Sen. Julia Coleman

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits disciplinary dismissals for kindergarten through grade 3 students in Minnesota public schools, expanding existing protections to cover all such dismissals except for absences of less than one school day or cases involving students receiving special education services under federal law. It requires schools to exhaust other interventions before using expulsions or exclusions, which are permitted only when there is an ongoing serious safety threat. The law amends Minnesota Statutes section 121A.425 to clarify these restrictions. This directly affects all public schools serving K-3 students statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's nonemergency medical transportation rules for medical assistance programs. It updates reimbursement rates for transportation providers to ensure fair payment that reflects service costs, especially for providers serving people with disabilities. The changes require the state to encourage coordination among transportation providers and extend competitive bidding to include nonemergency medical transportation services. These provisions apply to medical assistance recipients needing transportation to medical appointments and directly affect transportation providers serving this population. The updated rules expire for fee-for-service plans on July 1, 2026, and for prepaid plans on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a technical amendment to the Minnesota Constitution to update specific language in Article I for consistency with current Minnesota Statutes. It corrects minor grammatical inconsistencies and outdated phrasing (e.g., changing "his the member's peers" to "his peers" in Section 2) without altering any substantive rights or legal protections. The amendment directly affects the wording of the state constitution itself, aligning it with modern statutory drafting standards. It has no direct impact on citizens, policies, or voting rights, as it only addresses technical language. This is a procedural update, not a policy change.

Maddy summarySF 178 appropriates $25 million annually for town road maintenance and $10 million annually for town bridge maintenance in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, funded from the state's general fund. The bill directs the commissioner of transportation to distribute these funds according to existing rules under Minnesota Statutes section 162.081. This funding supports local governments responsible for maintaining town-level roads and bridges, without creating new requirements or altering current distribution methods. It is a straightforward funding measure with no new policy provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the $500 cap on both reasonable attorney fees and punitive damages for discrimination lawsuits filed in public accommodations (like restaurants or hotels) under Minnesota Statutes § 604.12, subdivision 3. It directly affects plaintiffs who sue businesses for discrimination, allowing courts to award higher fees and damages without the current $500 limit. The key change amends the statute to eliminate these specific monetary caps, replacing the current language that restricted fees and punitive damages to $500 each. This is a substantive policy change affecting civil litigation costs and potential damages in discrimination cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's "Read Act" to require public schools to use literacy instruction based on the "science of reading" (explicit, systematic teaching of phonics, decoding, and comprehension) and prohibits the use of the "three-cueing system." It directly affects K-3 schools, teachers, and students by mandating evidence-based curricula, approved reading screeners, and professional development. Key mechanisms include creating an Office of Achievement and Innovation within the Department of Education, establishing a school performance report system, and requiring districts to adopt local literacy plans by July 1, 2025. The bill also eliminates outdated provisions and recodifies related education policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students enrolled in online instructional programs (under Minn. Stat. § 124D.094) to take Minnesota state assessments remotely starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It requires the Department of Education to establish policies covering proctor ratios, technology requirements, parental consent, and testing environment monitoring. The bill appropriates $200,000 for the 2026 fiscal year to develop these remote testing policies and conduct validation activities comparing remote and in-person test scores. These changes directly affect students in online schools and the Department of Education, which must implement the new remote testing framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 718) would remove a current prohibition that prevents Minnesota's Public Utilities Commission from issuing a "certificate of need" for new nuclear power plants. If passed, it would directly affect nuclear energy developers and the commission by allowing them to approve new nuclear plant construction. The key change is amending Minnesota Statutes section 216B.243 to eliminate the specific ban on certifying new nuclear facilities. This does not address existing plants or spent fuel storage provisions, only the new construction prohibition. The bill focuses on enabling regulatory approval for potential future nuclear projects.

Maddy summarySF 2817 requires Minnesota public school athletic teams to be designated as "male," "female," or "coed" based solely on participants' biological sex at birth. It directly affects all school-sponsored interscholastic, intramural, and club athletic programs in Minnesota. The bill mandates that teams designated for females must only include participants who were biologically female at birth, with no exceptions for transgender or non-binary students. This policy change alters how schools organize and admit students to gender-specific sports teams.

Maddy summarySF 2707 requires Minnesota's Housing Finance Agency to publish and prominently display information about landlords' and tenants' rights and obligations on its website. This bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 462A.07 by adding a new subdivision directing the agency to promote this information, including material referenced in section 504B.275. The bill directly affects landlords and residential tenants by making key legal information more accessible through the agency's online resources. It does not change existing tenant or landlord rights but mandates the agency to proactively share existing legal guidance.