Sen. Zaynab Mohamed

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 modifies Minnesota's extreme risk protection order (ERPO) laws to update how these orders are applied for, secured, and enforced. It expands who can petition for an ERPO to include attorneys' offices and allows respondents to petition on their own behalf, while clarifying definitions for family members and mental health professionals. The legislation requires courts to provide simplified forms, waives all filing and service fees, and mandates that orders be shared with law enforcement and the national background check system within specific timeframes. Additionally, it updates procedures for emergency relief petitions and clarifies the role of law enforcement in considering such requests.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits website, app, or software owners from allowing minors (under 18) to access chatbots for recreational use. It requires service providers to verify users' ages before granting access to chatbots. Violations could result in civil penalties of up to $5 million for businesses, or $1,000 in damages for affected individuals. The law directly affects companies offering chatbot services to the public, aiming to restrict minors' recreational use of AI conversation tools.

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 requires high-risk medical assistance providers in Minnesota to complete compliance training and establish specific internal policies. It mandates that license applicants and holders implement drug and alcohol policies for staff, create grievance procedures for clients, and designate authorized agents for communications with state officials. The legislation also requires providers to disclose consultant use when preparing license applications and establishes new teams for licensing oversight and provider support. These changes aim to strengthen oversight of medical assistance programs while streamlining application processes through updated reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially renames the Minnesota Senate Building in St. Paul to honor Kari Dziedzic, a state representative who passed away in 2024. It requires the state to update all official signage and legal references to reflect the new name while ensuring the cost of these changes comes from existing state funds rather than being passed to tenants. The legislation also directs state officials to update the Minnesota Statutes and Rules to include the new building name.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's Department of Human Services housing support policies to expand eligibility criteria for individuals with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, or co-occurring conditions who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The legislation requires grantees to provide homeless outreach and case management services while allowing projects to offer clinical assessments, mental health services, substance use treatment, and housing transition assistance. It also updates general assistance eligibility rules to include additional categories such as specific learning disabilities and certain youth situations, with most changes taking effect on July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects county agencies administering human services programs and the individuals they serve through expanded support options.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals removed from Minnesota due to alleged immigration violations to request help returning to the state if they are released from detention without transportation. The Department of Public Safety would arrange travel for these individuals at taxpayer expense or reimburse them for reasonable return costs. The law also requires the department to create guidelines for processing these requests while accepting any reasonable assistance requests. Funding for these transportation costs would come from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to increase Minnesota's sales tax rate by 0.375% (three-eighths of one percent) starting July 1, 2027, for 25 years (through 2052). The revenue would fund three new housing-specific accounts: a homeownership fund (25% of revenue) for home purchases/rehabilitation, a community stability fund (25%) for emergency aid and services for homeless or at-risk households, and a rental fund (50%) for rental assistance and supportive housing. All funds must supplement, not replace, existing housing programs. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2026 general election before implementation.

Maddy summarySF 1935 prohibits the elective declawing of cats in Minnesota, meaning it bans surgical removal of claws for cosmetic or convenience reasons (like making cats easier to handle). The bill allows declawing only for medically necessary procedures addressing infections, injuries, or health issues. It imposes civil penalties of $500 for a first violation, $1,000 for a second, and $2,500 for third or subsequent violations, recoverable by county attorneys or the state. This directly affects veterinarians performing such procedures and cat owners who might request elective declawing.