Sen. Clare Oumou Verbeten

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to the Birth Justice Collaborative to plan and develop an African-American-focused "Homeplace" model in Hennepin County. The model aims to improve access to culturally centered pregnancy and postpartum care, targeting better maternal and child health outcomes for Black mothers. The grant requires the Collaborative to report on implementation progress and outcomes by December 15, 2026, including recommendations for future expansion. The funding is available until June 30, 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $8 million from state bond proceeds to fund specific improvements at CHS Field in St. Paul. The city of St. Paul will receive a grant to design, construct, and equip upgrades meeting Major League Baseball standards, including a new locker room, enhanced visitor amenities, and environmental remediation for contaminated soil. The funds will be raised through the sale of state bonds authorized under Minnesota law. The bill directly affects the CHS Field facility and the city of St. Paul, which will manage the project. It focuses on concrete infrastructure changes rather than broader policy.

Maddy summarySF 1606 creates a new $1,000 exemption for funds in bank accounts during garnishment proceedings. It modifies Minnesota law to protect up to $1,000 in any debtor's depository accounts (regardless of source), requiring financial institutions to leave this amount untouched during garnishment. The exemption applies to all account holders, cannot be combined with another specific exemption (subdivision 28), and takes effect for cases filed on or after August 1, 2025. This change directly affects individuals facing debt collection efforts who hold money in bank accounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes the "Philando Castile Memorial Training Fund" an ongoing annual appropriation of $6 million starting in fiscal year 2026. It directly affects law enforcement agencies and training sponsors by providing ongoing reimbursement for approved courses focused on use of force (Minn. Stat. §626.8452), crisis response/conflict management/cultural diversity (§626.8469), and autism training (§626.8474). Key provisions require course sponsors to submit detailed applications including course outlines, instructor qualifications, and learning assessments, with the board reviewing courses annually to ensure they meet approved learning outcomes. The fund must first reimburse all eligible approved courses before potentially covering additional training.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding for Minnesota public school districts by adjusting several key education finance formulas. It raises the general education basic formula allowance, boosts special education and English learner cross subsidy aid, and increases safe schools revenue, all effective for fiscal year 2027 and later. The changes directly affect school districts serving students with special needs, English learners, and those relying on specific funding mechanisms like debt service levies. Key mechanisms include updating calculation methods for cross subsidy aid percentages (to 90% for English learners) and adjusting the cross subsidy aid factor (to 50.9% for special education). These adjustments aim to increase state funding for districts based on student needs and prior revenue calculations.

Maddy summarySF 1609 clarifies a process for people convicted of certain felony murders to seek retroactive relief. It allows individuals convicted under Minnesota Statutes sections 609.185 (paragraph a, clause 3) or 609.19 (subdivision 2, clause 1) to petition courts if they prove they didn’t cause the death and either didn’t intentionally aid the killing or weren’t a major participant in the underlying felony. If approved, courts must vacate the original murder conviction and resentence the person for the most serious remaining offense, a related felony, or a lesser included offense. The bill ensures sentences don’t increase total confinement time and requires victim notification for any resentencing hearing.

Maddy summarySF 1514 appropriates $1.5 million from the general fund for a one-time grant to the Coalition of Asian American Leaders. The funds, available until June 30, 2027, will support outreach, training, technical assistance, peer network development, and direct financial assistance for Asian Minnesotan women entrepreneurs and Asian-owned businesses. This grant is administered by the Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development. The bill directly affects Asian-owned businesses and entrepreneurs in Minnesota through targeted economic development support.

Maddy summarySF 1152 appropriates $1.75 million for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. The funding is designated for specific uses including educational programs, habitat improvements, special exhibits, music appreciation activities, and preservation of historical gardens. This bill directly affects Como Park Zoo and Conservatory by providing dedicated financial support for their operations and enhancements. The key provision is the fixed annual appropriation amount and its specified allocation categories, with no changes to broader policy or eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $300,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 to support the Walker West Music Academy. The funds will directly support the academy in providing 12 free concerts, youth and adult music education programs, professional development for music educators, and community choir initiatives. The bill creates a specific grant for these concrete programs, benefiting residents who access the academy's services. It does not change existing laws or create new regulations, but allocates state funds for defined cultural activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board to develop a model policy for safe traffic stops by December 2025, incorporating best practices like de-escalation techniques, communication protocols, and measures to prevent racial profiling. Law enforcement agencies must adopt policies matching this model by September 2026, and the bill mandates updated training for officers in both initial preservice curriculum and ongoing continuing education. It appropriates $200,000 for 2025 and $500,000 for 2026 to support policy development, curriculum alignment, and training implementation. The policy directly affects all Minnesota law enforcement agencies and peace officers conducting traffic stops.