Sen. Keri Heintzeman

Maddy summarySF 2077 is an appropriations bill that allocates over $151 million for Minnesota's Environment and Natural Resources programs in fiscal year 2026, with similar funding for 2027. It funds the Pollution Control Agency for water quality monitoring, air pollution programs, and hazardous chemical oversight, including $1.2 million annually for air monitoring and $144,000 for water quality programs. The bill also establishes a stewardship program for electronic waste (circuit boards, batteries) and prohibits mercury in batteries, while modifying fee structures and permitting processes. These funds directly support state environmental agencies, local municipalities managing water infrastructure, and businesses handling electronic products. The bill does not create new regulations but provides budget authority for existing environmental programs and specific policy adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the June 30, 2025 expiration date from Minnesota’s crossbow hunting and fishing allowance. It directly affects hunters and anglers who use crossbows to take deer, bear, turkey, common carp, or native rough fish during regular archery seasons. The key provision amends Minnesota Statutes section 97B.037 to eliminate the sunset provision, making the crossbow allowance permanent. This change ensures the existing crossbow hunting and fishing rules remain in effect without needing future legislative action to extend them. The bill does not alter the current requirements for licenses, transportation, or crossbow specifications.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits tax preparers in Minnesota from marking a tax return to designate a contribution to the state elections campaign account unless the taxpayer explicitly instructs them to do so. The legislation amends existing standards of conduct for tax professionals to add this specific restriction, ensuring that political contributions are not made without clear authorization from the client. Directly affecting tax preparers and taxpayers, the measure aims to prevent unauthorized political donations while maintaining the current legal framework for tax preparation services.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's legal definition of an all-terrain vehicle and adjusts the fee for nonresident trail passes. It raises the maximum weight limit for a vehicle to be classified as an all-terrain vehicle from 2,000 pounds to 3,500 pounds while keeping other specifications like tire count and width the same. The legislation also increases the annual state trail pass fee for nonresidents from $30 to $50. Revenue collected from these passes must be used to fund grants for counties and municipalities to build and maintain all-terrain vehicle trails.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax on individuals and organizations convicted of fraud who continue to benefit from those illegal gains. It establishes a penalty of up to 100% of the fraudulent amounts received if no criminal conviction has occurred yet, while also increasing existing penalties for false returns to 50% of the tax involved. To support enforcement, the legislation allows the Department of Revenue to share confidential tax data with the Financial Crimes and Fraud Section to investigate these cases. Additionally, the bill mandates that tax return information be shared with state auditors and the inspector general to facilitate oversight of public funds. These measures are set to take effect for fraud convictions occurring after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a felony to force or coerce a pregnant girl under 18 into seeking or obtaining an abortion, defining coercion as a broad range of actions including threats, financial pressure, or exploiting vulnerabilities. It also requires hospitals and clinics to screen patients for signs of human trafficking involving minors and mandates that certain information be displayed at abortion facilities. Additionally, the law creates a new legal cause of action for wrongful death resulting from an abortion and directs the state health commissioner to create rules implementing these measures. The legislation directly affects healthcare providers, law enforcement, and families by establishing stricter penalties and reporting requirements related to minors and reproductive health.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of up to $2 million in state bonds to fund a new segment of the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail in Brainerd. The appropriated funds will be used by the commissioner of natural resources to design and construct a multiuse paved trail connecting the existing path at the Northern Pacific Center to 28th Street Southeast. This project aims to link current trail networks and improve accessibility for various users while increasing multimodal transportation options. The legislation becomes effective immediately upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $7.5 million in bonds to fund energy efficiency improvements for Brainerd Public Utilities. The appropriated funds can be used for capital upgrades such as replacing or upgrading existing turbine generators and modifying building structures to support new equipment. The legislation directs the commissioner of commerce to provide these grants directly to the utility company, while the commissioner of management and budget handles the bond sale process. It takes effect immediately upon final passage by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's requirements for businesses selling products labeled as "biodegradable" or "compostable." Starting January 1, 2026, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and sellers cannot label such products without certification from a specific type of entity. The certification must come from a nonprofit primarily focused on promoting biodegradable materials and technically capable of testing product compliance. This directly affects businesses selling labeled biodegradable/compostable products in Minnesota, requiring them to use approved certifiers starting in 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates state funds and authorizes the issuance of bonds to finance capital projects for Minnesota's state forest lands. It directly affects the Department of Natural Resources and the 60 listed state forests, including Badoura, Paul Bunyan, and White Earth State Forests. The legislation defines key terms like reforestation and state forest land to guide how funds will be used for activities such as planting native trees, site preparation, and forest protection. By authorizing bond sales, the bill enables the state to borrow money for long-term forest management improvements without immediately raising taxes.