Sen. Lindsey Port

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $5 million from the state's general fund to Our Saviour's Community Services, a nonprofit organization in Minneapolis, to support the design, construction, and renovation of their facilities. The funding will be used to build a new multiuse structure containing 40 permanent supportive housing units, establish an English learning center for immigrant adults, create staff offices, and install a geothermal heating system. This one-time appropriation is designated for fiscal year 2027 and will be released to the commissioner of employment and economic development for distribution to the organization. The funds remain available until the project is completed or abandoned, subject to existing state statutes governing such appropriations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's medical assistance program (Medicaid) to cover prescription drugs that are already covered by a patient's primary third-party insurance plan (such as Medicare or private insurance), rather than denying coverage for those drugs. It also mandates that medical assistance cover in-network healthcare services regardless of whether the primary insurer's network or referral requirements would otherwise restrict access. These changes directly affect Medicaid recipients who have primary insurance coverage for medications or healthcare services. The policy removes barriers that previously prevented Medicaid from covering these items when primary insurance already provides coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits private equity companies from owning single-family homes in Minnesota, while allowing natural persons, government entities, nonprofits, land trusts, and mortgage holders to retain ownership rights. It defines private equity companies as investors who raise capital to buy and manage assets for profit, while exempting housing developers, local governments, and nonprofit affordable housing providers from the restriction. The attorney general will enforce the law, which takes effect on August 1, 2026, and applies only to property interests acquired on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new right for tenants in Minnesota to repair certain violations in their rental units after giving landlords proper notice and an opportunity to fix the issues themselves. The law requires tenants to notify landlords in writing at least 14 days before making repairs, except in cases of immediate code violations, and mandates that tenants obtain bids from two contractors and choose the lower-priced option. Tenants can deduct the cost of repairs from their rent or request direct reimbursement from landlords, with limits of two months' rent in a 12-month period, and the bill prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who exercise these repair rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the types of projects that Minnesota local governments can fund with state housing aid, including emergency rental assistance, nonprofit housing support, and market-rate housing development in non-metro areas. It also clarifies how funds can be used for demolition projects and requires new buildings with more than four units to include accessible and sensory-accessible units. Additionally, the bill extends the deadline for spending certain housing aid funds and allows unspent funds to be transferred to local housing trust funds if local governments face uncontrollable delays. These changes aim to provide more flexibility and broaden the scope of eligible housing projects across the state.

Maddy summarySF 3596 creates a one-time state-funded emergency rental assistance program for Minnesota counties and Tribal governments to help eligible households facing housing instability. Eligible households must have income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, experienced financial hardship after August 31, 2025, and be at risk of eviction or homelessness. The program covers up to two months of prospective rent, past-due rent, utility costs, or related fees for qualifying households. Counties and Tribal governments must distribute funds within four months of the bill's effective date and return any unspent money to the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a licensing system for music therapists in Minnesota. It requires applicants to pass background checks (effective January 2026) and establishes definitions for "practice of music therapy" and "licensed professional music therapist" (effective July 2025). The law creates a Music Therapy Advisory Council to advise the health commissioner on licensure standards and enforcement. It directly affects individuals seeking to practice music therapy, requiring them to meet new state licensing requirements to use the protected title "Licensed Professional Music Therapist."

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's housing tax credit program to prioritize housing projects outside the metro area. It requires 50% of annual tax credits to be allocated specifically for projects in "Greater Minnesota" (outside the metro area), with unallocated funds from this set-aside becoming available for other projects starting October 1 each year. The bill also adds restrictions preventing individuals or businesses that contributed to the tax credit account (or their immediate family members) from receiving housing grants or loans. These changes aim to ensure tax credit benefits reach broader geographic areas and prevent conflicts of interest in funding allocation. The provisions take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-year moratorium on issuing permits for new data centers in Minnesota, preventing state and local governments from approving such projects until a comprehensive report is completed. The Public Utility Commission must submit this report by July 1, 2027, or January 1, 2028 if extended, which will assess energy, water, and materials usage, environmental impacts, economic effects, and suitable locations for data centers. The report must also analyze impacts on Tribal Nations, include public feedback, and be prepared by an independent contractor with no conflicts of interest. The bill directly affects data center developers, local governments, and the Public Utility Commission, requiring them to wait for the report before approving new facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits retailers in Minnesota from using surveillance technology to set different prices for individual consumers or specific groups of people. It directly affects retail food stores and other businesses that might use cameras, facial recognition, or other monitoring tools to track shoppers and charge them varying amounts for the same items. The law defines surveillance-based price setting as offering customized prices based on data collected through electronic surveillance technology, including biometric data, browsing history, and other personal information. Retailers must instead use traditional pricing methods like shelf tags or signs that display the same price for all customers of a specific item. The bill aims to prevent discriminatory pricing practices while maintaining transparency in how prices are determined and displayed.