Sen. Erin Maye Quade

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes definitions and regulations for how employers in Minnesota can use electronic monitoring tools and automated decision systems in the workplace. It directly affects employers, workers, and vendors by setting clear boundaries on what types of surveillance and data collection are permitted. The law defines key terms like electronic monitoring tools, which include video surveillance, time-tracking software, and biometric data collection, as well as automated decision systems that use algorithms to make employment-related decisions. Employers must ensure these tools are used fairly and only for essential job functions, with provisions for workers to have authorized representatives who can challenge decisions made by these systems. The bill aims to create transparency and accountability in how technology is used to monitor and evaluate employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits artificial intelligence systems from directly providing professional services to consumers in Minnesota without human oversight. It defines professional services as those requiring state licensure and requires that any AI delivering such services must be operated by a credentialed professional or their representative during the service. The law allows credentialed professionals to use AI as a tool to assist their work but prevents AI from independently performing licensed activities. Violations of this prohibition would be enforced by the state attorney general under existing enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summarySF 3753 modifies Minnesota's sales tax law to exempt certain nonprofit organizations from paying tax on prepared food purchases. Specifically, it adds a new provision (subdivision 4(e)) clarifying that prepared food bought by nonprofits operating for charitable, religious, or educational purposes is tax-exempt when distributed as part of their exempt activities. This directly affects nonprofits like community kitchens, shelters, or schools that serve meals while conducting their core mission. The change removes a current tax barrier for these organizations, effective for sales after June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public Minnesota K-12 schools to implement either a statewide anonymous threat reporting system or a locally designed system by July 1, 2028. The system must offer 24/7 anonymous reporting via mobile app and multilingual crisis centers, include evidence-based student violence prevention training, and coordinate with school teams and law enforcement. Schools using their own system must provide crisis center staffing, train school teams, and promote public awareness. Nonpublic schools are exempt, and schools using the state system must annually inform parents about the reporting options. The bill mandates these requirements to address safety concerns through accessible anonymous reporting mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3844) requires nursing homes to maintain automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in all resident-occupied buildings, ensure annual staff training on AED use and CPR, and prohibits requiring residents to have a legal guardian or conservator for admission or continued stay. It also modifies rules for assisted living facilities, mandating they provide prospective residents with detailed disclosures about services, facility surveys, complaint history, and complaint resolution data. Additionally, assisted living facilities must track staff response times to resident requests for assistance and maintain 24/7 staffing plans to meet resident needs. These provisions apply to all nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Minnesota, effective August 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySF 3685 prohibits Minnesota public libraries, school libraries, and the Minitex network from entering contracts with publishers that restrict their ability to lend digital books and audiobooks. The bill bans terms that prevent libraries from loaning digital materials, including through interlibrary loans, or limit standard lending functions. It only applies after Minnesota's secretary of state confirms other states with at least 7 million combined population have enacted similar laws. This ensures libraries maintain control over digital lending without restrictive publisher terms.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits website, app, or software owners from allowing minors (under 18) to access chatbots for recreational use. It requires service providers to verify users' ages before granting access to chatbots. Violations could result in civil penalties of up to $5 million for businesses, or $1,000 in damages for affected individuals. The law directly affects companies offering chatbot services to the public, aiming to restrict minors' recreational use of AI conversation tools.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota bill prohibits employers from requesting, requiring, or coercing employees to have microchips implanted in their bodies for any reason. It applies to all employers in the state, including government entities, and defines a microchip as a subcutaneous device containing a unique identification number or personal information that can be scanned externally, while excluding medical implants used for health diagnosis or treatment. Employees who believe they have been forced into such implantation can file a civil lawsuit seeking injunctive relief, actual and punitive damages, and attorney fees. The legislation clarifies that temporary adhesive devices like bracelets do not count as microchips under this law.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Minnesota to permit residents to consume and display alcoholic beverages under specific conditions. The law requires that alcohol be used only during resident-focused activities, served by staff aged 18 or older, and never offered for sale or given to anyone under 21. Facilities must ensure all alcohol consumption remains within the facility and is limited to adult residents participating in approved events.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires high-risk medical assistance providers in Minnesota to complete compliance training and establish specific internal policies. It mandates that license applicants and holders implement drug and alcohol policies for staff, create grievance procedures for clients, and designate authorized agents for communications with state officials. The legislation also requires providers to disclose consultant use when preparing license applications and establishes new teams for licensing oversight and provider support. These changes aim to strengthen oversight of medical assistance programs while streamlining application processes through updated reporting requirements.