Sen. Erin Maye Quade

Maddy summarySF 3134 redirects $15 million in transportation tax revenue to fund the design and construction of suicide prevention barriers on the Washington Avenue Pedestrian Bridge at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. The bill modifies how funds from Minnesota's regional transportation sales tax (under Statutes 297A.9915 and 473.4465) are allocated, directing the Metropolitan Council to provide this specific grant to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. The project must include consultation with suicide prevention organizations and individuals affected by suicide at the bridge. This is a targeted funding change for a specific infrastructure safety project, not a broader policy shift.

Maddy summarySF 3132 modifies Minnesota's individual income tax brackets and rates for 2025 and beyond. It increases the income thresholds for each tax rate bracket across all filing statuses: for example, the first tax bracket for married couples filing jointly rises from $38,770 to $47,620 before the 5.35% rate applies. The bill also requires annual inflation adjustments to these brackets starting in 2025, rounding amounts to the nearest $10. This change directly affects all Minnesota residents who file individual income tax returns, altering their tax liability based on updated income levels.

Maddy summarySF 2436 protects students and educators by prohibiting school districts from banning or restricting culturally relevant classroom materials solely based on viewpoint. It defines "culturally relevant resources" as noncurricular items reflecting student and community diversity, such as displays or books. Schools may still refuse materials for practical reasons (like space), pedagogical concerns (age-appropriateness), or legal compliance, but cannot target materials due to their message. The law applies to all public school districts and charter schools, taking effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases reimbursement rates for certain direct support services in Minnesota. It raises the rate for personal care assistants and Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) providers serving clients needing 10+ hours daily from 107.5% to 112.5% (effective 2026), requiring all additional revenue to fund wages and wage-related costs - not other benefits. It also establishes a new Minnesota Caregiver Defined Contribution Retirement Fund Trust, where the state contributes to retirement plans for union-represented direct support workers. These changes apply to providers working under specific programs and collective bargaining agreements. The bill appropriates funds to implement these rate modifications and retirement trust provisions.

Maddy summarySF 3160 requires a commemorative work honoring J. Frank Wheaton (Minnesota's first African American state legislator, elected in 1898) on the State Capitol grounds by December 2027. It mandates educational materials for Minnesota schools about his civil rights advocacy and establishes annual progress reports for the project. The bill appropriates funds for design, installation, and related educational initiatives, including an annual "J. Frank Wheaton Legacy Day" with community programming. This is a commemorative measure with no policy changes, focused solely on recognizing historical contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's literacy incentive aid program to expand how funds can be used and adjust aid calculations. It adds seven new eligible uses for literacy aid, including training for teachers (K-3), hiring literacy leads, employing intervention specialists, and covering substitute costs for required training. School districts receiving literacy aid must now use funds to support evidence-based reading instruction aligned with their local literacy plans. The bill also updates formulas for calculating proficiency, growth, basic, English learner, and targeted literacy aid based on student performance and demographic factors like poverty concentration. These changes directly affect Minnesota public school districts serving grades K-4.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $200,000 from the state general fund for a one-time grant to Niyyah Recovery Initiative, a nonprofit organization. The funds are designated to cover support program costs, community engagement, staffing, and targeted outreach to expand substance use recovery services. The grant is available until June 30, 2027, and directly supports individuals affected by substance use through expanded local services. The bill does not create new requirements but provides specific funding to address recovery needs.

Maddy summarySF 3158 appropriates $2,026,000 from the general fund to compensate teachers for completing required Read Act training. It provides school districts, charter schools, and cooperative units with either $2,000 per district or $40 per student (based on fall 2024 enrollment), whichever is greater. Funds must be used to pay eligible teachers for time spent on Read Act training, following state law or teacher union agreements. Payments are due to districts by October 15, 2025, for fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summarySF 2146 creates a new legal process for vulnerable adults (Minnesota residents aged 18+ with diminished capacity) or their representatives to seek court orders preventing financial exploitation. It allows petitions to be filed in any county where the vulnerable adult, petitioner, or respondent lives (no residency requirement), with waived filing fees and a court hearing within 14 days. The court must consider factors like prior exploitation history, the adult's financial decision-making capacity, and investigative findings from agencies. Petitioners must also file a maltreatment report within five days of filing the petition.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new administrative rate to cover operational costs for counties and tribes administering Minnesota's housing support programs. It requires the human services commissioner to set a rate covering specific activities: establishing housing agreements with providers, overseeing service quality, and determining eligibility/payments. The bill appropriates unspecified funds for fiscal years 2026-2027 to cover this rate and mandates a report to the legislature by February 2026 detailing the rate and methodology. This directly affects counties and tribal governments managing housing support services under Minnesota Statutes.