Sen. Julia Coleman

Maddy summarySF 787 modifies Minnesota's open meeting law (Minnesota Statutes §13D.02) to remove the current annual limit of three remote participation instances for local government board members. The bill allows any member of a public body (like city councils or school boards) to participate remotely without restriction, provided they meet existing requirements: all participants must be able to see/hear each other, the public at physical locations must have full access to discussions, at least one member must be physically present, and votes must be by roll call. This change directly affects local government bodies by streamlining remote participation during meetings. The bill maintains other core open meeting principles but eliminates the previous three-time-per-year cap for remote attendance.

Maddy summarySF 2468 amends Minnesota Statutes § 609.377 to establish mandatory minimum sentences for severe child punishment. It directly affects parents, guardians, or caretakers who cause specific harm, including head/eye injuries to children under four, multiple bruises, substantial bodily harm, or great bodily harm. The bill sets mandatory prison terms (1-10 years) and fines ($1,000-$20,000) based on harm severity: 1-5 years for substantial harm or repeat offenses, and 2-10 years for great bodily harm. These penalties apply to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025. The law does not create new offenses but increases sentencing requirements for existing violations.

Maddy summarySF 2432 authorizes the city of Waconia to create designated "social districts" where people can consume alcohol purchased from nearby licensed businesses in public areas adjacent to those businesses. The city must define specific boundaries, hours, and days for each district through an ordinance and post clear signs indicating rules, including disposal requirements for alcohol when leaving. Businesses must sell alcohol in non-glass containers labeled with "Drink Responsibly" and limited to 16 ounces, while consumers must dispose of alcohol before exiting the district unless re-entering the licensed premises. The city must also report to the legislature within 24 months on the district's operation, community impact, and safety concerns.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $22 million from state bond proceeds to fund the design, construction, and equipment of the Chanhassen Bluffs Sports Complex in the city of Chanhassen. The complex will include two indoor ice sheets, a walking track, indoor turf fields, playgrounds, meeting spaces, and other amenities for public use. The state will issue bonds up to $22 million to cover these costs, as authorized under Minnesota bonding statutes. The funds are specifically directed to the city of Chanhassen for this regional recreation facility, which will serve local residents and visitors.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 2466) modifies Minnesota's Paid Leave Law to clarify who qualifies for benefits. It updates definitions to include employees working primarily in Minnesota (50% of hours) or working across states with Minnesota residence (50% of year), while excluding self-employed workers, independent contractors, and seasonal hospitality workers (defined as ≤180 days/year in hospitality with specific revenue thresholds). The bill also expands the definition of "family member" to include in-laws and individuals with personal care relationships, and allows the state to contract private companies to process benefits and handle tax withholdings. These changes affect Minnesota workers, employers, and self-employed individuals seeking paid leave under the law.

Maddy summarySF 2350 modifies Minnesota's training requirements for mandatory reporters who must report suspected child maltreatment. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 260E.065 to require that at least half of the training time focuses on identifying signs of maltreatment (as defined in statute), and that training covers all maltreatment types listed in section 260E.03. It also mandates that training content include input from professionals like medical staff, attorneys, and social workers. This applies directly to individuals legally required to report child maltreatment, such as teachers, healthcare workers, and child care providers. The changes aim to standardize and enhance the practical content of existing reporter training programs.

Maddy summarySF 2084, the "Supporting Women Act," would establish a state grant program to fund nonprofit women's pregnancy centers and maternity homes in Minnesota. The bill provides grants to organizations that offer free or low-cost support services - including housing, medical referrals, mental health care, and parenting education - to pregnant women and new mothers in crisis, homelessness, or at risk of homelessness. Grants cannot be used for abortion counseling, referrals, or services (except in life-threatening cases), and recipients must maintain strict privacy protections for client information. The commissioner of health would administer the program and monitor compliance with these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $X (amount unspecified in text) from the general fund for one-time grants in fiscal year 2026 to support transitional housing. It provides funding to eligible organizations to renovate existing facilities into transitional housing sites, renovate current sites, build new sites, or improve safety, sanitation, accessibility, and habitability of existing sites. The funds are specifically designated for use under Minnesota Statutes section 256K.48, targeting organizations operating transitional housing programs. The bill directly affects providers of temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness, enabling facility improvements through state grants.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 2352 modifies the state's tax rules for health insurers and health plan companies. It clarifies that "direct business" includes stop-loss insurance for self-funded health plans but excludes reinsurance and self-insurance, and creates a new definition for "health plan company" covering specific health plans while excluding certain corporations. The bill adjusts the tax rate for health maintenance organizations and similar entities to 1% of gross premiums (minus returns) and changes how insurers can offset guaranty association assessments against their premium tax liability. These changes apply to premiums received after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's human services commissioner to regularly update lawmakers and seek federal approval for children's mental health projects, while also identifying funding gaps in residential facilities for youth. It establishes crisis stabilization facilities for immediate mental health care, creates a legislative task force to study residential facility challenges, and mandates new licensing for facilities serving youth with sexual behavior concerns. The bill also requires a financial study on residential facilities and directs the commissioner to provide reports on service coordination and screening protocols for children in protective care or juvenile justice systems. These changes directly affect county human services agencies, residential facilities, mental health providers, and children receiving these services.