Sen. Jen McEwen

Maddy summarySF 3083 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Agriculture to update the state's pesticide management plan to include pesticides from treated seeds and their breakdown products in groundwater and surface water monitoring. The bill mandates new labeling for certain pesticide-treated seeds, establishes a program for systemic pesticides (pesticides absorbed by plants and spread through plant tissue), and broadens coordination to include local governments and public health agencies in plan development. It also adds requirements for monitoring pesticide contamination in air quality and increases penalties for pesticide damage to state outdoor recreation lands. The bill appropriates funds to support these new monitoring, labeling, and program requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 1909) amends Minnesota law to allow county attorneys to use administrative subpoenas specifically in wage theft investigations. It authorizes county attorneys to subpoena employer records like payroll, banking, and financial documents related to wages, hours, and employment conditions. The bill directly affects employers who may be investigated for wage theft and gives county attorneys a new tool to gather evidence. The change takes effect August 1, 2025, and applies only to ongoing investigations into wage theft violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates a one-time funding allocation from the renewable development account to the commissioner of commerce for geothermal planning grants in fiscal year 2026. It directs the commissioner to award these grants to eligible applicants under Minnesota Statutes section 216C.47, specifically for planning purposes related to geothermal energy projects. The funding is intended to support preliminary work like site assessments and feasibility studies, directly affecting local governments, developers, or organizations seeking to advance geothermal energy initiatives. This is a procedural funding measure with no new policy requirements, solely providing resources for planning activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's agricultural waste handling rules to improve oversight and environmental protection. It requires record retention for sewage sludge transfers (including date, amount, and parties involved) and prohibits applying fertilizer, animal waste, or sewage sludge to impervious surfaces like roads or parking lots. The bill also clarifies the Department of Agriculture's role in regulating PFAS-containing fertilizers and reduces duplication for distributors by allowing shared data submissions. These changes directly affect farmers, fertilizer distributors, and waste handlers by imposing new documentation requirements and restricting certain disposal practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $5 million from the general fund for a one-time grant to Saint Ann's Residence in Duluth. The funds are specifically for designing, constructing, and equipping renovations to its assisted living facility. The grant must be used to repair and upgrade the physical facility, benefiting the residents of Saint Ann's Residence. The appropriation is available for fiscal year 2026 and expires upon project completion or abandonment.

Maddy summarySF 2914 extends the deadline for using a 2023 grant to the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District for wastewater infrastructure. The bill amends previous law to allow the district to use funds allocated for designing, constructing, and rehabilitating four secondary clarifiers in its wastewater treatment system until December 31, 2029 - instead of the original 2023 deadline. This extension directly affects the district's project timeline for upgrading its wastewater treatment system. The bill makes no new policy changes but adjusts the timeframe for an existing appropriation.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates funds to create a pilot program capturing waste heat from wastewater treatment facilities. It directs the Pollution Control Agency to identify suitable facilities, quantify available heat energy, and fund engineering studies for one project in the metro area and one outside it. The program requires a report by December 2027 detailing identified sites, implementation challenges and benefits, and future funding options. The bill directly affects wastewater treatment facilities and district energy systems through potential heat integration, but does not mandate facility upgrades or alter regulatory requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of labor and industry. The funds support Minnesota's existing Loggers Safety Grant Program, established under 2021 laws, which provides financial assistance to loggers for safety equipment and training. The program directly benefits logging workers and employers by helping them adopt safety measures to reduce workplace hazards. This funding ensures the program continues operating with dedicated state resources for two fiscal years.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $7.5 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to provide operating assistance to transit systems in Greater Minnesota (rural and non-urban areas outside Minneapolis-St. Paul). It directly affects local transit agencies that receive state funding under Minnesota Statutes §174.24, specifically replacing shortfalls when local funding falls below required state-mandated percentages. The funds must cover operating costs for these systems and are available only until June 30, 2027, as a one-time appropriation. This is a direct funding mechanism to stabilize transit services in underserved regions, not a policy change to existing statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 1154) requires Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency to update specific rules governing subsurface wastewater systems (like septic systems) to explicitly reference existing requirements for "straight-pipe systems" under Minnesota Statutes §115.55, subd. 11. The key mechanism is amending Minnesota Rules, chapters 7080-7083, to ensure inspectors follow statutory obligations for straight-pipe systems when evaluating subsurface systems. The change primarily affects the Pollution Control Agency (which must make the rule update) and inspectors enforcing these regulations, without altering the underlying requirements for either system type.