Sen. Doron Clark

Maddy summarySF 2569 appropriates $75,000 from the workforce development fund for a one-time grant to InspireMSP. The funding supports programming for middle and high school students in Minneapolis and St. Paul, with a focus on historically excluded youth, to connect them with Minnesota's creative industry. Key provisions include developing career exploration opportunities, providing access to resources and networks, and offering hands-on experience through creative industry-focused activities. The grant is limited to program development and does not create new ongoing state obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $15 million in transportation tax revenue specifically for designing and constructing suicide prevention barriers on the Washington Avenue Pedestrian Bridge at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. The funds, redirected from the Metropolitan Council's active transportation budget, will replace the existing pedestrian enclosure and barriers to prevent suicides. The University of Minnesota Board of Regents must consult with suicide prevention organizations, experts, and individuals affected by suicide when planning the project. The bill modifies standard funding allocation rules to prioritize this safety project.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies background check requirements for child care providers in Minnesota. It requires the commissioner to request, every six months, information from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension about any National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notifications matching a provider's background study details. If this information leads to a disqualification, the commissioner cannot disclose the specific reason (related to the missing/child exploitation data) to the provider. The change directly affects family child care providers, licensed centers, and nonlicensed child care programs under Minnesota law.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's high-rise sprinkler system grant program by appropriating $10 million in fiscal year 2026 to fund sprinkler installations in eligible affordable residential buildings. It directly affects owners of existing high-rise residential buildings (75+ feet tall or 7+ stories) where at least two-thirds of units are affordable to households earning 50-60% of area median income. The program provides grants up to $2 million per building, requiring nonprofit owners to contribute 25% of costs and for-profit owners 50%, with funding sourced from a one-time transfer of $10 million from the general fund.

Maddy summarySF 2299 amends Minnesota law to include children's advocacy centers as eligible recipient programs for 70% of fines collected from certain crimes, specifically violations of statutes related to assault, sexual offenses, and similar crimes (e.g., 609.221-609.345). This change directly affects children's advocacy centers across Minnesota, directing funds they receive to provide direct services to child victims of these crimes. The bill modifies existing fine distribution rules so courts must send 70% of the mandated minimum fine to local victim assistance programs, now explicitly including children's advocacy centers alongside existing programs like crisis centers and sexual assault programs. The remaining 30% of the fine goes to the state general fund, and courts may choose among eligible programs in a county based on crime type and program needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $911.5 million from the state budget for the University of Minnesota's operations and maintenance for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It allocates specific funds: $45 million annually to advance the university's Health Sciences Strategic Plan and address Minnesota's health care challenges; $40 million annually to support innovation in biomanufacturing, precision agriculture, hypersonics, green energy, and green iron; and $30 million annually to improve student success programs. The funding directly supports the University of Minnesota's operations, health care initiatives, technology development, and student services. All allocations are designated for specific purposes and cover both 2026 and 2027 fiscal years.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota Senate resolution (SF 2335) requests Congress to propose a constitutional amendment reversing the Supreme Court's *Citizens United v. FEC* decision, which treated corporate spending in elections as protected speech. It asks Congress to clarify that constitutional rights apply only to natural persons (not corporations or other artificial entities) and to allow government to regulate campaign spending to ensure equal political access for all citizens. The resolution specifically proposes constitutional language requiring public disclosure of all campaign contributions and expenditures and permitting restrictions on spending to prevent wealth-based influence in elections. As a non-binding request, it directly addresses Congress and aims to reshape federal campaign finance rules without creating new state laws.

Maddy summarySF 2351 allocates $1 million from the general fund to Generation Hope for workforce programs supporting individuals in recovery. It funds training in high-demand industries, record expungement assistance, personalized career coaching, and employer partnerships to remove employment barriers. This one-time appropriation for fiscal year 2026 directly benefits people facing job access challenges due to recovery-related circumstances. The bill specifies concrete service provisions but does not create new laws or alter eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota school districts and charter schools that qualify for but do not participate in the federal free school meals program to provide annual written notice to parents and students. The notice must state the school doesn't participate in the program, estimate the typical meal cost students would pay (instead of receiving free meals), and clarify that students would qualify for free breakfast and lunch if the school joined the program. Schools must deliver this notice within 15 days of the school year starting, in the same languages used for other school communications. The requirement applies to the 2025-2026 school year and beyond.

Maddy summarySF 662 establishes a new civil cause of action for individuals who experience the nonconsensual removal of a condom during sexual activity. The bill allows victims to sue for damages, including up to $10,000 in civil penalties, attorney fees, and other remedies, if they did not consent to the condom's removal. It defines "sexual battery" in this context as contact involving a condom-removed sexual organ and an intimate part without verbal consent. The law applies to cases occurring on or after August 1, 2025, and requires courts to allow confidential filings to protect plaintiff privacy. This directly affects individuals who experience nonconsensual condom removal during sexual activity by providing a specific legal remedy.