Sen. Matt Klein

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $650,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $650,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to the Minnesota Children's Museum. The funds are designated to create new hands-on learning opportunities and expand the museum's community outreach across Minnesota. The bill directly affects the Minnesota Children's Museum, which will receive the grant to support these specific programs. It does not change existing laws but allocates state funding for the museum's educational initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to sell up to $4 million in bonds to fund accessibility and recreation improvements at Thompson County Park in Dakota County. The funds will support specific projects including an immersive nature play area, accessible picnic spaces, park entrance safety upgrades, a ravine overlook, and improved trails. The appropriation is directed to Dakota County through the Metropolitan Council for construction, directly benefiting park visitors and local residents who use the facility. The bond proceeds will cover all costs for these physical enhancements to the park.

Maddy summarySF 1573 establishes a state grant program to support occupational medicine residency programs in Minnesota. It appropriates funds from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to provide grants to eligible, not-for-profit programs that train medical residents in occupational medicine (specializing in workplace health and safety). The grants cover costs like faculty salaries, resident training, equipment, and new residency positions, with priority given to creating new positions. Programs must use the funds to supplement, not replace, existing funding sources. This directly affects Minnesota's occupational medicine training programs and aims to expand physician capacity in workplace health.

Maddy summarySF 1724 modifies Minnesota's sales tax rules for construction materials used by specific public and nonprofit entities. It adds new exemptions for contractors purchasing materials for projects involving schools, local governments, hospitals, nursing homes, public libraries, and certain nonprofits. Instead of receiving immediate tax exemption, contractors pay the full sales tax upfront and then apply for a refund under revised Section 297A.75. The bill takes effect for sales after June 30, 2025, streamlining tax treatment for qualifying construction projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires certain facilities handling hazardous chemicals to immediately notify local emergency responders when a reportable chemical release occurs. Specifically, it amends Minnesota law to mandate that oil processing facilities (defined under state law) must contact local emergency personnel *in addition* to reporting to the State Emergency Management Operations Center. The requirement applies to releases of hazardous substances listed under federal law (42 U.S.C. §§ 9602, 11002), excluding incidents affecting only on-site personnel or authorized releases. The law ensures faster local response by streamlining notification to both state and community emergency teams.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3 million from the general fund to the city of South St. Paul for replacing aging drinking water infrastructure. The funds will specifically address pressure fluctuations and reduced flow issues by covering design, construction, and equipment costs for the project. The grant is a one-time allocation, available only after the city secures sufficient project funding commitments as required by state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates funds from Minnesota's general budget to support research on sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC), directly affecting Minnesota-based research institutions, universities, and health systems. It creates a competitive grant program administered by the Commissioner of Health, allowing up to 5% of funds for administrative costs, with grants targeting causes, risk factors, and prevention strategies for SUDC. The bill requires annual reports from 2026 through 2030 detailing grant recipients, funding amounts, research purposes, and outcomes. This is a one-time appropriation, with unexpended funds remaining available until June 2029.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund trail lighting construction and equipment at Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park. The funds will be provided as a one-time grant to Washington County through the Metropolitan Council. The project must be completed using these funds before they expire, with no ongoing funding provided. This directly affects Washington County's management of the park and park visitors who use the trails after dark.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a refundable sales tax exemption for construction materials used in renovating Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Contractors and subcontractors purchasing eligible materials between July 1, 2023, and January 1, 2028, will pay the standard sales tax upfront but receive a refund from the state. The exemption applies retroactively to purchases made after June 30, 2023, with refunds unavailable before July 1, 2025. The state will fund these refunds using general fund appropriations.

Maddy summarySF 258 prohibits restaurants in Minnesota from charging any surcharge except for tips (as defined in Minnesota law) or government-imposed taxes. This bill directly affects restaurants, which would no longer be allowed to add extra fees for services like credit card processing or "convenience" charges. The key provision states that only gratuities or mandatory taxes can be added to customer bills, with violations subject to penalties under existing law. The bill aims to prevent restaurants from passing on operational costs to customers through non-tip surcharges.