Sen. Julia Coleman

Maddy summarySF 3919 appropriates $1 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to provide grants to local governments. These grants fund additional traffic safety enforcement activities in designated "safe road zones" under Minnesota Statutes § 169.065. The funding is a one-time allocation available until June 30, 2027, and directly supports cities and counties implementing targeted traffic safety measures. The bill creates no new policy but allocates existing funds for specific enforcement purposes in existing safe road zones.

Maddy summaryThis bill reallocates unused funds originally designated for the Blue Line light rail extension project to fund an arterial bus rapid transit line in the same planned corridor. It cancels unencumbered funds from the 2023-2024 Blue Line project budget (set to expire June 2027) and directs that money to the Metropolitan Council for bus rapid transit development. The funds are a one-time appropriation available until June 2029, specifically for building bus service along the corridor previously planned for light rail. This policy change directly affects the Metropolitan Council (as the recipient) and future transit riders in the corridor, shifting project focus from rail to bus without new taxes or fees.

Maddy summarySF 3745 governs funding for the Blue Line light rail extension project (from Minneapolis' Target Field Station to Brooklyn Park). It requires that after using operating revenue and federal funds, remaining operating and capital maintenance costs must be covered by county sources, specifically Hennepin County using sales tax revenue or the county transportation sales tax. This law directly affects Hennepin County and six other counties (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Ramsey, Scott, Washington) where the Blue Line extension operates. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to establish this funding mechanism without changing the transit system's operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's definition of an "adult operator" for motorboats and personal watercraft. It raises the minimum age requirement based on birth dates: operators must be 12+ and born on or after July 1, 2004 (effective July 1, 2025), with later birth date requirements phased in over subsequent years. The change directly affects individuals operating motorboats in Minnesota who must meet these age criteria. The bill updates Minnesota Statutes section 86B.30, subdivision 3, to reflect these revised age thresholds.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3738) creates a Minnesota state income tax deduction for qualified tip income, aligning the state tax code with the federal Internal Revenue Code. It directly affects Minnesota taxpayers who earn tips, allowing them to deduct qualified tips on their state tax returns starting in 2025 (retroactively). The key provision adopts the federal deduction method for tips, as defined under Internal Revenue Code section 224, and applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024. The deduction becomes effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2028, but applies retroactively to 2025. This change simplifies tax filing for tipped workers by matching state and federal treatment of tip income.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate Bill 1047 increases the age of consent for certain criminal sexual conduct offenses from 16 to 18 years old. It specifically targets situations where a person aged 22 or older engages in sexual conduct with someone who is 16 or 17 years old. Under this bill, consent from the minor and mistaken belief about their age are no longer valid defenses, making such acts criminal sexual conduct in the third degree. The law applies to cases committed on or after August 1, 2025, and directly affects minors aged 16-17 and partners aged 22 or older in these circumstances.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's Read Act to strengthen reading interventions for students not meeting grade-level literacy by the end of third grade. It requires school districts to create personalized learning plans with parents for these students, including evidence-based instruction and progress monitoring, while prohibiting grade retention solely due to literacy delays. Starting in 2025-2026, districts must use only evidence-based literacy interventions, and by 2026-2027, unlicensed staff providing Tier 2 reading help must work under licensed teachers trained in evidence-based methods. The bill directly affects K-3 students in Minnesota public schools who are struggling with reading, along with their schools and educators.

Maddy summarySF 3669 modifies Minnesota's motor vehicle registration tax for passenger cars and hearses. It reduces the tax rate from 1.54% to 1.25% for vehicles registered before November 16, 2020, and from 1.575% to 1.285% for vehicles registered on or after that date. The bill changes the annual tax calculation, lowering the percentage applied each year (e.g., from 95% to 90% in year two) until reaching a flat $20 annual tax after the 10th year of registration. This affects all Minnesota vehicle owners registering passenger cars or hearses, with changes effective for registration periods starting January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $5 million in state bond funds to help the city of Waconia build a new water treatment facility. The money will be used to acquire land, design, construct, and equip the facility to increase safe drinking water capacity for Waconia residents. The state will issue bonds up to $5 million to cover these costs, as authorized under Minnesota law. The bill directly affects Waconia residents by funding infrastructure to improve their local water supply.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state funding program to help Minnesota charter schools cover building lease costs when their regular operating funds are insufficient. It allows charter schools to apply for "building lease aid" to pay for rented facilities, with the commissioner reviewing applications based on market rates, legal compliance, and financial need. The aid is capped at 90% of the lease cost or $1,606 per student unit (whichever is lower), must exclude maintenance/utilities, and requires leases to include a closure clause ending obligations if the school's charter expires. The program directly affects charter schools seeking affordable facilities, with annual adjustments tied to state education funding changes.