Sen. Steve Cwodzinski

Maddy summaryThis bill (HF 475) is a memorial resolution from Minnesota requesting the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to approve replacing the statue of Henry Mower Rice in the U.S. Capitol's National Statuary Hall with a statue of Hubert H. Humphrey. It follows a 2000 law allowing states to replace statues after 10 years of display, noting Rice's statue has been in place since 1916. The resolution cites Humphrey's roles as a U.S. Senator, key architect of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and former Vice President, and states Minnesota will cover costs for removal and installation. The bill itself is procedural - it requests approval but does not enact any policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a memorial resolution requesting the U.S. Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to approve replacing Minnesota’s statue of Henry Mower Rice (currently in the National Statuary Hall) with a statue of Hubert H. Humphrey. It does not change Minnesota law but formally asks the federal committee to permit the swap, as allowed under a 2000 law. Minnesota would cover costs for removing Rice’s statue (to the state historical society) and installing Humphrey’s statue, which already stands at the Minnesota State Capitol. The resolution cites Humphrey’s legacy as a civil rights leader, U.S. Senator, and Vice President.

Maddy summarySF 3498 directs the Metropolitan Council to allocate 3.7% of regional transportation sales tax revenue collected in the metro area to SouthWest Transit. This amendment to Minnesota Statutes section 473.4465 specifically requires the Council to share this fixed percentage of funds with SouthWest Transit as a replacement service provider. The bill does not create new funding streams but mandates a specific allocation of existing tax revenue for SouthWest Transit's operations. It directly affects SouthWest Transit's funding from the regional transportation sales tax.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota Statutes to update school requirements for sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention programs. It requires all public school districts to include "abstinence until marriage" as a specific component within their medically accurate, unbiased curriculum. The changes maintain existing elements like parent involvement, staff training, and coordination with health agencies, while adding this explicit abstinence education requirement. The bill directly affects Minnesota public school districts, which must revise their STI prevention programs to comply with these updated standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the giant beaver (*Castoroides ohioensis*) as Minnesota's official state fossil. It requires the commissioner of natural resources to approve a photograph of the fossil, which must be preserved and displayed in the Office of the Secretary of State. The bill makes a ceremonial change to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 1, with no financial or regulatory impact on residents or businesses.

Maddy summarySF 3400 modifies medication management rules for assisted living facilities in Minnesota that provide dementia care. It requires these facilities to honor resident requests for lower-potency hemp edibles (in forms like gummies, chews, or softgels) as defined by state law. The bill specifically adds this requirement to existing medication management policies, which already cover prescription drugs, storage, error resolution, and resident education. This directly affects dementia residents in assisted living facilities with medication management services, ensuring they can access these specific hemp-based products if requested. The change updates current practices without altering broader medication management standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $800,000 from the general fund to the Department of Education for a one-time grant to Cultural Connections. The grant requires creating and distributing translated videos explaining Minnesota's school system to immigrant students and parents at 320 public middle and high schools. The videos must be in parents' first language and include distribution instructions to schools. The goal is to help immigrant families understand the school system, support student integration, and reduce achievement gaps through parental involvement. The bill directly affects immigrant students, their families, and participating schools.

Maddy summarySF 2523 modifies Minnesota's Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) rules to improve retirement benefits for educators. It allows teachers to retire without penalty at age 60 with 30 years of service, adjusts early retirement reductions, and removes delays for postretirement adjustments. The bill increases employer contributions to the TRA fund (from 13.3% to 17.3% for most members by 2026) and raises school district pension adjustment rates (from 1.05% to 2.05% by 2026). These changes directly affect public school teachers in the TRA system, school districts funding retirement, and the state budget through new appropriations.

Maddy summaryHF 62 is a technical correction that moves references to existing student attendance laws from Minnesota Statutes Chapter 120A to their appropriate chapters elsewhere in the statutes. This bill does not change any attendance policies, rules, or requirements for students, schools, or families. It only reorganizes where these laws are codified in the state code for clarity and consistency. The bill has no substantive impact on education practices or student attendance.

Maddy summaryHF 2067 modifies Minnesota school attendance rules by changing how student absences are tracked and reported. It requires school boards to establish written rules for issuing and recording excused absences (replacing current informal practices) and clarifies that students are counted as "in attendance" only when school staff are paid to supervise them. The bill directly affects all Minnesota public school districts and their staff, who must implement these new reporting procedures by July 1, 2025. Key changes include standardized documentation for absences and updated reenrollment notification processes for students returning after extended absences.