver data.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-time $10 million fund to reimburse Minnesota cities for costs related to federal immigration enforcement activities expected between December 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026. Eligible expenses include operations for public safety, emergency management, public works, and legal counsel incurred during that specific period. Cities must submit verified cost reports to the state auditor by August 2026, after which funds will be distributed proportionally based on each city's certified expenses. The legislation also requires cities to return any state aid received if they subsequently obtain federal reimbursement for the same costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes allocating $5 million from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to support Twin Cities Public Television. The funds are designated for a grant to help the organization lease property in St. Louis Park and build a museum featuring interactive, immersive, and multimedia exhibits. The money will be released only after the state confirms that non-state funding has been secured to finish the project, and it is intended as a one-time payment. The legislation directly affects Twin Cities Public Television and the city of St. Louis Park by providing financial assistance for this specific construction and development initiative.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's liquor laws to allow 17-year-olds to serve or sell alcohol in establishments with an on-sale license (like restaurants or bars), while maintaining the current prohibition for those under 18 in off-sale venues (like liquor stores). It directly affects 17-year-old workers in on-sale establishments and the businesses employing them. The key change modifies the existing age restriction in statute 340A.412, subdivision 10, removing the blanket under-18 ban for on-sale settings. The amendment does not change rules for off-sale liquor sales or the requirement that servers be at least 17 for on-sale locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal mechanism in Minnesota that allows the state attorney general to sue firearm industry members for public nuisance. It directly affects businesses involved in the sale, manufacturing, importing, distribution, or marketing of firearms and related products. The legislation requires these companies to implement reasonable controls to prevent sales to prohibited individuals, stop theft, and ensure compliance with existing laws. If a company knowingly or recklessly fails to meet these standards, the attorney general can seek court orders to stop the conduct, force cleanup at the company's expense, and award financial damages.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates three new state funds to support housing stability in Minnesota, including a Homeownership Opportunity Fund, a Rental Opportunity Fund, and a Community and Household Stability Fund. To finance these programs, it proposes increasing the state sales and use tax rate by three-eighths of one percent, with the collected revenue directed into these accounts. The legislation establishes councils to oversee how the money is spent, ensuring that funds are used for emergency assistance, legal services, shelter operations, and the construction or rehabilitation of housing for those at risk of homelessness. Additionally, the bill mandates that projects funded by these sources must adhere to prevailing wage requirements similar to those for state construction projects.