Sen. Erin Maye Quade

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3970) modifies Minnesota's foster care benefit rules to extend eligibility for youth aged 18-26. It specifically includes young adults who had permanent legal and physical custody transferred to a relative after turning 10, rather than requiring custody transfer before age 10. The key change amends statutes to ensure these youth qualify for continued foster care benefits (including medical assistance) until age 26, aligning with federal Medicaid rules under the Affordable Care Act. This policy directly affects youth aging out of foster care who transition to relative custody after age 10, expanding access to support services during their transition to adulthood.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits long-term care, life, and disability insurers in Minnesota from using genetic information to deny coverage, set premiums, or require genetic testing as a condition for coverage. It bans insurers from basing rate decisions or coverage terms on genetic test results and stops them from pressuring people to undergo genetic tests. Insurers may still use existing medical records (with separate written consent) for underwriting, but cannot refuse coverage if someone declines to share genetic information. The law takes effect August 1, 2026, for new or renewed policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Minnesota school districts and charter schools to continue counting all students enrolled before January 1, 2026, in their average daily membership for funding purposes through the end of the 2025-2026 school year, even if those students are not attending regularly. It directly affects school districts and charter schools by ensuring they maintain funding eligibility for students who remained enrolled but may have been absent due to circumstances like the pandemic. The key provision retroactively applies from January 1, 2026, and is limited to the 2025-2026 school year only. This change modifies existing enrollment counting rules under Minnesota Statutes section 126C.05, subdivision 11.

Maddy summarySF 508 requires Minnesota school districts and charter schools to adopt cell phone policies by March 2025, with specific restrictions taking effect in the 2026-2027 school year. It prohibits cell phones and smart watches for students in grades K-8 throughout school, and in classrooms for grades 9-12, with exceptions for medical devices, individualized education programs (IEPs), or principal discretion. The bill appropriates funds for a statewide campaign about screen time effects (to be delivered to parents from early childhood through grade 12) and one-time implementation grants for schools to adopt these policies, covering onetime expenses like technology or training but not ongoing costs. The policy directly affects all K-12 public school students and school staff in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's SF 3771 modifies trespass laws to require law enforcement to obtain a warrant signed by a judicial officer and demonstrate probable cause before entering property for civil immigration enforcement. The bill directly affects Minnesota law enforcement officers and immigration enforcement activities conducted on private property. It prohibits detaining individuals solely based on federal immigration detainers issued by the U.S. government. These changes apply to trespass offenses involving property entry for immigration purposes, requiring judicial oversight instead of relying on federal requests. The bill aims to align state trespass enforcement with constitutional protections for individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3835) allows eggs past their quality assurance date to be donated to charitable food assistance programs, rather than requiring them to be removed from sale. It directly affects egg producers, retailers, and food banks by creating a pathway for unsellable eggs to be redistributed. Key provisions require donated eggs to remain in original packaging, maintain refrigeration, be distributed within 30 days of their quality assurance date, and carry specific labeling including "Donated Eggs - Not for Resale." The change modifies Minnesota’s egg sales law (Minn. Stat. § 29.26) to permit this donation while maintaining food safety standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's tax code to allow taxpayers to subtract certain damage awards from their individual income tax. It specifically creates a state tax subtraction for damages received in sexual harassment or abuse claims (where federal tax exclusion doesn't apply), or for injuries caused by federal immigration enforcement activities. The provision applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and defines "qualifying claim" to cover these two specific scenarios. It directly affects Minnesota residents who receive such damages and file state income tax returns.

Maddy summarySF 3772 bans the sale, use, purchase, and manufacture of orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile (a chemical compound with CAS number 2698-41-1) in Minnesota, which is used in tear gas products. The bill requires the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to provide disposal guidance for existing supplies of this chemical or products containing it. It amends Minnesota Statutes to remove orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile from the list of authorized tear gas compounds, which previously included it alongside substances like chloroacetophenone. The ban applies to all individuals and businesses in Minnesota and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate Bill 1047 increases the age of consent for certain criminal sexual conduct offenses from 16 to 18 years old. It specifically targets situations where a person aged 22 or older engages in sexual conduct with someone who is 16 or 17 years old. Under this bill, consent from the minor and mistaken belief about their age are no longer valid defenses, making such acts criminal sexual conduct in the third degree. The law applies to cases committed on or after August 1, 2025, and directly affects minors aged 16-17 and partners aged 22 or older in these circumstances.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's SF 3654 bans possession of specific semiautomatic firearms defined as "military-style assault weapons," including models like AR-15s, AK-47s, and Uzis, as well as weapons with features such as folding stocks, pistol grips, or magazines holding more than 10 rounds. The bill defines banned weapons broadly to cover redesigned versions of listed models and firearms meeting certain feature criteria (e.g., detachable magazines, threaded barrels). It directly affects individuals who legally possess these firearms in Minnesota, requiring them to comply with the ban or face criminal penalties. The legislation amends multiple statutes to establish these prohibitions and penalties, focusing on reducing access to weapons classified under this definition.