Sen. Bill Lieske

Maddy summaryThis bill increases retirement contributions for Minnesota public school teachers in the Teachers Retirement Association (TRA). It raises employee contributions from 11.25% to 11.5% (basic program) and 7.75% to 8.0% (coordinated program) for 2025-2026, with further hikes to 12.5% and 9.0% after 2026. Employer contributions also rise, reaching 10.01% for coordinated members and 14.01% for basic members after 2026. Additionally, it provides an unreduced retirement annuity to members who reach age 62 with 30 years of service, allowing them to retire without penalty before the standard retirement age. The bill directly affects current and future TRA members employed by Minnesota public school districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $4,851,000 from state bond proceeds to fund a new water tower and water main infrastructure project in the city of Lonsdale. It authorizes the state to sell bonds up to this amount to cover the costs, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law. The funds will be used to design, construct, and equip the water infrastructure improvements within Lonsdale. The city of Lonsdale is the direct beneficiary of this funding for its clean water infrastructure needs.

Maddy summarySF 3621 appropriates $7 million from state bonds to fund infrastructure upgrades in the City of Dennison, Minnesota. The bill directly affects Dennison residents by financing specific improvements to the city's water and sewer systems - including well upgrades, sewer pond rehabilitation, pipe replacements, and new water mains - as well as street reconstruction. The state would issue bonds to cover these costs, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law, with funds directed to the Public Facilities Authority for the city's use. This is a concrete funding mechanism for defined infrastructure projects, not a policy change with broader implications.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases property tax relief for Minnesota veterans with service-connected disabilities. It raises the market value exclusion from $150,000 to $250,000 for veterans with a 70%+ disability rating, and from $300,000 to $500,000 for those with a 100% permanent disability. The exclusion applies to the veteran's homestead property (primary residence), and surviving spouses who qualify may also retain the benefit. To qualify, veterans must have an honorable discharge and a VA-certified disability rating, and must apply to their county assessor by December 31 each year. This change directly affects eligible veterans, their primary family caregivers, and surviving spouses who meet the criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill, SF 8, aims to modify eligibility requirements for MinnesotaCare, the state's public health insurance program for low-income residents. It proposes changes to who qualifies for coverage under MinnesotaCare, though the specific eligibility criteria (e.g., income thresholds, residency rules) are not detailed in the provided context. The bill is currently in committee referral stage, having been referred to the Health and Human Services committee in January 2025 and with multiple authors added since then. No concrete policy provisions or affected populations are specified in the available information.

Maddy summarySF 2030 requires farm equipment manufacturers (original equipment manufacturers or OEMs) to provide independent repair shops with necessary tools, parts, and documentation on fair and reasonable terms. It directly affects farmers who rely on independent repairs, independent repair shops, and farm equipment manufacturers. The bill mandates that OEMs offer these resources without imposing unreasonable conditions, such as forcing shops to become authorized dealers or requiring part registration. This ensures independent repair providers can access the same diagnostic tools, software, and parts as manufacturer-affiliated shops for farm equipment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota Statutes to explicitly remove dental, podiatric, chiropractic, optometric/optician, and psychological services from the definition of "health care provider" for tax purposes. It modifies section 295.50, subdivision 4(b)(6), ensuring these specific services are no longer subject to the health care provider tax. The change directly affects providers offering these services, such as dentists, chiropractors, and optometrists, by exempting their services from the tax. This is a technical adjustment to the tax code, clarifying which services are excluded from the tax definition.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1 million from the general fund for Dakota County's Community Development Agency to support the Expo 2031 host organization. The funds can cover licensing fees, development planning, and reimbursements for expenses incurred by the agency or host organization. The appropriation is contingent on approval by two international bodies (the International Association of Horticultural Producers and the Bureau International des Expositions); if denied, the money transfers to the Minnesota Investment Fund. This is a one-time allocation with unused funds carrying over to the second year.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3495) changes Minnesota's rulemaking process by requiring state agencies to obtain both legislative approval and the governor's signature before most administrative rules take effect. It applies directly to state agencies that create rules (e.g., for environmental, health, or business regulations), mandating that proposed rules cannot become effective until the legislature passes a law approving them and the governor signs it within one year of the rule's notice. The bill adds a requirement that agencies publish a notice of this ratification in the State Register within five days. Emergency rules adopted under section 12.22 are exempt from this process.

Maddy summarySF 3492 repeals Minnesota's 2017 law that required driver's licenses to meet federal REAL ID standards. The repeal, effective July 1, 2026, would end the state's requirement to issue REAL ID-compliant licenses and to provide specific information about REAL ID to applicants. The bill also directs the state to prepare new legislation by February 2026 to update relevant statutes. This change would remove Minnesota's state-level implementation of REAL ID standards, though the federal requirement for REAL ID-compliant licenses to board domestic flights would remain in effect.