Sen. Steve Cwodzinski

Maddy summarySF 1470 requires Minnesota public schools and districts to include student attendance data from the previous school year in their annual school performance reports. This data must be reported alongside existing metrics like academic performance, student safety, and demographics. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 120B.36 to add attendance data as a mandatory reporting element, effective July 1, 2025. It directly affects all Minnesota public schools that produce performance reports required by state law.

Maddy summarySF 1071 would allow Minnesota local governments (like cities and counties) to choose ranked choice voting for their local elections. The bill creates procedures for jurisdictions to adopt the system, including rules for counting votes where voters rank candidates by preference instead of selecting just one. It specifies that if a voter ranks multiple candidates equally or ranks more than one at the same position, that vote is handled as a partial defect. This bill does not require any jurisdiction to adopt ranked choice voting, only permits them to do so if they choose, and applies only to local elections, not state or federal races.

Maddy summarySF 1471 requires Minnesota school districts to notify families when a student is dropped from the attendance roll due to 15 consecutive school days of absence without instruction. Schools must contact families directly to encourage reenrollment and share the student's contact information with the state Department of Education (DOE). The DOE then becomes responsible for notifying families about community resources, the child's right to return to their school, and other educational options. The bill applies to students withdrawn for absenteeism, not voluntary withdrawals, and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 1460 allows school districts to renew expiring capital projects referendums through a school board resolution instead of holding a new voter vote. This applies when the renewal amount matches the expiring referendum, the term does not exceed the original duration, and the board holds a public hearing with a recorded vote. The board must adopt a written resolution by June 15 of the renewal year and submit it to the commissioner and county auditor by September 1. This change directly affects school districts seeking to extend existing capital project funding without requiring voter approval for renewals.

Maddy summarySF 534 authorizes the city of Chaska to establish social districts - public areas adjacent to licensed alcohol venues where consumption (but not sales) is permitted. It requires Chaska to formally designate district boundaries, hours, and days via ordinance, with clear signage showing consumption rules and disposal requirements for alcohol containers. The bill mandates specific container rules (non-glass, 16oz max, "Drink Responsibly" labels) and requires the city to report on the district's impact to the legislature within 24 months. This directly affects Chaska residents, businesses near designated districts, and on-sale licensees operating in those areas.

Maddy summarySF 1383 modifies financial assurance requirements for mining permits in Minnesota, specifically affecting companies seeking permits for nonferrous metallic minerals (like copper or zinc). The bill requires applicants to provide an environmental liability insurance policy covering pollution cleanup costs during mining and reclamation, with the required amount set by the commissioner. It also mandates that the commissioner annually reviews and updates the financial assurance (cash bond or deposit) needed to cover reclamation costs and corrective actions if permits are violated. These changes apply to new permits and permit modifications for nonferrous mining operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's requirement for school districts to implement sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention programs. It directly affects public school districts by adding specific curriculum elements, including medically accurate information on abstinence until marriage and other prevention methods, while requiring programs to be inclusive of all students regardless of protected class status. Key provisions mandate that district programs include updated planning materials, coordination with health agencies, targeted efforts for at-risk adolescents, and parent/community involvement. The bill also clarifies that programs must align with existing health curriculum standards and allows district assistance for nonpublic schools participating in the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota Statutes to modify mining restrictions in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) and Rainy River headwaters. It maintains a general prohibition on mining in the BWCA but adds a specific exception: mining for taconite, iron ore, sand, gravel, or granite may proceed on state lands in the Rainy River headwaters if the commissioner of natural resources determines it won't harm the BWCA. The bill requires the commissioner to investigate alternatives before approving such mining and mandates legislative approval for permits in these cases. It directly affects state land management decisions and mining operations in these specific regions.

Maddy summarySF 1336 allows Minnesota school districts to begin the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years before Labor Day, which is typically the first Monday in September. This temporary exception applies only to those two specific school years and requires districts choosing this option to report their start date to the state education commissioner. The commissioner must then submit a report by January 5, 2027, listing all districts that started before Labor Day for those years. The bill does not change the standard start date permanently but provides a limited, two-year exception with reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a moratorium on environmental reviews and permits for new nonferrous sulfide ore mining projects (such as copper, nickel, or gold mines) until specific safety conditions are met. Before issuing permits, Minnesota’s environmental agencies must confirm that a similar mine in the U.S. operated safely for 10 years, closed safely for 10 years without pollution, and used comparable reclamation techniques in a similar environment. Project applicants must prove these conditions, and agencies must allow public comment and hold hearings if new evidence challenges the proposed review. Existing permits for such projects must be renewed every 10 years with updated applications. The bill directly affects mining companies seeking new projects and state agencies responsible for environmental oversight.