Sen. Bobby Joe Champion

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution honors the lives and public service of seven deceased Minnesota Senators by formally recognizing their contributions to the state. The bill directly affects the families of these individuals, specifically Bruce D. Anderson, Don Samuelson, Kari Dziedzic, James Ulland, Alice M. Johnson, Bob Kierlin, and Ray Vandeveer, by directing the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to their relatives. It serves as a commemorative measure that acknowledges the dedication of these former officials and expresses gratitude for their work in government.

Maddy summaryThis bill reclassifies incarcerated individuals in Minnesota correctional facilities as employees under state labor laws, thereby extending protections such as minimum wage, overtime pay, and whistleblower rights to them. By explicitly including these individuals in the definitions of "employee" within the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Public Employee Labor Relations Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the legislation ensures they are covered by existing labor standards. The measure also mandates a report to track the implementation of these changes, aiming to formalize the labor relationship between the state and its incarcerated workforce.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota calculates and allocates compensatory education funding for school buildings in fiscal years 2027 and 2028. It changes the revenue formula to use a building compensatory allowance multiplied by the number of compensatory pupils, while also setting minimum funding floors to ensure schools receive at least a certain amount. The legislation allows districts to reallocate up to 40 percent of compensatory funds to different school sites based on board-approved plans, up from the usual 20 percent limit, and appropriates $55.6 million in state funding to support these changes.

Maddy summarySF 3699 bans civil arrests for people attending court as parties, witnesses, or court companions (such as family members, advocates, or interpreters). It protects individuals while traveling to, at, and returning from court, covering courthouse buildings, surrounding streets within 1,000 feet, and parking areas. The law does not apply to arrests for criminal violations or those supported by a judicial warrant. This directly affects people accessing courts for civil, criminal, or administrative cases, ensuring they cannot be detained for civil immigration matters or similar issues while participating in court proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Minnesota to issue up to $400 million in housing infrastructure bonds to fund housing projects. It establishes annual funding transfers from the state general fund to a housing bond account, with specific annual limits: $6.4 million (2015-2037), $800,000 (2017-2038), and $2.8 million (2019-2040) for different bond series. These funds will support housing infrastructure development across the state. The bill directly affects state housing programs and the state budget through these mandated annual appropriations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Minnesota Business Recovery Loan Program to provide financial assistance to businesses that have suffered revenue losses exceeding 30% due to staffing shortages or disruptions caused by increased immigration enforcement activities. The program allocates $100 million in one-time funding, with $18 million designated for zero-interest loans to businesses in greater Minnesota and $82 million for zero-interest loans to businesses in the seven-county metropolitan area through nonprofit lenders. To qualify, businesses must be Minnesota-based, in good standing, and demonstrate that their revenue decline stems from immigration-related events between the bill's enactment and December 1, 2025. Loan amounts vary by business size and location, ranging from $25,000 to $200,000, and funds must be used exclusively for business operations within Minnesota rather than debt repayment or real estate investment.

Maddy summaryHF 3732 repeals several unfunded programs within the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, including specific sections related to green economy initiatives and redevelopment priorities. The bill removes these programs from state law and makes necessary adjustments to other statutes to eliminate references to them. This action simplifies the department's legal framework by eliminating outdated or unnecessary program requirements without affecting current funding. The repeal does not create new obligations or change existing programs, as the repealed provisions were unfunded and inactive.

Maddy summarySF 4067 adds a specific provision requiring the Minnesota State Patrol to provide security and protection to the chief justice of the Supreme Court, explicitly authorizing patrol members to act as peace officers for this purpose. It also adjusts base funding levels for Minnesota's judicial branches starting in fiscal year 2028, increasing the Supreme Court's base to $51,636,000, the Court of Appeals to $15,871,000, and the District Courts to $402,918,000. These funding changes are technical adjustments to existing base amounts, not new programs. The bill directly affects the judicial branch's budget and the State Patrol's duties regarding chief justice security.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes May 14 to May 20 each year as Hmong Heritage Week in Minnesota to honor the history, culture, and contributions of Hmong people to the state. The legislation encourages residents, schools, community organizations, and local governments to hold events and educational activities that recognize Hmong heritage and acknowledge the community's service during the Secret War in Laos and their journey as refugees. The governor is also encouraged to issue a proclamation supporting the observance, though the bill does not mandate specific actions from any government entity.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's film production tax credit program by expanding eligibility criteria and increasing the maximum credit percentage. It directly affects film and television production companies operating in Minnesota by allowing them to claim up to 40 percent of eligible production costs, with an additional 5 percent available if the project employs Minnesota residents in key creative roles, films outside the seven-county metro area, or hires a majority of local crew members. The legislation also lowers the minimum spending threshold for qualifying projects from $1 million to $400,000 and adds $150,000 for television commercials and Minnesota script productions, while defining new categories for key creative roles and below-the-line crew positions. Credits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis with an annual cap of $24.95 million, and projects must include visible promotion of Minnesota in their end credits to qualify.