Sen. Bill Lieske

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $1 million grant program for Minnesota public school districts to integrate firearms safety, archery, hunting, and angling into physical education courses. School districts must apply for grants to fund these activities, which must align with state PE standards, and the program requires geographic balance in selecting participating schools. Funds cover staff training, equipment, student licenses, and curriculum development, with a one-time fiscal year 2027 appropriation. A report on program outcomes must be submitted to the legislature by January 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow new white-tailed deer farms in Minnesota by removing a current prohibition on registering new farms for this species. It directly affects farmers and agricultural businesses that wish to raise white-tailed deer for commercial purposes. The key provision amends existing animal health laws to permit new registrations while maintaining requirements for mandatory registration with the Board of Animal Health and seizure of unregistered animals. The bill also allows existing registrants to transfer their permits to immediate family members for a one-time fee, but does not change rules about revoked registrations or animal seizure procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that residential addresses of elected officials and candidates be provided only through a written request, rather than being automatically available to the public. It directly affects government agencies and individuals who currently access public records containing personal addresses. The key mechanism is adding a new subdivision to Minnesota Statutes 13.601 that mandates written requests for address information, even when such data is classified as public. This change applies to any address already designated as public data under existing state laws. The legislation aims to add an additional layer of privacy protection without altering the public status of the addresses.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits individuals convicted of a crime of violence from receiving Minnesota's major public assistance programs, including food support, medical assistance, economic assistance, and MinnesotaCare. The legislation directly affects people who have been found guilty of violent offenses as defined by state law, extending eligibility restrictions to similar crimes committed in other states or federal jurisdictions. By adding new subdivisions to existing statutes, the bill removes these individuals from eligibility for benefits while maintaining current rules for other categories of offenders. The changes apply regardless of the person's age or whether they are currently incarcerated, creating a permanent disqualification from these specific public aid programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new wage calculation standards for staff working in family residential services in Minnesota, directly affecting agencies that provide residential support to individuals with disabilities. It creates a detailed framework that sets pay rates based on specific job roles, using percentages of median wages for various occupations like nurses, social workers, and home health aides. The legislation includes special provisions for different staff categories, such as supervisory personnel, registered nurses, and overnight care workers, with some rates scheduled to change in 2026 or 2027 depending on federal approval. These changes aim to standardize how compensation is determined across the state's human services system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all medical assistance providers in Minnesota to undergo site visits as part of their enrollment process, expanding oversight to provider types that were not previously subject to mandatory on-site inspections. The legislation establishes enrollment fees for these previously exempt provider categories and creates a risk-based system where the commissioner can designate certain providers as "high-risk" for additional scrutiny, including potential payment withholding during initial enrollment. Key provisions include requirements for providers to designate compliance officers, conduct regular revalidation at specified intervals, and allow unannounced inspections for designated risk categories. The bill also outlines procedures for handling non-compliance, including suspension of billing privileges and potential enrollment revocation for providers with documented patterns of insufficient record-keeping.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the legal definitions for adult foster care licensing in Minnesota to clarify what services and arrangements qualify for licensing. It directly affects adult foster care providers and the Department of Human Services by updating how programs are described in state law. The changes specify that adult foster care must provide 24-hour care including food, lodging, protection, supervision, and household management, while defining a family adult foster care home as a licensed residence where the owner lives and serves as the primary caregiver. These updates aim to ensure consistency in how adult foster care services are regulated and categorized under Minnesota statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school resource officers (SROs) who volunteer their services without pay to reduce their Minnesota state income tax. It creates a tax subtraction equal to the number of volunteer hours multiplied by the hourly wage a paid SRO would earn, based on IRS-reported rates. To claim this, volunteers must provide documentation from their school confirming hours worked and the applicable wage rate. The policy directly affects unpaid SRO volunteers and the schools that verify their service. It takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's definition of "compounding" to explicitly exclude the use of flavoring agents when preparing medications. It clarifies that adding flavoring agents (inactive substances to improve taste) to drugs for patients is not considered compounding under state law. This change directly affects pharmacists and compounding facilities that currently add flavors to medications - commonly for pediatric or elderly patients - to improve palatability. The policy removes regulatory ambiguity around this routine practice, ensuring it remains exempt from compounding regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the sale of state bonds totaling up to $18.65 million to fund highway safety improvements in Dakota County. The funds will be used to reconstruct County State-Aid Highway 46, a two-lane road, into a divided four-lane highway in the cities of Coates and Rosemount and Empire Township. The project covers the stretch from Trunk Highway 3 east to the Trunk Highway 52 interchange and extends to County Road 48. Money from the bond sale may cover design work, land acquisition, construction, traffic control, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and storm water management. The legislation becomes effective the day after it is finalized.