Sen. Doron Clark

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's liquor license rules to allow the University of Minnesota Board of Regents to operate more on-site alcohol sales locations. It removes a prohibition on liquor licenses within the College of Agriculture campus (previously listed as a restricted area) and expands the Board's ability to obtain licenses for up to seven additional campus venues beyond Northrop Auditorium and the football stadium, provided these locations are specified in approved applications. The key change enables the University to serve alcohol at more campus events without needing new legislative approvals for each location. This directly affects the University of Minnesota's operations at its campuses, particularly for events held in newly authorized venues. The bill does not change existing rules for other license holders or alter the requirement that stadium liquor sales must be available to the public through halftime.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 2115 modifies rules for historic building rehabilitation tax credits by allowing a second assignment of credit certificates. It directly affects developers and businesses that qualify for these credits, enabling the original recipient to transfer the credit to a second party before claiming the first payment. The key change requires both the initial assignee and any subsequent assignee to notify the state commissioner within 30 days of each transfer. This expands prior rules that only permitted one assignment, while maintaining that credit amounts equal 100% of the federal credit (or 90% for grants) and must be claimed within three years of the allocation certificate.

Maddy summarySF 2001 creates a new supplementary rate for specific housing facilities providing low-barrier support to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness with complex health needs (like substance use disorder, serious mental illness, or physical health conditions). It requires agencies to negotiate an additional rate above standard payments for facilities meeting strict criteria: 100 beds in Twin Cities indoor communities operating since 2020, or 48 beds in new central Minnesota facilities opening after 2025. The supplementary rate cannot exceed $975 per month, including inflation adjustments, starting July 1, 2025. This directly affects housing providers operating these designated facilities and the vulnerable population they serve.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $995,000 from the state general fund for fiscal year 2026 to renovate the historic Como Congregational Church in Minneapolis into a community center, public meeting space, and auditorium. The funds will cover construction, furnishings, and equipment for the Como Community Center, with up to $100,000 available to reimburse costs incurred after October 1, 2024. The appropriation is one-time and expires upon project completion or abandonment, per state law. It directly affects the Como Community Center as the recipient of these state funds for facility improvements.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to fund student loan debt counseling services in Minnesota. The funds will be administered by the Office of Higher Education under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1788, to assist Minnesotans managing student loan debt. The bill includes a 3% cap on administrative costs for the program, meaning no more than $7,500 of each annual appropriation can cover program management. It directly supports students and borrowers seeking guidance on repayment options, with no new policy requirements beyond the funding allocation.

Maddy summarySF 1892 would allow Minnesota cities and counties to adopt ranked choice voting (RCV) for local elections, such as city council or school board races. Under this bill, voters would rank candidates in order of preference (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd), and if no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, lower-ranked preferences would transfer to remaining candidates in rounds until one achieves a majority. The bill establishes procedures for local jurisdictions to implement RCV, including rules for electronic voting systems that reallocate votes and definitions for key terms like "batch elimination" and "highest continuing ranking." It does not apply to state-level elections or require any jurisdiction to adopt RCV - local governments would choose whether to use it.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota school districts calculate compensatory revenue eligibility for schools serving high numbers of low-income students. It requires using both direct certification (based on free/reduced lunch eligibility) and education benefits applications to determine eligibility, and adjusts spending rules - allowing up to 40% of funds to be allocated to school sites under specific conditions for fiscal years 2026-2027 (previously 80%). It also establishes a Compensatory Revenue Task Force to review the funding formula, including revenue levels and distribution methods, with members representing school boards, education organizations, and parents. The changes affect all public school districts receiving compensatory revenue under Minnesota Statutes sections 126C.10 and 126C.15, effective for fiscal year 2026 and later.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 1999) amends Minnesota zoning law to allow emergency shelter facilities in specific zoning districts. It defines "emergency shelter facility" as a safe, sanitary place providing shelter for people experiencing homelessness, regardless of operating hours. The key provision permits these facilities in areas zoned for multifamily housing, commercial, or industrial use, and clarifies they may also be allowed elsewhere if local rules permit. This directly affects local governments (which enforce zoning) and homeless service providers seeking to operate shelters. The bill makes no changes to existing shelter operations but streamlines zoning for new or existing emergency shelters in eligible areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's state rental assistance program rules. It changes how funds are distributed to program administrators based on the number of eligible households in each county, using U.S. Census data. It also clarifies that households already receiving federal Section 8 housing assistance cannot qualify for state aid. Additionally, the bill prioritizes rental help for families with children under 18 and households earning up to 30% of the area median income.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes local governments, housing authorities, and counties to establish local housing trust funds using dedicated public revenue sources for housing purposes. It amends Minnesota Statutes to define key terms like "local housing trust fund" and clarifies that these funds must be created with dedicated public funding. The bill provides the legal framework for communities to create these funds but does not allocate specific funding or mandate their creation. It focuses on enabling local options rather than imposing new requirements.