Sen. Lindsey Port

Maddy summaryThis bill classifies certain data reported to Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management as nonpublic or private information rather than making it available to the general public. It specifically protects application data for cannabis and hemp business licenses, customer lists, worker identities, financial records, and information submitted through the statewide monitoring system from public disclosure. While some basic business details like applicant names, ownership information, and proposed event locations remain public, the law shields sensitive operational and personal data from public access. The changes apply to both current license applicants and existing license holders, updating how the state manages transparency versus privacy in the cannabis industry.

Maddy summaryHF 3615 extends the deadline for hemp businesses to use ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories for testing lower-potency hemp edibles and non-intoxicating hemp products. It changes the current January 1, 2026, deadline to May 31, 2027, for these specific products. This affects hemp businesses selling non-intoxicating hemp edibles and consumer products, requiring them to use accredited labs for safety testing. The bill modifies Minnesota Statutes 342.61 to delay the stricter testing requirement while maintaining safety standards. The extension provides additional time for businesses to comply with laboratory accreditation rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10 million for Minnesota's supportive housing program, with $9 million specifically targeting U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care grantees facing funding gaps before December 2026. It allows noncompetitive grants to existing HUD recipients to fill these gaps, covering permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and related services. Grantees must report every 90 days on fund usage and people served, with compiled reports shared with lawmakers and the Legislative Reference Library. The funding is a one-time appropriation under Minnesota Statutes §462A.42.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's cannabis regulations by creating a new edible cannabinoid product handler endorsement for businesses that manufacture, process, sell, or store edible cannabis products. The endorsement is available to licensed cannabis microbusinesses, mezzobusinesses, manufacturers, lower-potency hemp edible manufacturers, and medical cannabis combination businesses, and it prohibits manufacturing edible cannabis products at the same location where food is produced except for limited development, sampling, or testing. The legislation also establishes civil penalties for selling cannabis flower or concentrate without a proper license, with fines ranging from $3,000 to $1,000,000 depending on the quantity involved. These changes directly affect cannabis business operators and aim to strengthen oversight of edible product handling and unlicensed sales.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota counties contribute to administrative costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It changes state statutes to adjust the financial responsibility counties have for covering the administrative expenses associated with running SNAP programs. The legislation directly affects county agencies that manage SNAP operations and the state Department of Human Services that oversees these programs. By amending specific sections of Minnesota law, the bill establishes new requirements for how administrative cost shares are calculated and managed between state and local governments. The change aims to clarify the financial relationship between the state and counties regarding SNAP administration without altering benefit eligibility or amounts for recipients.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota local governments can regulate cannabis businesses, preventing cities and counties from banning cannabis possession, use, or licensed businesses while allowing them to set reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions. It establishes specific distance requirements prohibiting cannabis businesses within 1,000 feet of schools or 500 feet of day cares and other facilities regularly used by minors. The legislation also creates a new complaint process requiring the state cannabis office to respond to local government concerns within seven days and conduct inspections within 30 days, while maintaining local authority to enforce zoning and building codes. Additionally, the bill sets minimum registration limits for cannabis retailers based on population and allows counties to coordinate retail licensing with cities that have delegated authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's cannabis event organizer licensing requirements by adjusting fees and simplifying application procedures. It directly affects businesses that organize temporary cannabis events, such as festivals or pop-up shops, by changing the initial and renewal license fees and removing certain submission requirements. The key changes include setting the initial license fee to $0 while keeping the renewal fee at $750, adding a temporary event application fee of $750, and deleting the requirement to submit detailed event information like venue diagrams and participant lists. These modifications aim to reduce administrative burdens for event organizers while maintaining oversight through the state licensing office.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the maximum number of outdoor cannabis plants that microbusinesses in Minnesota can grow from half an acre to one acre. It allows the state licensing office to adjust cultivation limits based on market demand while ensuring outdoor microbusinesses can grow at least one acre of mature flowering plants. The legislation also sets manufacturing limits equivalent to the harvest from a 5,000 square foot indoor facility and permits microbusinesses with proper endorsements to operate one retail location. These changes directly affect cannabis microbusinesses and the state's cannabis regulatory office.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how cannabis licenses are issued in Minnesota by changing application periods and the number of licenses available for different license types. It sets specific maximum license limits for social equity and general applicants before July 1, 2026, and requires the state office to determine future license numbers based on established goals while ensuring social equity applicants receive equal or greater access than general applicants. The bill also updates application procedures by requiring advance announcements of licensing periods with specific details and allowing certain license types like wholesalers and transporters to be applied for at any time. Additionally, it clarifies that the office is not required to issue the maximum number of licenses and establishes a 14-day window for applicants to correct incomplete applications.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's medical cannabis endorsement requirements, primarily affecting cannabis businesses that cultivate, process, or sell medical cannabis products. It updates the rules for issuing retail endorsements by requiring businesses to either employ a certified medical cannabis consultant or contract with a licensed pharmacist to provide final authorization for patient dispensing. The legislation also clarifies that retail businesses must verify patient registry enrollment and confirm identity before distributing products, while mandating that all medical cannabis flower and cannabinoid products pass safety and potency testing before distribution. Additionally, the bill restricts home delivery of medical cannabis products to businesses that hold a separate cannabis delivery service license. These changes aim to standardize oversight and safety protocols across the state's medical cannabis program.