Sen. Jim Carlson

Maddy summarySF 866 requires Minnesota's commissioner of veterans affairs to provide grave markers for veterans upon request from county veterans service officers or approved veterans organizations. It amends Minnesota Statutes section 197.23, making the provision of markers mandatory (replacing "may" with "shall") within available funds. The bill appropriates specific funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to cover these markers, which must permanently mark veterans' graves within Minnesota. This directly affects veterans' families and the commissioner's office by establishing a funded process for grave markers.

Maddy summarySF 1616 allocates $5 million from the general fund for a veteran mentorship program targeting Black youth in Minnesota. The bill requires the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to fund an organization that will employ veterans to mentor Black youth, aiming to prevent youth violence and help participants explore military careers. The funding is specifically broken down: $1.5 million for veteran mentor salaries, $2 million for community outreach and education, $1 million for youth engagement activities, and $500,000 for program administration. This is a one-time appropriation for fiscal year 2026, directly affecting Black youth through structured mentorship and career exploration opportunities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-funded program to extend the design life of pavement on Minnesota's trunk highways from 20 years to at least 50 years for eligible projects. It directly affects the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), which must use the program to fund pavement design revisions for trunk highway projects already in the state's transportation plan with a proposed design life of 20 years or less. Key mechanisms require projects to meet a cost-effectiveness ratio of at least 2 (comparing baseline pavement costs to modified project costs over their design lifetimes) and limit program spending to $150 million, available until 2035. The program mandates public reporting of selected projects, pavement changes, and fund usage on MnDOT's website.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Minnesota counties to create random pools of registered voters for election judge positions. County boards can direct county auditors to randomly select voters from the county's voter rolls, forming a pool from which counties and cities can assign judges to absentee ballot boards and polling places. Registered voters selected for the pool must serve if designated, provided they meet existing eligibility requirements. The bill prohibits excluding voters based on race, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status. It directly affects counties, cities, and registered voters who may be randomly selected to serve as election judges.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all individuals purchasing a firearm (except specific exclusions like dealers, law enforcement, or antique sales) to provide proof of recent firearm safety training before completing a sale. The training must cover safe handling, storage, legal use, and include a shooting exercise, verified by a certificate from an approved instructor. Sellers must document the transaction with copies of the buyer's ID, training certificate, and firearm details, retaining these records for ten years. Failure to produce these records during a police investigation is a misdemeanor offense. The bill directly affects all firearm purchasers in Minnesota who are not exempt under the specified exclusions.

Maddy summarySF 1860 prohibits telecommunications providers in Minnesota from displaying false caller identification information, such as fake names or numbers, to residents' phones. It requires telecom companies to annually block fraudulent calls for Minnesota subscribers at no cost, with specific exceptions for law enforcement, domestic violence shelters, and healthcare communications. Violations are classified as felonies punishable by fines up to $10,000 per incident, and affected subscribers can seek civil damages. The bill directly protects Minnesota residents from deceptive caller ID practices while imposing new obligations on telecom providers.

Maddy summarySF 1070 proposes adding a new constitutional provision to Minnesota's state constitution, requiring all elections to be "free, fair, and equal" and prohibiting civil or military authorities from interfering with voting. If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, the amendment would take effect January 1, 2027, and apply to all statewide and local elections. The bill does not change current election laws but establishes a constitutional standard for election integrity. It directly affects all Minnesotans participating in elections by embedding this requirement into the state's fundamental law.

Maddy summarySF 1859 limits the scope of video footage the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) must make public after officer-involved death investigations. It requires the BCA to post only videos that "record, describe, or document actions and circumstances surrounding the officer-involved death" on its website within 30 days of the case becoming inactive. The bill also mandates an annual report to lawmakers detailing investigation statistics, outcomes, and charging decisions. This directly affects the BCA's public disclosure process and the public's access to relevant incident documentation.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers $2.5 million from the general fund to Minnesota's Voting Operations, Technology, and Election Resources Account for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The funds are designated to support election-related technology, equipment, and operational resources under Minnesota Statutes §5.305. The transfer directly affects election administration by providing dedicated funding for voting system maintenance and election resource management. It does not create new spending but reallocates existing state funds to a specific election account. The bill is currently referred to the Elections Committee for further review.

Maddy summarySF 1737 amends Minnesota Statutes to change the annual deadline for reporting uncollectible debts from October 31 to November 30 each year. The report, required of the commissioner of management and budget, details the number and value of debts state agencies cannot collect. This change only adjusts the submission date and does not alter the report's content, requirements, or the process for determining uncollectible debts. The amendment affects the commissioner's reporting obligation and legislative committees receiving the report.