Sen. Bobby Joe Champion

Maddy summarySF 3901 establishes a two-year pilot program to enhance school safety through threat assessment technology. It requires the state Department of Public Safety to select one school district per congressional district (including both large and small districts) to use a contracted vendor’s system for real-time threat monitoring, predictive analysis, and automatic door-locking features. The program appropriates $4 million for fiscal year 2027 to fund this pilot and mandates a report by January 2027 evaluating effectiveness, gathering feedback, and recommending statewide implementation. The pilot directly affects participating school districts, staff, and students by testing new safety protocols.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $6.9 million for fiscal year 2026 and $13.7 million for fiscal year 2027 to the Board of Public Defense in Minnesota, with an additional base funding of $183.529 million starting in fiscal year 2028. The funds come from the state's general fund and are intended to support public defender services, which provide legal representation to individuals who cannot afford attorneys. The appropriations are in addition to previous funding provided in 2025 and will be available until July 1, 2027 for the 2026 allocation. The legislation takes effect immediately upon final passage by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $250,000 from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to support services for young adults up to age 24 who are released from juvenile detention or prison. The funds will be directed to the Office of Justice Programs to grant money to 180 Degrees' Great River Landing and Clifton Place programs for community outreach, mobile case management, family reunification, job assistance, and housing placement. The one-time appropriation is intended to address resource gaps for young people reentering the community after incarceration. The bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process and has been referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates funding from the state's general fund to support the Center for Communication and Development, a nonprofit organization in Minneapolis, in acquiring property and building a new community media hub. The funds will be used for design, construction, furnishing, and equipping the KMOJ Community Media and Engagement Hub, with the money available until the project is finished or abandoned. This one-time appropriation is directed through the commissioner of employment and economic development to the organization. The legislation is a capital investment measure that provides financial resources for a specific community facility project.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits private equity companies from owning single-family homes in Minnesota, while allowing natural persons, government entities, nonprofits, land trusts, and mortgage holders to retain ownership rights. It defines private equity companies as investors who raise capital to buy and manage assets for profit, while exempting housing developers, local governments, and nonprofit affordable housing providers from the restriction. The attorney general will enforce the law, which takes effect on August 1, 2026, and applies only to property interests acquired on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new right for tenants in Minnesota to repair certain violations in their rental units after giving landlords proper notice and an opportunity to fix the issues themselves. The law requires tenants to notify landlords in writing at least 14 days before making repairs, except in cases of immediate code violations, and mandates that tenants obtain bids from two contractors and choose the lower-priced option. Tenants can deduct the cost of repairs from their rent or request direct reimbursement from landlords, with limits of two months' rent in a 12-month period, and the bill prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who exercise these repair rights.

Maddy summarySF 3596 creates a one-time state-funded emergency rental assistance program for Minnesota counties and Tribal governments to help eligible households facing housing instability. Eligible households must have income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, experienced financial hardship after August 31, 2025, and be at risk of eviction or homelessness. The program covers up to two months of prospective rent, past-due rent, utility costs, or related fees for qualifying households. Counties and Tribal governments must distribute funds within four months of the bill's effective date and return any unspent money to the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a licensing system for music therapists in Minnesota. It requires applicants to pass background checks (effective January 2026) and establishes definitions for "practice of music therapy" and "licensed professional music therapist" (effective July 2025). The law creates a Music Therapy Advisory Council to advise the health commissioner on licensure standards and enforcement. It directly affects individuals seeking to practice music therapy, requiring them to meet new state licensing requirements to use the protected title "Licensed Professional Music Therapist."

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for Minnesota's health professional education loan forgiveness program to include physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. By amending state statutes, the legislation allows these healthcare providers to receive loan forgiveness if they agree to practice in designated rural areas or underserved urban communities. The change adds physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to the list of qualified professionals who can access financial assistance through the existing program. This policy adjustment aims to increase access to physical therapy services in areas with healthcare shortages without altering the core requirements or funding mechanisms of the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates funds from the state's general fund to support the West Broadway Business and Area Coalition in Minneapolis. The money will be used to renovate and redevelop a property at 1113 West Broadway into a multiuse facility. The appropriation is a one-time grant available until the project is finished or abandoned, and it is managed by the commissioner of employment and economic development.