Sen. Zach Duckworth

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 summarySF 3168 modifies Minnesota's teacher licensure requirements to address staffing shortages. It defines "shortage areas" as regions with unfilled teaching positions or where teacher diversity doesn't match student diversity, requiring districts to document unfilled roles. The bill creates a temporary 5-year teaching permission for licensed teachers to teach outside their specialty (3 years for special education) and mandates a short-term provisional license for recent graduates or out-of-state teachers. The Professional Educator Licensing Board must submit annual reports on teacher supply, demand, diversity, and shortage patterns starting November 2025. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, with the provisional license provision active immediately after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $4.9 million from the general fund for the Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with a base appropriation of $4.9 million continuing annually starting in 2028. The funding is directed to the commissioner of public safety to support the Task Force's operations. The bill directly affects the Task Force by providing dedicated state funding for its work on human trafficking investigations. It does not create new policies but ensures ongoing financial support for an existing state-level law enforcement initiative.

Maddy summarySF 2931 establishes a grant program to cover tuition and fees for students pursuing law enforcement careers in Minnesota. It directly affects current Minnesota peace officers employed by local or state law enforcement agencies, or the dependent children of such officers (including those who suffered a total and permanent duty disability), who enroll in undergraduate criminal justice or law enforcement programs at Minnesota public colleges or universities. The grant covers 100% of tuition and fees after other financial aid is deducted, paid directly to the educational institution, and requires students to meet standard eligibility criteria like completing the FAFSA and maintaining academic progress. The program aims to support recruitment and retention by reducing education costs for future officers and their families.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota law to make it a crime for someone to approach or remain within 25 feet of a firefighter, emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, or certain healthcare providers who are providing emergency care, after being verbally warned not to do so and with the intent to interfere. It directly affects first responders and healthcare providers working in emergency situations, as well as individuals who violate this restriction. The key provision requires that the person must know the responder's status, have received a warning, and intend to impede their duties. The law becomes effective August 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySF 2753 would allow Minnesota state universities to offer cybersecurity as an applied doctoral degree. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to add "cybersecurity" to the list of fields (currently including education, business, and nursing) where such degrees can be authorized. This change directly affects state universities seeking to establish new doctoral programs in cybersecurity, providing them with statutory permission to do so. The bill makes a specific policy adjustment to degree authorization rules without altering funding or other program requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Minnesota Partition Act" (Chapter 558A) to govern how co-owners of real property can legally divide shared ownership after August 1, 2025. It replaces Minnesota's current Chapter 558 for all partition cases starting that date, allowing courts to order property sales, physical divisions, or other equitable solutions when joint tenants, tenants-in-common, or remainder interest holders seek division. Key provisions include new notice requirements (like posting signs on properties for unlocated owners), preventing disputes between parties from blocking partition actions, and granting courts authority to adjust property liens between parcels. The law directly affects individuals or entities co-owning real estate who face disagreements about dividing property.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $8,550,000 from state bond proceeds to fund upgrades at Burnsville's water treatment plant. It directly affects the city of Burnsville, providing funds for specific infrastructure improvements including electrical component replacement, water line upgrades, and surface water treatment process enhancements. The mechanism involves the state selling bonds up to the requested amount, with the funds granted to Burnsville via the Public Facilities Authority. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, focused solely on financing the plant's physical renovations. The appropriation is effective upon final enactment.

Maddy summarySF 3050 allows union members in Minnesota to choose how their dues are allocated, directly affecting both public and private sector union members. The bill amends state laws to require unions to inform members they can direct all or part of their dues to a local, state, or national organization of their choice. Employers must process these allocation requests via payroll deduction within 30 days, with clear authorization forms and union notification requirements. This changes existing dues remittance practices without altering dues amounts or creating new funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes education benefits for dependents of disabled veterans in Minnesota. It provides tuition, fee, and book coverage at state-operated colleges or University of Minnesota institutions for dependent children of veterans with a 100% permanent disability or a 70%+ disability rating. The benefit covers 100% of costs (after subtracting other aid) for the highest disability tier and 50% for the 70%+ tier. Payments are processed through the Office of Higher Education upon institution verification of student eligibility and enrollment.