Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $250,000 from the state's general fund to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to support Minnesota's Rally to Read program in fiscal year 2026. The funding will be used to grant money to community reading coalitions that aim to improve reading proficiency and reduce educational inequities, with a specific focus on children from prenatal development through age three. Grant recipients must match every dollar of state funding with private money, and the program must prioritize delivering literacy resources to children who need them most while building on existing successful programs. This one-time appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, and may cover staffing, coalition facilitation, meeting expenses, data tracking, and program evaluation.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill repeals two Minnesota statutes (3.226 and 16C.053) that previously prohibited the state legislature and executive branch agencies from entering contracts with vendors engaging in discrimination against Israel or businesses operating in Israel. The repealed provisions barred contracts where vendors refused to deal with Israel-based entities or limited commercial relations based on nationality, with limited exemptions for small contracts or waivers. By removing these restrictions, the bill allows state government to contract with any vendor without considering their stance on Israel-related business practices. This change applies to new contracts issued on or after the effective date, affecting all state agencies and the legislature's procurement decisions.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the definition of "teacher" for two Minnesota retirement associations, the Teachers Retirement Association and the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, to explicitly exclude individuals employed on J-1 visas from the United States. The changes clarify which educational staff positions are eligible for retirement coverage and specify that foreign nationals on J-1 visas do not qualify as teachers under these plans. Additionally, the bill requires both associations to refund employee contributions made by J-1 visa holders who would have been excluded from eligibility if the new definition had been in effect at the time of their employment, with refunds due by July 31, 2026, and interest calculated at three percent annually.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new financial aid program for Ramsey County to compensate it for the economic impact of state-owned buildings in the Capitol Area. Starting in 2027, the state will pay Ramsey County $5 per square foot of these buildings to offset the loss of local tax revenue and the disproportionate burden of state property ownership. The funds must be used to reduce current property taxes within the county, and the money will come from the state's general fund. This measure directly affects Ramsey County residents and the state's budget process by creating a new annual appropriation and payment schedule.
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to provide a one-time grant to Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities. The funds will support workforce development services for adults experiencing homelessness, hunger, or addiction, including job skills training, GED and ESL education, job readiness programs, and financial literacy. The grant also covers essential support services like clothing, transportation, and childcare to help remove employment barriers. This funding directly enables the organization to continue and improve these specific services for its target population.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in Minnesota that provide monetary parking benefits to employees to also offer an equivalent monetary benefit for using public transit or other non-driving transportation options. The law applies to any business that currently pays for employee parking and mandates that these employers give workers the choice to receive the same dollar amount for alternative transit methods instead. The commissioner of labor and industry is responsible for enforcing this requirement, ensuring compliance with the new transportation benefit parity rule.
Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 2824 allows cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul to use tax increment financing (using future tax revenue growth) to convert vacant or underused commercial/industrial properties into residential housing. It modifies eligibility rules for tax increment districts by adding commercial/industrial properties meeting specific vacancy criteria as qualifying redevelopment areas. The bill requires local governments to verify property conditions (e.g., unused status) and adjust tax calculations when converting such properties. This directly affects municipal redevelopment agencies, property owners with eligible underused buildings, and developers seeking to repurpose commercial sites for housing. The policy change streamlines the process for repurposing underutilized urban land without altering building codes or requiring new construction.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes St. Paul's housing and redevelopment authority to establish up to three special tax increment financing (TIF) districts in the downtown area (defined as City Planning District 17). It allows the city to bypass standard TIF requirements if it finds at least 50% of buildings in the district need renovation or clearance due to specific conditions like vacancy, obsolescence, or safety hazards. The special rules include permitting noncontiguous parcels, using TIF funds to clear buildings for public parks, and exempting certain spending restrictions that normally apply to TIF projects. The authority to create these districts expires June 30, 2030, unless at least one district is certified by that date, with all districts needing certification by June 30, 2034.
Maddy summarySF 932 would establish the Minnesota Health Plan, a state-run health care program requiring all Minnesota residents to be covered. The plan mandates comprehensive coverage for medical, dental, vision, mental health, prescription drugs, and long-term care, with no co-pays and premiums based on income. It creates new entities including the Minnesota Health Board and Health Fund to manage the plan, and requires providers to accept the plan without restricting care. The bill directly affects all Minnesota residents, including temporary out-of-state residents and border community visitors, while allowing existing retiree benefits to continue.
Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $2 million each from the state's general fund to the cities of St. Paul and West St. Paul to support small businesses with ten or fewer employees. The funds will be distributed through the commissioner of employment and economic development to designated community organizations for economic development and job retention efforts. Money can be used for technical assistance, creating revolving loan funds, providing interest-free or forgivable loans, and offering grants for operating expenses. The appropriations are one-time grants available until June 30, 2028.