Sen. Erin Maye Quade

Maddy summarySF 949 appropriates $3 million annually for 2026 and 2027 to fund registered special education apprenticeship programs in four specific intermediate school districts in Minnesota: 287, 288, 916, and 917. Each district receives $740,000 per year to support these programs. The funds cover program administration, apprentice stipends and tuition, mentor teacher stipends, and substitute teacher costs. This bill directly affects these districts and their special education apprenticeship participants.

Maddy summarySF 910 would repeal the current exception allowing motorcyclists to split or filter between lanes of traffic in Minnesota. It removes the specific provision (Minnesota Statutes § 169.974, subd. 5(g)) that permitted motorcycles to operate between lanes at speeds under 25 mph or up to 15 mph over traffic speed. This change would make lane-splitting fully prohibited for all motorcycle riders statewide, directly affecting motorcycle operators who currently rely on this exception. The bill amends traffic safety statutes to eliminate this specific allowance, aligning motorcycle lane operation with standard traffic lane usage rules. This is a substantive policy change to Minnesota's vehicle code, not a procedural measure.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 913 designates July 6 as "Philando Castile Restoration Day" and July 7 as "Philando Castile Unity Day" each year. Restoration Day focuses on building community connections through humility and listening, while Unity Day honors Castile's legacy and all victims of police violence. The bill requires the governor to issue annual proclamations recognizing both days. It directly affects state government operations by creating these designated observances to commemorate Castile, a Saint Paul Public Schools nutrition supervisor killed by police in 2016.

Maddy summarySF 850 modifies Minnesota law to adjust limitations on optometrists prescribing and administering certain drugs. The bill removes specific duration restrictions: it allows optometrists to prescribe oral antivirals for longer than 10 days, oral steroids for longer than 14 days without physician consultation, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors for longer than seven days. These changes apply to optometrists who meet educational requirements and are authorized under Minnesota statute. The bill maintains existing prohibitions, such as bans on intravenous drug administration (except for anaphylaxis), invasive surgery, and prescribing Schedule II/III oral drugs.

Maddy summarySF 256 ensures students with disabilities in Minnesota schools can access their service animals as part of their individualized education plan. The bill prohibits school districts from denying access to service animals (defined as trained dogs or animals assisting people with disabilities) and requires schools to provide staff support - like helping with tethering or water - for students to use their animals. Schools must modify policies by August 2025 to comply with federal ADA rules, but they are not responsible for animal care (feeding, toileting, or vet visits). This directly affects students with disabilities who rely on service animals for educational access.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to explicitly protect Minnesotans' electronic communications and data from unreasonable searches and seizures, expanding existing Fourth Amendment safeguards. It would amend Minnesota's Constitution (Article I, Section 10) to state that the right to be secure "in their electronic communications and data" cannot be violated without a warrant based on probable cause. The amendment directly affects all Minnesota residents by granting constitutional-level privacy rights for digital information, such as emails, messages, and online activity. If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, it would become part of the state constitution.

Maddy summarySF 364 appropriates $450,000 annually (2026-2027) to fund evidence-based literacy interventions for students reading below grade level in Minnesota public schools where most students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The grant supports tutor training, materials, program delivery, and administration through the Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota. The Institute must submit annual reports to education committees by January 15, detailing fund usage and student literacy progress until 2028. This bill directly affects low-income public school students and requires specific reporting to ensure accountability for the state funds.

Maddy summarySF 392 allows Minnesota school districts to donate surplus schoolbooks (including textbooks, library books, and classroom materials) to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations registered with the attorney general for educational use. This provision, added to Minnesota Statutes section 123B.52, specifically permits districts to bypass standard competitive bidding requirements for these donations. The bill directly affects school districts managing unused educational materials. It creates a clear, streamlined process for donating surplus books to eligible charities, promoting resource reuse without requiring new procurement procedures.

Maddy summarySF 376 prohibits the sale of menstrual products containing arsenic or "chemicals of high concern" (as defined in Minnesota law) within the state. It directly affects manufacturers and sellers of menstrual products by banning their sale if they contain these substances. The bill requires manufacturers to notify sellers of prohibited products and mandates labeling for products with intentionally added synthetic chemicals. It also establishes testing requirements and enforcement through the Pollution Control Agency and Commerce Department. The prohibition applies immediately, with rulemaking authority allowing future expansion to other product categories containing these chemicals.

Maddy summarySF 271 modifies licensing requirements for substance abuse counselors in Minnesota and strengthens protections for individuals objecting to religious elements in treatment. It requires counselors to complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years, including specific training on diversity, ethics, and secular treatment approaches for clients with religious objections. The bill prohibits courts or treatment programs from forcing individuals to participate in religious components of care, mandates documentation of religious objections, and requires offering equivalent non-religious alternatives. This directly affects licensed counselors (through updated education rules) and people in substance use disorder treatment programs (particularly those with religious objections to treatment). The bill amends multiple statutes including 241.415 (release plans for offenders) and 244.0513 (treatment program requirements).