Sen. Rob Farnsworth

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's vehicle registration tax law to provide a tax reduction for disabled veterans. It requires that disabled veterans pay only the percentage of the registration tax corresponding to their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating (e.g., 30% tax for a 30% disability rating), applying to only one vehicle per owner. The law also mandates that the state transfer funds from the general fund to the highway user fund each July 15 to cover the lost tax revenue from these reductions. The policy directly affects disabled veterans who own vehicles in Minnesota, reducing their registration costs based on their VA disability rating.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the Minnesota State Board of Investment from investing in or contracting with companies that boycott mining, energy production, agriculture, or commercial lumber. It requires the state board to divest from such companies (called "listed companies") by July 1, 2030, and bans state agencies from entering contracts with these companies. The bill defines "boycott" as refusing business due to a company's lack of adherence to environmental standards beyond legal requirements. It also mandates annual reports detailing affected investments and includes limited provisions against financial discrimination based on subjective criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2 million from the state arts and cultural heritage fund for renovations and exhibit upgrades at the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth. It directly provides funding to the Hall of Fame for physical improvements and updated displays. The funds would be administered by the commissioner of administration as a grant to the Hall of Fame, specifically for facility and exhibit enhancements. This is a funding measure with no policy changes beyond the allocation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state agencies and grant recipients to disclose the origin of specific minerals (nickel, copper, cobalt, steel, or iron powder) used in solar panels and electric vehicle batteries purchased with state funds. Vendors must state where these minerals were mined or produced, and if they come from outside Minnesota, agencies must report this to mining committees and explain why local sources weren't used. It applies to all state contracts and grant-funded purchases of covered goods, effective upon enactment. The bill aims to increase transparency about mineral sourcing in state procurement without changing purchasing policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's definition of "carbon-free" electricity to include specific biomass sources. It adds that carbon-free electricity must now include biomass that generates at least 50% of a utility's annual retail sales using wood chips from: (1) tree trimming waste during non-energy timber harvesting, or (2) discarded wood products. This change directly affects electric utilities (including cooperatives, municipal agencies, and power districts) that report on carbon-free electricity sources under state law. The definition update clarifies which biomass energy qualifies as carbon-free for regulatory reporting purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's rules for operating all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) on public roads. It allows class 1 and class 2 ATVs on the right shoulder or extreme right side of county/state highways (for accessing businesses or trails) and permits agricultural ATVs on road shoulders during specific times. The bill also restricts ATV use in agricultural zones from April 1 to August 1 (except for work-related travel) and bans nighttime operation on most roads. These changes directly affect ATV riders, local governments setting ordinances, and agricultural users operating on public roadways.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $752,000 from the natural resources fund for St. Louis County ATV trail projects and $200,000 for a Duluth ATV route study. It funds specific projects: engineering and construction for four county trail clubs (including Alborn Dirt Devils and Seven Beavers clubs), and a connectivity study for Duluth's western trails. All funds are one-time allocations available through June 2028. The bill directly affects local ATV clubs and the City of Duluth by providing targeted funding for trail development and planning.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1,000,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to grant to Forgotten Heroes Ranges and Retreat, a nonprofit organization. The funds will be used to predesign, design, construct, furnish, and equip a new accessible shooting range and retreat facility specifically for disabled veterans and handicapped individuals. The appropriation is one-time and available until the project is completed or abandoned. It directly affects the nonprofit organization and its target beneficiaries through dedicated capital funding for accessibility-focused infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota employers to report certain applicant behaviors through a new fraud reporting portal managed by the unemployment commissioner. It directly affects employers who use unemployment benefits, requiring them to report three specific incidents: applicants who missed interviews, refused job offers, or couldn't be contacted for work. The portal must include these reporting elements, and employers can request access to applicant "no-show" and "refusal" records (including private data) from the commissioner. The law aims to help employers verify applicant reliability while maintaining existing privacy protections for applicants.

Maddy summarySF 350 removes a legal prohibition that prevented Minnesota's Public Utilities Commission from issuing certificates of need for new nuclear power plants. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 216B.243, subdivision 3b, eliminating the specific language stating the commission "may not issue a certificate of need for the construction of a new nuclear-powered electric generating plant." This change would directly affect nuclear energy developers seeking to build new facilities and the commission responsible for reviewing such proposals. If enacted, the bill would allow the commission to evaluate and approve new nuclear plant projects under the certificate of need process, which was previously barred by law.