Sen. Zach Duckworth

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $238,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $238,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to support the Minnesota Helmets to Hardhats program. It directly provides funding to connect National Guard members, military reservists, active duty service members, and veterans with registered apprenticeships and career opportunities in the building and construction trades. The funds will cover program recruitment, selection, training, and employment services through a grant to Building Strong Communities. The program must operate without discrimination based on protected characteristics like race, gender, or veteran status.

Maddy summarySF 1791 appropriates $24 million from the general fund to school districts for purchasing, installing, and maintaining up to 2,000 public access automated external defibrillator (AED) smart monitored cabinets on school grounds. The funds cover the cabinets, fully connected AEDs with smart monitoring, five years of maintenance, and accessories from specified vendors. School districts must place cabinets in publicly accessible locations, maintain them for five years without additional state funding, and comply with Minnesota's public access AED requirements. The Minnesota State High School League must select recipients and report grant details to the legislature by October 2026. This bill directly affects public school districts receiving grants for AED equipment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes Minnesota's HELP (Higher Education Loan Program) to provide low-interest student loans to eligible residents. It directly affects Minnesota residents attending public or nonprofit Minnesota colleges who earn under 300% of the federal poverty line, offering loans up to $5,000 annually (with a $20,000 lifetime limit) at a maximum 3% fixed interest rate. The program is funded by $17.5 million annually from the state general fund for fiscal years 2026-2027, with repayments recycled into a dedicated account to sustain the program. It requires the Office of Higher Education to administer the loans, including contracting for servicing.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Minnesota military members who were discharged due to refusing the military's COVID-19 vaccination mandate to exclude certain back pay from their state income tax. Specifically, it creates a tax subtraction for back pay amounts authorized under a federal executive order (Executive Order 14184) related to such discharges. The policy change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, directly affecting eligible discharged service members. It modifies Minnesota's tax code to provide a financial benefit for this specific group of military personnel.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes the "Philando Castile Memorial Training Fund" an ongoing annual appropriation of $6 million starting in fiscal year 2026. It directly affects law enforcement agencies and training sponsors by providing ongoing reimbursement for approved courses focused on use of force (Minn. Stat. §626.8452), crisis response/conflict management/cultural diversity (§626.8469), and autism training (§626.8474). Key provisions require course sponsors to submit detailed applications including course outlines, instructor qualifications, and learning assessments, with the board reviewing courses annually to ensure they meet approved learning outcomes. The fund must first reimburse all eligible approved courses before potentially covering additional training.

Maddy summarySF 1609 clarifies a process for people convicted of certain felony murders to seek retroactive relief. It allows individuals convicted under Minnesota Statutes sections 609.185 (paragraph a, clause 3) or 609.19 (subdivision 2, clause 1) to petition courts if they prove they didn’t cause the death and either didn’t intentionally aid the killing or weren’t a major participant in the underlying felony. If approved, courts must vacate the original murder conviction and resentence the person for the most serious remaining offense, a related felony, or a lesser included offense. The bill ensures sentences don’t increase total confinement time and requires victim notification for any resentencing hearing.

Maddy summarySF 1554 creates a tax credit for Minnesota taxpayers who enroll children in qualifying nonpublic schools. The credit equals the number of qualifying children (meeting IRS criteria and attending full-time at a nonpublic school that meets state attendance requirements) multiplied by a formula allowance. Taxpayers can claim the credit only if they owe state income tax, with strict rules preventing double claims (only one parent per child) and requiring documentation for noncustodial parents. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, and cannot be used to pay past-due taxes or penalties.

Maddy summarySF 1502 amends Minnesota's Read Act to require public schools to use evidence-based reading instruction grounded in "science of reading" research, directly affecting K-3 students and educators statewide. The bill mandates schools adopt approved screeners for foundational reading skills, use specific evidence-based intervention models (approved by the Department of Education and CAREI), and provide professional development focused on structured literacy. It explicitly excludes the "three-cueing system" and requires the Department of Education to develop templates for local literacy plans and track implementation. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, with key deadlines for approving interventions and screeners by June 2025. The bill cancels existing appropriations while redirecting resources toward evidence-based literacy implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows volunteer emergency services providers (like firefighters, ambulance attendants, and paramedics with at least three years of service) to purchase up to four tires for their personal vehicle every three years using their municipality’s existing tire contract. The volunteer must pay for the tires, including taxes and fees, and the municipality must provide written authorization listing the volunteer’s service years, vehicle license plate, and the contract reference. It applies only to volunteers currently serving and requires municipalities to document each purchase. The bill creates a simple administrative process with no cost to the municipality.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 1460 allows school districts to renew expiring capital projects referendums through a school board resolution instead of holding a new voter vote. This applies when the renewal amount matches the expiring referendum, the term does not exceed the original duration, and the board holds a public hearing with a recorded vote. The board must adopt a written resolution by June 15 of the renewal year and submit it to the commissioner and county auditor by September 1. This change directly affects school districts seeking to extend existing capital project funding without requiring voter approval for renewals.