Sen. Bill Lieske

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Corrections to charge fees for communication services (like phone calls, video chats, or messaging) used by incarcerated people in state facilities. The fees must cover only the actual cost of providing these services, not generate profit, and facilities must continue offering services they provided as of January 1, 2023. It also mandates annual reporting on fee amounts, costs, and usage data. The policy directly affects incarcerated individuals and facilities, ensuring communication services remain accessible while preventing state revenue generation from these fees.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate Bill 3482 (SF 3482) prohibits the sale of foods containing artificial food dyes FD&C Yellow No. 5 or 6 to public, private, and charter schools in Minnesota. It directly affects food vendors, distributors, and schools by banning the sale of these specific dyes in school-provided foods, though home schools are excluded. The law, effective January 1, 2027, amends Minnesota Statutes chapter 325F to create this restriction. It focuses on preventing these dyes from being served in school meals or snacks, without specifying health outcomes or enforcement details.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the requirement for a license to sell scrap metal copper (previously under Minnesota Statutes §325E.21, subd. 2c) and modifies record-keeping rules for scrap metal dealers. It requires dealers to document transactions involving copper metal, including verifying sellers have a copper license (though the license itself is being eliminated). The bill directly affects scrap metal dealers who purchase copper scrap, mandating detailed transaction records like seller ID, vehicle details, and proof of copper license status. Key provisions include adding new record requirements (e.g., photocopy of license for copper sales) and updating inspection protocols for law enforcement. The bill does not create new licensing but adjusts administrative processes for copper scrap transactions.

Maddy summaryThis bill, SF 3456 (mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act), prohibits the possession, distribution, or manufacture of "mRNA injections and products" in Minnesota, classifying them as weapons of mass destruction under existing law. It defines these products broadly to include mRNA-based vaccines (like those for COVID-19), gene therapies for infectious diseases, and nanotechnology altering genes. The law creates criminal penalties for violations and requires state/local officials to enforce it, with failure to act subject to criminal charges. It would apply to anyone possessing such products in Minnesota starting August 1, 2025, and allows residents to sue officials for non-enforcement.

Maddy summarySF 3424 prohibits adding fluoride to public drinking water systems in Minnesota. It requires all public water systems (serving at least 15 households or 25 people for 60 days annually) to stop adding fluoride by August 1, 2025. The bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.145, which previously permitted fluoridation, and authorizes the state health commissioner to enforce the prohibition with daily fines for noncompliance. This change directly affects municipal and privately owned water providers across the state.

Maddy summarySF 3372 increases criminal penalties for swatting - making false emergency calls to trigger police responses - by amending Minnesota Statutes §609.78. It raises penalties based on harm caused: up to 10 years in prison or $20,000 fines for causing death/great bodily harm (subd. 2a), and up to 10 years or $20,000 fines for targeting officials’ homes (subd. 2c), including elected officials, judges, prosecutors, correctional staff, or peace officers. The bill applies to offenses committed on or after August 1, 2025, and directly affects individuals who make false emergency calls, particularly those targeting public officials. These changes aim to deter swatting by strengthening consequences for causing harm or threatening officials.

Maddy summarySF 509 modifies Minnesota's health licensing rules to create a "limited license" for foreign medical graduates who practiced outside the U.S. for at least 60 months in the past decade. It requires these license holders to work in designated rural or underserved areas under collaborative agreements with U.S. physicians, submit periodic certification, and be paid at least resident-level wages. Employers must carry medical malpractice insurance for these license holders and cannot retaliate against them for reporting violations. The bill also establishes a path to a full license after two years of practice (1,692 hours annually), passing all USMLE/COMLEX exams, and providing employer recommendations. This directly affects foreign-trained doctors seeking to practice in Minnesota, particularly in underserved communities.

Maddy summarySF 3301 gradually phases out Minnesota's individual income tax and corporate franchise tax over four years. Starting in 2026, taxpayers pay 80% of their calculated tax bill, reducing to 60% in 2027, 40% in 2028, and 20% in 2029. This directly affects individuals and businesses subject to Minnesota's income and corporate taxes. The bill also repeals specific tax statutes and requires the revisor of statutes to identify additional changes needed for full repeal by 2026.

Maddy summarySF 3309 delays the implementation dates for provisions of Minnesota's African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act. It changes the effective date for multiple sections from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2029, giving state agencies and counties more time to comply. The bill directly affects the Minnesota Department of Human Services (which must implement data disaggregation and compliance systems) and local counties administering child welfare services. Key provisions include delaying the start of data disaggregation requirements (from 2027 to 2029) and extending the phase-in program for Hennepin and Ramsey Counties (from 2027 to 2029). This is a technical adjustment to implementation timelines, not a change to the underlying policy requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3321) amends Minnesota child custody laws to ensure access to gender-affirming care isn't used to deny jurisdiction in custody cases. It removes restrictions that previously allowed courts to decline jurisdiction when a child sought gender-affirming care, explicitly stating that a child's presence in Minnesota for such care meets the "significant connection" requirement under custody jurisdiction rules (§ 518D.201). It also adds that inability to obtain gender-affirming care qualifies as an emergency for temporary custody orders (§ 518D.204). The bill repeals prior restrictions (§§ 62Q.585, 260.925, 543.23) that limited these protections. This directly affects minors seeking gender-affirming care and their families navigating custody disputes.