Sen. Bill Lieske

Maddy summarySF 1924, the "A+ Energy Act," amends Minnesota energy statutes to clarify definitions and require reporting from electric utilities. It defines "carbon-free" energy as electricity without carbon dioxide emissions and specifies eligible renewable sources like solar, wind, small-scale hydro, hydrogen, biomass, and nuclear. The bill mandates that electric utilities (including public, cooperative, and municipal providers) submit annual reports to the state commission detailing the financial impact of compliance efforts on rates, including how they reduce emissions while maintaining service reliability. These reports must cover wholesale and retail rate impacts and be updated as part of utility planning documents through 2040.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Governor Tim Walz Rebate Check Act of 2023," provides direct payments to eligible Minnesota residents using a portion of the state's budget surplus. It targets individuals who lived in Minnesota during part of 2021 and filed a 2021 state income tax return by October 15, 2022, or those who claimed property tax refunds for 2022. Eligible individuals receive a set amount (details blanked in the text), with married couples filing jointly receiving a higher payment than single filers. The payments are not counted as income for tax or benefit purposes, and funds are appropriated from the state general fund.

Maddy summarySF 1922, titled the "Anti-Lawfare Law," creates a new rule in Minnesota law requiring government entities (like state agencies or cities) to pay the legal costs of individuals they sue if the government loses the case. If a government entity sues a person (not another government) and does not win, it must cover all defense costs, including attorney fees, incurred by that person. This law applies to civil cases filed on or after August 1, 2025, and does not affect other existing legal remedies. It directly affects government entities when they initiate lawsuits against individuals that are ultimately unsuccessful.

Maddy summaryThis bill temporarily allows licensed graduate social workers to provide clinical services without supervision when delivering crisis response services under Minnesota Statutes section 256B.0624. It also permits them to provide treatment supervision to other crisis team members. The exemption applies only to crisis-related work and expires on August 1, 2027. This change affects licensed graduate social workers employed in crisis response roles within designated mental health provider entities.

Maddy summarySF 1814 allows patients (or their health care agents) to create written "nonopioid directives" stating they must not be administered opioids or offered opioid prescriptions by health professionals. Health providers must include these directives in medical records and comply with them, except in emergency settings where opioids are medically necessary. The bill also establishes legal immunity for health professionals, facilities, and emergency medical services providers who reasonably follow these directives or inadvertently administer opioids while acting in good faith. This directly affects patients seeking opioid avoidance and healthcare providers treating them.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that chiropractic practice in Minnesota includes providing services via telemedicine, allowing chiropractors to offer remote consultations. It also grants the Board of Chiropractic Examiners authority to discipline chiropractors who fail to comply with executive orders, such as public health directives. Additionally, the bill reorganizes and defines animal chiropractic care, explicitly stating it does not include surgery, medications, or traditional veterinary services. These changes update Minnesota’s chiropractic licensing statutes to reflect modern practice standards and regulatory needs.

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 summarySF 1191, the "Never Again Act," would replace the governor's authority to declare emergencies with a legislative process requiring the Minnesota Legislature to approve emergency declarations. It repeals the governor's power to issue emergency orders with "full force and effect of law" and explicitly protects citizens' rights - including free speech, religious exercise, assembly, travel, and business operations - from being infringed during emergencies. The bill amends multiple emergency management statutes to transfer declaration authority to the Legislature and requires legislative approval for emergency extensions. This directly affects the governor's emergency powers and all Minnesotans whose rights could be restricted under current emergency rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10.8 million from state bond proceeds to reconstruct County State-Aid Highway 50 from Kenrick Avenue to Klamath Trail in Dakota County, as part of the Interstate 35 interchange project. The funds will cover design, construction, right-of-way acquisition, pedestrian/bike facilities, utility relocation, and stormwater management for the corridor. Dakota County and the city of Lakeville are the direct recipients for these mobility and safety improvements. The state will issue up to $10.8 million in bonds under existing statutes to finance this project, effective upon final enactment.

Maddy summarySF 1267 repeals a state law that authorized the commissioner of commerce to apply for a federal waiver under the Affordable Care Act to establish a Minnesota public option health care plan. The bill removes the state agency’s authority to submit this waiver application and eliminates related funding, including $2.5 million for actuarial analyses and $21 million for implementation. This directly affects the Minnesota public option health care plan initiative, halting its federal approval path. The changes take effect immediately upon enactment, reducing state budget allocations tied to this specific policy approach.