Sen. Erin Maye Quade

Maddy summarySF 1807 requires social media platforms operating in Minnesota to display a mental health warning label every time a user accesses the platform. The label must warn users about potential negative mental health impacts and provide access to crisis resources, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and cannot be hidden or disabled except by exiting the platform or acknowledging the warning. Additionally, platforms must show a pop-up timer notification every 30 minutes (customizable up to 60 minutes) reminding users of their daily usage time. The law applies to all social media platforms in Minnesota and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's definition of "debt buyer" to exclude nonprofit organizations purchasing charged-off debts for charitable purposes. It appropriates $5 million from the general fund for a one-time grant to the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to relieve medical debt for eligible Minnesotans who couldn't pay after hospitals completed reasonable collection efforts. The funds are available until June 30, 2028, and the nonprofit must report on the number and characteristics of residents receiving debt relief. This directly affects medical debtors and clarifies the regulatory status of charitable debt-buying nonprofits.

Maddy summarySF 2149 modifies Minnesota's labor laws regarding wages for workers with disabilities and online continuing education standards. It prohibits employers from paying disabled workers less than the minimum wage after August 1, 2026 (for new hires) and August 1, 2028 (for all employees), eliminating the use of federal "section 14(c)" certificates that previously allowed subminimum wages. The bill also establishes detailed technical requirements for internet-based continuing education courses, including encryption, identity verification, interactivity standards, and specific content features. These changes directly affect employers (particularly those using special certificates) and training providers for professions like manufactured home installers and elevator constructors. The bill does not address earned sick and safe time provisions, as referenced in its title.

Maddy summarySF 568 expands Minnesota's definition of "veteran" to include two specific groups: Hmong veterans naturalized under the federal Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000, and veterans who served with irregular forces in Laos during the Secret War (1961-1975) as U.S. citizens or permanent residents. It also establishes an advisory task force of up to seven members - including Secret War veterans, academics, and community representatives - to advise the commissioner of veterans affairs on eligibility criteria for the expanded definition. This change directly affects these veterans by enabling them to access state veteran benefits and services previously unavailable under Minnesota law. The task force will develop concrete criteria to determine qualification, ensuring the expanded definition aligns with historical service.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.575 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1.575 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of health for a grant to the Family Tree Clinic. The funding supports the clinic's provision of health services, educational outreach, and workforce training focused on culturally competent care. It directly affects the Family Tree Clinic by providing dedicated state funding for these specific programs. The bill creates no new requirements or restrictions, solely authorizing state funds for existing clinic services.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3368) sets new qualification standards for paraprofessionals working in Minnesota public schools starting in the 2025-2026 school year. It requires paraprofessionals to meet one of three paths: earn two years of college credits or an associate degree, pass the ParaPro assessment (score 440+), or demonstrate 17 specific competencies like understanding student safety protocols, following teacher instructions, promoting inclusive learning, and using ethical communication. These standards align with federal requirements under the Code of Federal Regulations. The bill directly affects paraprofessionals employed in Minnesota school districts who must meet these criteria to continue working.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota state correctional facilities and certain human services programs (like treatment facilities) to provide free voice communication services (phone calls) and other communication options (like video calls or messaging) to people under their care. It prohibits charging incarcerated or confined individuals for these services and bans facilities from profiting through communication contracts. The bill also mandates that facilities maintain in-person visitation programs, ensuring video calls cannot replace face-to-face visits unless during declared emergencies. Facilities must report annually on communication contracts, spending, and service usage to the Department of Corrections.

Maddy summarySF 1035 amends Minnesota's campus sexual misconduct policies by clarifying key definitions in statute 135A.15. It defines terms like "advisor" (a support person, potentially an attorney, for parties during investigations), "incident" (one report covering all related misconduct), and expands "sexual misconduct" to explicitly include nonconsensual deepfakes, stalking, and intimate partner violence. This bill directly affects Minnesota's public and private colleges/universities that handle sexual misconduct complaints under state law. The changes focus solely on terminology to ensure consistent application of existing procedures, without altering investigation or disciplinary processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates certain sales and use tax exemptions and imposes a new 2% gross receipts tax on specific business-to-business services in Minnesota. It directly affects businesses providing professional services (like legal, accounting, consulting, and repair services) to other businesses, requiring them to pay tax on their gross receipts from these transactions. The tax applies to 18 service categories listed in the bill, including management consulting, computer services, and automotive repair. Businesses may collect the tax from their clients but are not required to do so, and the tax is in addition to existing state taxes. The bill repeals several existing tax exemptions to implement this change.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's family support and consumer support programs to clarify eligibility and funding rules for individuals with disabilities. It specifies that support grants (capped at $250 monthly or $3,000 yearly) cover services directly tied to a disability that are "over and above normal care costs," such as adaptive swimming lessons for drowning prevention. The bill requires that no other public or private funds cover the same service and prohibits reimbursement for fees already paid through other programs. These changes apply to families and individuals receiving support grants under Minnesota Statutes sections 252.32, 256.476, and 256B.85.