Sen. Scott Dibble

Maddy summarySF 596 amends Minnesota Statutes section 219.455 to clarify specific definitions related to railroad clearance requirements. It adds formal definitions for terms like "depot company," "terminal," "yard," and "yard track" within existing railroad regulations. This bill directly affects how Minnesota's railroad statutes are interpreted, particularly regarding infrastructure and operations. It does not create new requirements or impact specific carriers; it only refines the legal definitions used in current law. The bill is a technical clarification, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Minnesota's Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to research autonomous mower technology for use on state-owned properties. Specifically, it requires MnDOT to study how robotic mowers could be used at rest areas, highway rights-of-way (including ditches and shoulders), and other public properties owned by the department. The bill appropriates $150,000 for this research, mandates purchasing equipment from Minnesota-based companies, and requires a report by February 2027 analyzing safety, cost-benefit, pilot project planning, and impacts on worker safety and maintenance needs. The research aims to determine if autonomous mowers could improve efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts income earned by certain nonresident employees from Minnesota income tax. It applies to workers who live in another state (returning monthly), work in Minnesota for 30 days or fewer annually, perform duties in multiple states, and whose home state offers similar tax relief or has no income tax. Employers must maintain time/attendance records to verify compliance, and penalties for failing to withhold tax are waived if employers follow specific record-keeping procedures. The exemption applies to income earned after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases payment rates for residential substance use disorder treatment providers in Minnesota. Specifically, it authorizes a 50% rate increase over 2025 rates for eligible residential services (listed in statute) starting July 1, 2025, for providers meeting requirements under Minnesota Statutes §254B.05. The change directly affects licensed residential treatment facilities that provide services covered under the statute. This is a funding adjustment to support provider compensation, not a new service or program. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes §254B.12 to implement this rate increase.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.5 million from the general fund to the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority for a one-time project to retrofit glass at U.S. Bank Stadium. The funds will be used to install exterior visual markers on four specific glass areas, following recommendations from a 2019 bird collision study and approved products listed by the American Bird Conservancy's Glass Collisions Program. The retrofitting must be completed by June 30, 2026, to reduce bird collisions at the stadium. The bill directly affects U.S. Bank Stadium operations and local bird populations.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits Minnesota's ability to assess additional taxes when taxpayers rely on written erroneous advice from the tax department. It protects taxpayers who received specific written guidance from department employees that was reasonably relied upon and not due to the taxpayer's failure to provide accurate information. The commissioner cannot impose extra tax if the advice remained valid (no legal changes or court decisions altered it) and no new written notice corrected the guidance. The provision applies to tax periods starting after the erroneous advice was given, effective June 30, 2025. It directly affects individuals and businesses subject to income, corporate franchise, and sales tax assessments.

Maddy summarySF 33 modifies Minnesota's requirements for properties classified as "class 4d(1)" low-income rental housing. It updates the criteria for qualifying properties, requiring at least 20% of units to meet specific federal or state housing assistance standards (like Section 8 contracts or income-restricted tax credit projects). The bill also mandates that property owners use tax savings from this classification for eligible purposes only - such as maintenance, security, improvements, rent stabilization, or replacement reserves - and must annually certify this usage to the Housing Finance Agency. This change affects owners of qualifying low-income rental properties, effective for 2026 property assessments.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $150,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the arts and cultural heritage fund. The funds are directed to the Bakken Museum through the Minnesota Humanities Center Board. The money must be used specifically for the Bakken Museum to develop interactive exhibits and outreach programs focused on arts and cultural heritage. The bill directly affects the Bakken Museum by providing funding for its educational programming.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to explicitly protect Minnesotans' electronic communications and data from unreasonable searches and seizures, expanding existing Fourth Amendment safeguards. It would amend Minnesota's Constitution (Article I, Section 10) to state that the right to be secure "in their electronic communications and data" cannot be violated without a warrant based on probable cause. The amendment directly affects all Minnesota residents by granting constitutional-level privacy rights for digital information, such as emails, messages, and online activity. If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, it would become part of the state constitution.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for filing property tax refund claims in Minnesota from one year to two years after the original due date. It directly affects property owners who missed the initial filing window for tax refunds, giving them an additional year to submit claims. The key provision amends Minnesota Statutes section 289A.40, changing the rule that previously barred claims filed more than one year late. The change applies to property taxes payable in 2025 and later years. This is a procedural adjustment to refund filing timelines, not a change to tax rates or eligibility.