Sen. Clare Oumou Verbeten

Maddy summarySF 662 establishes a new civil cause of action for individuals who experience the nonconsensual removal of a condom during sexual activity. The bill allows victims to sue for damages, including up to $10,000 in civil penalties, attorney fees, and other remedies, if they did not consent to the condom's removal. It defines "sexual battery" in this context as contact involving a condom-removed sexual organ and an intimate part without verbal consent. The law applies to cases occurring on or after August 1, 2025, and requires courts to allow confidential filings to protect plaintiff privacy. This directly affects individuals who experience nonconsensual condom removal during sexual activity by providing a specific legal remedy.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2 million annually starting in fiscal year 2026 to fund Minnesota's existing homeownership education, counseling, and training program. The funds, transferred from the general fund to the housing development fund, are directed to the Housing Finance Agency for program administration. Ten percent of the first two years' allocation ($200,000 annually) is specifically designated for the Minnesota Homeownership Center to provide culturally appropriate services, including support for limited English proficiency and technology access. The funding supports existing program operations without creating new policy requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires prosecutors to notify victims when they decline to prosecute violations of orders for protection or harassment restraining orders. It applies directly to victims of domestic abuse, harassment, or stalking who have protection orders violated but face no criminal charges. The key mechanism mandates prosecutors to make "reasonable efforts" to contact victims via phone first, then email or mail, and to explain dismissal reasons (e.g., witness unavailability). The bill updates existing notification rules under Minnesota Statutes to ensure victims receive clear information about their case status without prosecution.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits landlords in Minnesota from discriminating against tenants who use government rental assistance, housing choice vouchers, or other public aid programs to pay rent. It specifically bans landlords from denying viewings, applications, or rental opportunities to such tenants, or advertising that they won't rent to people using these programs. The law directly affects tenants relying on federal, state, or local housing assistance and requires landlords to comply with these non-discrimination rules. It amends Minnesota Statutes 363A.09 to add explicit protections against source-of-income discrimination in housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires correctional authorities to notify crime victims when an offender submits a letter of apology, but only if the victim has previously requested this notification. Victims must submit a written or electronic request to the correctional facility or the Department of Corrections to be included in this notification process. Authorities must make a "good faith effort" to notify these victims within 90 days of the apology being filed. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to add this requirement to existing victim notification procedures, directly affecting victims who proactively opt-in and correctional facilities handling offender correspondence. It does not change the content of apologies or create new victim rights.

Maddy summarySF 2118 allocates $800,000 annually for 2026 and 2027 to fund economic and financial literacy education in Minnesota public schools. The bill provides grants to the Minnesota Council on Economic Education to support professional development for K-12 teachers implementing financial education standards, develop curriculum resources, and run student programs. It specifically targets teachers in grades 9-12 delivering personal finance instruction and requires annual reports detailing training participation, program content, and research on program effectiveness. The funding directly affects Minnesota teachers and students by expanding access to financial literacy education resources and teacher training.

Maddy summarySF 2007 modifies Minnesota's full-service community schools program by establishing new funding levels and requirements. It appropriates $100,000 per eligible school for one year to cover planning activities (like community engagement and baseline analysis) and $200,000 annually per school for up to three years to implement community school programming. Eligible schools must meet specific criteria, such as being on a continuous improvement plan or in a district with an approved achievement plan, and must hire site coordinators to manage services. The bill prioritizes schools with high needs (e.g., significant free/reduced lunch enrollment, homelessness) and requires school leadership teams with at least 30% parent/student representation.

Maddy summarySF 1616 allocates $5 million from the general fund for a veteran mentorship program targeting Black youth in Minnesota. The bill requires the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to fund an organization that will employ veterans to mentor Black youth, aiming to prevent youth violence and help participants explore military careers. The funding is specifically broken down: $1.5 million for veteran mentor salaries, $2 million for community outreach and education, $1 million for youth engagement activities, and $500,000 for program administration. This is a one-time appropriation for fiscal year 2026, directly affecting Black youth through structured mentorship and career exploration opportunities.

Maddy summarySF 2131 authorizes Minnesota local jurisdictions (such as cities and counties) to adopt ranked choice voting for local elections. The bill establishes procedures for how communities can implement ranked choice voting, including allowing electronic voting systems that automatically transfer votes when candidates are eliminated. It also includes funding to support implementation and amends election laws to integrate ranked choice voting into local election processes. This bill directly affects how local offices - like mayors or city council members - are elected in communities that choose to adopt the system.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to fund student loan debt counseling services in Minnesota. The funds will be administered by the Office of Higher Education under Minnesota Statutes, section 136A.1788, to assist Minnesotans managing student loan debt. The bill includes a 3% cap on administrative costs for the program, meaning no more than $7,500 of each annual appropriation can cover program management. It directly supports students and borrowers seeking guidance on repayment options, with no new policy requirements beyond the funding allocation.