Sen. Doron Clark

Maddy summarySF 4036 would allow individuals who move to Minnesota for employment to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities, provided they secured a full-time job in Minnesota before relocating and before applying for admission. This new pathway adds to existing requirements (such as high school attendance and graduation in Minnesota) and applies to spouses or dependents of qualifying individuals. The policy takes effect for the fall 2027 academic term, applying to currently enrolled students but not refunding past tuition paid at out-of-state rates. It does not change eligibility for other residency categories.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota calculates compensatory aid for public school districts in fiscal year 2027. It requires districts to use the greater of their actual FY 2027 calculation or their FY 2024 calculation for determining aid amounts, protecting districts from potential funding decreases. The bill also sets a new statewide funding target of $857,152,000 for FY 2027 and later, up from previous levels. This directly affects school districts receiving compensatory aid, particularly those serving students from low-income households (based on free/reduced-price meal eligibility data).

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals Minnesota Statutes section 462.357, subdivision 5, which governed zoning changes in certain cities. It removes a specific process requiring property owners within 100 feet to provide written consent before changing zoning from residential to commercial or industrial in first-class cities (like Minneapolis). The repeal eliminates the requirement for written consent from adjacent property owners and simplifies the approval process, allowing city councils to adopt zoning changes with a majority vote instead of the prior two-step procedure. This directly affects zoning amendments in Minnesota's largest cities where this rule previously applied. The change takes effect immediately after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Minnesota commissioner of commerce to provide technical assistance and the attorney general to provide legal services to the Prescription Drug Affordability Advisory Council. It amends Minnesota Statutes to add these specific support requirements for the council. The bill directly affects the council's operations by mandating these two types of assistance. It is a procedural bill focused on enabling the council's work, not changing drug affordability policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3909) repeals a 2025 law (Laws 2025, First Special Session chapter 10, article 7, section 8) that required Minnesota to assume a $250 million annual reduction in special education aid funding starting July 2027. The repeal removes the mechanism that would have triggered further funding cuts if savings from special education reforms fell short of $250 million. By eliminating this contingent reduction, the bill ensures special education aid appropriations will not be automatically reduced based on that assumption. The change takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting how state funding for public school special education programs is calculated.

Maddy summarySF 3595 allocates $9 million to provide direct grants to Minnesota housing providers who received federal Continuum of Care funding but face budget gaps due to expired contracts before December 2026. The bill allows noncompetitive awards to existing federal grantees to cover these shortfalls without competitive bidding, supporting permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, and transitional housing programs. Recipients must report quarterly on fund usage and people served, with reports shared with lawmakers and the public. This one-time appropriation aims to maintain housing services for vulnerable residents without disrupting ongoing programs.

Maddy summarySF 3931 prohibits Minnesota state agencies from withholding federal income tax from state employees' paychecks. The bill requires that when processing state employee pay, the commissioner of management and budget or agency heads must not withhold or remit federal income tax, replacing the previous requirement under Minnesota Statutes 16A.13. This repeal of the existing law (16A.13) shifts the responsibility for federal tax collection from the state to employees themselves. As a result, state employees would receive their full pay without federal income tax deductions, and they would be responsible for filing and paying their own federal income tax.

Maddy summarySF 3837 allocates $ from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund a public awareness campaign about extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs). The campaign, run by the state public safety agency, aims to educate both the public and law enforcement about ERPOs. The agency may contract with private organizations to help develop and deliver this information. This bill solely provides funding for awareness efforts and does not change ERPO laws or procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's tax code to allow taxpayers to subtract certain damage awards from their individual income tax. It specifically creates a state tax subtraction for damages received in sexual harassment or abuse claims (where federal tax exclusion doesn't apply), or for injuries caused by federal immigration enforcement activities. The provision applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and defines "qualifying claim" to cover these two specific scenarios. It directly affects Minnesota residents who receive such damages and file state income tax returns.

Maddy summarySF 1844 authorizes $210,000 in state funds to the University of Minnesota's Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement to develop, administer, and analyze a 2026 survey of Minnesota school principals. The bill requires the center to post survey results online, submit a formal report to the legislature by January 15, 2027, and provide it to education committee leaders. This survey directly affects Minnesota principals by gathering their input on school leadership and educational practices. The funds are available until June 30, 2027, with up to 5% allocated for grant management. The bill does not change existing laws but creates a new data collection mechanism for education policy.