Sen. Doron Clark

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota law to limit strip searches of incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities during visitation periods. It allows facility leaders to use body scanners or other minimally invasive screening methods to screen incarcerated persons before or after meetings with visitors. However, the bill prohibits strip searches of incarcerated persons in these situations unless there is a specific, documented security threat that justifies the more invasive procedure. The rules for implementation will be established through regulations adopted by the state commissioner.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows residential tenants in Minnesota to end their lease early if they lose their job or experience a significant drop in income that prevents them from paying rent. To exercise this right, a tenant must provide their landlord with at least 14 days' written notice along with proof of the income loss, such as a termination letter from an employer or a sworn statement if official documentation is unavailable. If the tenant follows these steps, the lease officially ends on the date specified in the notice, though they remain responsible for any rent owed before that date. The legislation also states that landlords cannot require longer notice periods or waive these rights, and the rules apply to new, renewed, or extended leases starting after the law takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the ability of Minnesota juvenile courts to impose fines on minors involved in delinquency proceedings. It directly affects youth facing court orders by removing the option for judges to mandate monetary penalties, which previously could be up to $1,000. The legislation amends existing statutes to delete the specific provision allowing these fines while preserving other dispositions like restitution for damages and counseling. By repealing the fine authority, the bill aims to reduce financial burdens on young people within the juvenile justice system.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding for Minnesota's Independent Use of Force Investigations Unit, which investigates police use-of-force incidents. The legislation appropriates $550,000 from the state's general fund for fiscal year 2027 to hire two additional special agents and one criminal intelligence analyst dedicated solely to this unit's work. The funding will become effective on July 1, 2026, and is intended to expand the unit's capacity to handle its existing caseload. This measure builds upon previous funding approved in 2025 for the same investigative function.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows public colleges and universities in Minnesota to create rules limiting how visitors can carry firearms on campus property. Under the new provisions, institutions can require visitors to leave if they violate firearm policies, and those who refuse to comply could face a petty misdemeanor charge with a fine of up to $500 for a first offense. The legislation also clarifies that firearms carried in violation of these rules cannot be subject to forfeiture. Additionally, the bill maintains that employers and schools cannot ban firearms in parking areas, even if they have other campus-wide restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public Minnesota K-12 schools to implement either a statewide anonymous threat reporting system or a locally designed system by July 1, 2028. The system must offer 24/7 anonymous reporting via mobile app and multilingual crisis centers, include evidence-based student violence prevention training, and coordinate with school teams and law enforcement. Schools using their own system must provide crisis center staffing, train school teams, and promote public awareness. Nonpublic schools are exempt, and schools using the state system must annually inform parents about the reporting options. The bill mandates these requirements to address safety concerns through accessible anonymous reporting mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Minnesota counties, cities, and towns to prohibit or restrict the possession of dangerous weapons, ammunition, or explosives in their owned or leased buildings and land. Local governments must post conspicuous, prominently displayed signs with specific wording (e.g., "BANS GUNS") to communicate the ban, and exceptions apply for law enforcement officers on duty or individuals with written permission. Violating the ban would be classified as a misdemeanor, with the law taking effect on August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts corporate ownership of single-family homes by prohibiting any corporate owner (including corporations, partnerships, or real estate investment trusts) from owning 50 or more such homes. It increases the deed tax rate to 0.5% for transfers of single-family homes to corporate owners (from the standard 0.0033%), with revenues dedicated to affordable housing programs. The bill also creates a statewide landlord database and includes exceptions for government entities, affordable housing nonprofits, and homeowners with homestead property. These changes aim to limit large-scale corporate control of residential housing while funding affordability initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's public employees police and fire retirement plan to allow retired police officers to return to work as active officers while keeping their pension benefits. It applies to police officers who have at least five years of service and are receiving or applying for an annuity, enabling them to rejoin their city police force as early as 31 days after retirement. The legislation sets rules for reemployment, including that the city must hire based on need, the position can last up to one year with possible annual renewal, and the officer's pension amount remains unchanged during this period. Additionally, the bill limits how many retired police officers a city can employ at once, though the specific numerical cap is cut off in the provided text.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Minnesota commissioner of transportation to update railroad safety rules by July 1, 2027, to mandate that crossing bells be silenced when trains approach crossings or when gates are closing, unless the crossing is within 1,000 feet of residential property. The legislation directly affects railroad operators and transportation officials responsible for managing railroad crossings across the state. The rulemaking process may use a simplified procedure that bypasses certain standard review requirements to expedite the implementation of these safety modifications.