Sen. Clare Oumou Verbeten

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 2979) modifies Minnesota's definition of "custodian" in orders of protection for minor children. It updates Minnesota Statutes § 518B.01, subd. 2(d), to explicitly include any person under legal obligation to care for a child (e.g., with court-ordered custody or parenting time), while excluding those caring for a child only after parental rights termination. The change directly affects domestic violence victims seeking protection orders involving minor children, ensuring caregivers with legal or court-defined responsibility can be included. This clarifies who qualifies as a custodian for protection order purposes under current law.

Maddy summarySF 1615 allocates $1 million from the general fund for a one-time fiscal year 2026 appropriation to establish an agricultural training program for Black youth at historical Black-owned farms in rural Minnesota. The program requires the commissioner of agriculture to provide training in traditional and modern farming, sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurship, and community engagement, along with mentorship opportunities. This bill directly affects Black youth in rural Minnesota by creating structured educational and career pathways in agriculture through existing historical Black-owned farm sites.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's foster care rules for relatives caring for children. It expands the definition of "related" to include important friends with significant relationships to the child or family. Relatives seeking foster care must now complete infant safety training within 30 days of licensure (previously only required for non-relatives), and county agencies must provide information about licensing options through private agencies. The bill also updates background check requirements for household members and ensures caregivers receive training on preventing sudden infant death and abusive head trauma.

Maddy summarySF 1289 creates criminal immunity for pregnant individuals in Minnesota, preventing charges or convictions for conduct that would not be criminal if they were not pregnant. It directly affects pregnant people who might otherwise face prosecution for actions like drug use (prescribed or not), experiencing abuse, domestic violence, or failing to maintain optimal physical health. The bill adds Section 609.077 to Minnesota Statutes, establishing that such conduct cannot form the basis of a criminal charge or conviction. This policy change shifts legal focus from punishing pregnant individuals for these circumstances to addressing the underlying issues. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety committee.

Maddy summarySF 1385 appropriates $9 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to provide grants to community-based HIV/AIDS support services providers in Minnesota. The funding, available until June 30, 2027, supports existing local organizations offering direct services to people living with HIV/AIDS. The bill establishes a base funding level of $9 million for fiscal year 2028, ensuring continued financial support for these providers. This is a straightforward funding measure with no new program requirements or eligibility changes.

Maddy summarySF 852 appropriates funds from the general fund for grants to organizations that received victim services grants in 2024. These grants must support direct services and advocacy for victims of sexual assault, general crime, domestic violence, and child abuse. The funding covers direct client assistance, competitive staff wages, housing supports, culturally responsive programming, and prevention services like restorative justice, with priority for underserved communities. Up to 10% of the funds can cover grant administration. The bill targets organizations serving crime victims across Minnesota’s diverse communities.

Maddy summarySF 2120 establishes a funding formula to distribute $12.662 million in fiscal year 2026 for community supervision programs across Minnesota counties, Tribal Nations, and certain jurisdictions. It provides a base $150,000 per jurisdiction plus funding calculated using a $5.62 daily rate multiplied by population data from probation surveys, with a reduced rate (50%) for misdemeanor and juvenile cases. Tribal Nations receive an annual $250,000 base allocation for probation services, plus additional funding based on the same population formula. The bill ensures funding adjustments if appropriations differ from calculated needs and expires June 30, 2029.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the court process for changing sex designations on vital records in Minnesota. It requires applicants seeking a sex change to provide a letter from a licensed physician confirming they've received or are receiving gender transition treatment, which was not previously mandated. The court must then direct the Department of Health to update the individual's birth record or vital records. This directly affects transgender Minnesotans applying to change their sex designation on official documents like birth certificates. The bill amends existing statutes to add this physician certification requirement and specify how courts must handle such requests.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 179A.03, subdivision 14, to exempt full-time graduate students employed by their educational institution from being classified as public employees. It directly affects graduate students working at public or nonprofit colleges/universities (excluding University of Minnesota Board of Regents positions) who are paid for their work. The key change removes the previous requirement that such employment must be tied to a work-study program or financial aid, broadening the exemption to cover all full-time graduate student employment. This creates a concrete policy change by expanding the group of students automatically excluded from public employee status under Minnesota law.

Maddy summarySF 2235 requires Minnesota employers to disclose in all job postings whether offered health plan options comply with state cost-sharing limits (defined under section 62Q.481, subdivision 1). This applies to every job opening and directly affects employers posting positions in Minnesota. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 181.173, subdivision 2, adding this health plan disclosure requirement to existing rules about posting salary ranges and benefits descriptions. It does not change health plan benefits but mandates transparency about cost-sharing compliance at the hiring stage. The law aims to help job seekers understand health plan affordability before applying.