Sen. Sandy Pappas

Maddy summarySF 2520 creates a $2.2 million grant program to provide financial assistance to small businesses in St. Paul affected by construction on Arcade Street and East 7th Street. Qualified businesses - those employing 25 or fewer people experiencing impaired access, parking, or visibility for at least one month during the project - may receive grants covering payroll, operating costs, or facility expenses. Grants will be distributed by St. Paul nonprofits and community development institutions using specific criteria like revenue decline and traffic disruption severity. The program requires annual reports on grant recipients and uses funds from the general fund through June 2029.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $6.75 million from the general fund for a one-time grant to Saint Paul Urban Tennis, a nonprofit organization. The funds will support the predesign, construction, and equipping of a new tennis and life learning community center in Saint Paul. The grant is available until the project is completed or abandoned, per Minnesota Statutes. This is a direct funding allocation for facility development, not a policy change affecting broader legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases reimbursement rates for certain direct support services in Minnesota. It raises the rate for personal care assistants and Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) providers serving clients needing 10+ hours daily from 107.5% to 112.5% (effective 2026), requiring all additional revenue to fund wages and wage-related costs - not other benefits. It also establishes a new Minnesota Caregiver Defined Contribution Retirement Fund Trust, where the state contributes to retirement plans for union-represented direct support workers. These changes apply to providers working under specific programs and collective bargaining agreements. The bill appropriates funds to implement these rate modifications and retirement trust provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes Minnesota Rules (parts 5200.2060-5200.2090) effective starting January 1, 2026 (or after federal approval), which establish minimum wage standards for nursing home workers. It directly affects nursing home facilities that receive medical assistance payments, as their reimbursement rates from the state will now be tied to these mandated wage standards. The key mechanism links the minimum wage requirements for nursing home staff directly to how much the state reimburses facilities for medical assistance services. This change ensures that facilities receiving public funds must meet specific wage thresholds for their workforce.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires retailers in Minnesota to display multilingual signs by August 1, 2026, warning customers that selling skin-lightening products containing mercury is illegal and may cause health harm. The signs must be visible at all retail locations where such products are sold and must include text in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, French, Ethiopian, and Oromo. The Pollution Control Agency and Health Commissioner will develop the sign content with community input. This directly affects retailers selling skin-lightening products and aims to inform consumers about existing mercury-related restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) rules for public employees and retirees. It repeals additional employer retirement contributions once PERA's assets reach 98% of its financial obligations, effective after March 31 of the year following the actuarial report. It also increases postretirement cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirees, capping annual increases at 1.5% unless federal Social Security adjustments exceed 2%, in which case COLAs would match 50% of that federal adjustment. These changes affect all current and future PERA members and retirees, with the COLA adjustments taking effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySF 2985 amends Minnesota's Secure Choice Retirement Program Act to require the commissioner of employment and economic development to disclose employer information (like business names, contact details, and addresses) to the program's executive director within 30 days of a request. It establishes a certification process allowing entities to prove they aren't "covered employers" (e.g., those with fewer than five employees or those offering existing retirement plans) and clarifies the "enrollment window" period for employers to enroll eligible employees. The bill directly affects Minnesota employers with five or more employees who may be subject to the program, as well as the program's administrators managing enrollment and compliance. These changes streamline administrative processes and disclosure requirements under the Secure Choice Retirement Program.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Minnesota Commissioner of Health for the Beautywell Project. The funds are specifically for public awareness and education activities addressing colorism, skin-lightening products, and chemical exposures from those products. It is a one-time appropriation available until June 30, 2027, with no new regulations or requirements created. The bill directly affects the Commissioner of Health, who will administer the project, and aims to benefit Minnesotans through educational outreach.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds financial penalties for Minnesota employers that fail to comply with the Minnesota Secure Choice Retirement Program requirements. Covered employers face escalating fines starting at $100 per employee (capped at $4,000) on the second anniversary of noncompliance, increasing to $500 per employee annually after the fourth year. Employers must be notified in writing before penalties apply and can avoid them by correcting violations within 30 days. The bill also creates misdemeanor charges for willful, intentional failure to remit withheld employee contributions and allows employees or the attorney general to pursue civil or criminal action for noncompliance. It directly affects private employers in Minnesota required to participate in the state's retirement savings program.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Housing Finance Agency. The funds support the Community Stabilization Project in St. Paul to assist both tenants and landlords. Key provisions include providing landlords with rental regulation guidance, promoting sustainable property management, reducing disputes through mediation, and helping tenants access rental assistance or payment plans to improve rent collection. The program directly affects St. Paul landlords and tenants by aiming to stabilize housing relationships and reduce turnover.