Sen. Lindsey Port

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota distributes local affordable housing aid funds from the metropolitan sales tax. It changes the allocation so that 75 percent goes to county-level housing assistance accounts and 25 percent goes to state rent assistance, reducing the previous 50 percent county share. The legislation directly affects how money flows to cities and counties for housing programs by adjusting the statutory distribution percentages. It updates existing Minnesota statutes to reflect these new distribution rules while maintaining the overall funding structure for affordable housing initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prohibit large food retail stores in Minnesota from using surveillance technology to set personalized prices for individual customers. It defines surveillance pricing as customized pricing based on data collected through cameras, sensors, or device tracking, and bans stores from using such data to charge different prices to different shoppers. The law also prevents stores from collecting data on children under 17 and restricts using protected class information like age, race, or gender to determine pricing. Large grocery stores over 10,000 square feet or smaller stores over 85,000 square feet with significant food sales would be directly affected by these restrictions. The bill does not ban traditional loyalty discounts based on purchase history or apply to financial institutions and insurance companies.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals removed from Minnesota due to alleged immigration violations to request help returning to the state if they are released from detention without transportation. The Department of Public Safety would arrange travel for these individuals at taxpayer expense or reimburse them for reasonable return costs. The law also requires the department to create guidelines for processing these requests while accepting any reasonable assistance requests. Funding for these transportation costs would come from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-funded supplemental energy assistance program in Minnesota to help low-income households with heating costs. It directly affects Minnesota residents with household incomes below 60% of the state median income, providing grants for primary heat, crisis situations, emergency heating repairs, or outreach support. Key mechanisms include appropriating one-time state funds for FY2026 (available until 2031), requiring priority for expanding assistance to new households over increasing existing grants, and mandating annual reports on program outcomes by county and demographic factors. The program supplements existing federal LIHEAP benefits for households that did not receive full federal crisis grants or were not served by federal programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to increase Minnesota's sales tax rate by 0.375% (three-eighths of one percent) starting July 1, 2027, for 25 years (through 2052). The revenue would fund three new housing-specific accounts: a homeownership fund (25% of revenue) for home purchases/rehabilitation, a community stability fund (25%) for emergency aid and services for homeless or at-risk households, and a rental fund (50%) for rental assistance and supportive housing. All funds must supplement, not replace, existing housing programs. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2026 general election before implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's Strengthen Minnesota Homes program to better support homeowners in improving their properties against weather damage. It allows grant funds to be used alongside repairs from wind or hail damage, requires projects to be completed within six months, and mandates that certified properties receive insurance premium discounts or rate reductions. The legislation also establishes eligibility criteria that prioritize homeowners with household incomes at or below 115 percent of the area median income. Additionally, it appropriates $35 million in fiscal year 2026 to fund grants and administer the program.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's SF 3880 is a legislative resolution urging the President and Congress to reject S. 2967 (the "Border Lands Conservation Act"). It opposes provisions in S. 2967 that would allow border security infrastructure - like roads, surveillance systems, and motorized equipment - within the protected Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The resolution argues this would violate the Wilderness Act of 1964 by altering the pristine, untrammeled character of the 1-million-acre wilderness area visited by over 200,000 people annually. Minnesota’s legislature directs the Secretary of State to send this resolution to federal officials and Minnesota’s congressional delegation.

Maddy summarySF 3670 extends the deadline for certain cannabis and hemp product testing requirements. It delays the requirement that labs testing lower-potency hemp edibles and hemp consumer products (without intoxicating cannabinoids) must be accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 until May 31, 2027 - previously set for January 1, 2026. This directly affects cannabis and hemp businesses selling these products, giving them more time to meet lab accreditation standards. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 342.61 to update this deadline, ensuring continued compliance without disrupting sales during the transition period. The change is limited to the testing deadline and does not alter other product testing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's cannabis and hemp business licensing rules and product labeling requirements. It allows businesses to hold multiple lower-potency hemp edible licenses and also hold a cannabis business license, while removing the previous restriction that hemp license holders could not own cannabis licenses. The bill also updates labeling requirements for cannabis and hemp products to include clearer information about product type, usage directions, and child safety warnings. These changes affect cannabis and hemp businesses operating in Minnesota by adjusting what licenses they can hold together and what information must appear on their product packaging.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes technical corrections to Minnesota's cannabis business licensing laws, primarily updating the powers and duties of the state cannabis regulatory office and clarifying rules for transferring business licenses. The legislation amends existing statutes to refine how the regulatory office oversees the industry, including its authority to set product standards, conduct inspections, and issue penalties, while also specifying temporary powers that expire on January 1, 2027. Key provisions adjust how social equity licenses can be transferred, restricting transfers for three years after issuance to ensure these licenses remain with applicants from communities disproportionately affected by cannabis prohibition. The bill also repeals certain outdated sections of state law related to cannabis regulation to align current statutes with the evolving legal framework for the industry.