Sen. Rob Farnsworth

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $150,000 from the state general fund to the city of McGregor for relocating an automated weather station at the McGregor Isedor Iverson Airport. The funds are specifically for improving weather monitoring infrastructure at the local airport. The city of McGregor directly receives this grant to complete the station relocation project. The bill does not establish new policies or affect broader regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases presumptive sentence lengths by 25% for certain criminal sexual conduct offenses under Minnesota Statutes (sections 609.342-609.3458) committed on or after August 1, 2025. It directly affects individuals convicted of these specific crimes, excluding cases where the offender held a position of authority over the victim (e.g., a supervisor or teacher). The Sentencing Guidelines Commission must implement this change in the 2025 sentencing grid, applying the longer sentences to new convictions after the effective date. The increase applies to all listed offenses except those involving authority figures, as specified in the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $650,000 from state bond funds to resurface local roads in the City of Tamarack. It authorizes the state budget office to issue up to $650,000 in bonds to cover this cost, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law. The funds will be provided as a grant to Tamarack's city government for road resurfacing projects. The bill directly affects Tamarack's infrastructure maintenance and does not change broader state transportation policies or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a "sparsity adjustment" in Minnesota's city aid formula to account for low population density. It adds $200 to the aid calculation for cities meeting specific density thresholds: those with 10,000+ residents and under 150 people per square mile, or smaller cities (under 10,000 residents) with under 30 people per square mile, based on federal census data. All other cities receive no adjustment. The change applies to city aid payments starting in 2026, alongside an increase in the total annual city aid appropriation from $644 million (2024-2025) to a higher amount for 2026 onward.

Maddy summaryThis bill funds $2 million in capital improvements for Aitkin County's Health and Human Services building through state bond issuance. It directly affects Aitkin County residents who use these services by financing renovations including HVAC replacement, ADA-accessible restrooms, secure interview spaces, lobby upgrades, and enhanced security features like badge access systems. The key mechanism is authorizing the state to sell bonds to cover these specific construction costs, with funds administered by the commissioner of employment and economic development. The project aims to modernize facilities and improve accessibility and safety for county service users.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's law on fleeing police officers in vehicles by creating two new felony offenses. It adds a felony charge for drivers who flee recklessly endangering others (subdivision 3a) and another for fleeing while violating specific traffic laws like ignoring signs or staying on the wrong side of the road (subdivision 3b). Drivers convicted face increased penalties, including longer license revocations (up to 10 years for the most severe cases), and the bill also allows police to use tracking devices on fleeing vehicles. The changes apply to offenses committed on or after August 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySF 172 creates a small business sales tax allowance in Minnesota, directly affecting retailers with 15 or fewer employees. The bill allows these businesses to retain up to $500 of sales tax they collect, calculated as half a percent of the tax collected during a reporting period, provided they report and remit the remaining tax on time. This allowance reduces the amount they must pay to the state, but it cannot lower their total tax obligation below zero. The policy takes effect for sales taxes due after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $450,000 in state bond funds to Aitkin County for specific capital improvements at the Aitkin County Fairgrounds. The funds will cover updates to the electrical and drainage systems, construction of ADA-accessible walking paths and paved parking, and enhancements to water and sewer infrastructure. The state will issue bonds up to $450,000 to provide the funding, following Minnesota's bond issuance procedures. The project directly affects the Aitkin County Fairgrounds and its users by improving accessibility and infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $20,000 from state bond proceeds to fund the demolition and removal of the Tamarack school building in the City of Tamarack. The funds will cover debris removal, hazardous materials abatement, site remediation, and wall restoration to eliminate blighted conditions and enable future site redevelopment. The state will issue bonds up to $20,000 to cover this appropriation, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law. The direct beneficiary is the City of Tamarack, which will receive the grant to complete the demolition project.