Sen. Jen McEwen

Maddy summaryThis bill would prohibit large food retail stores in Minnesota from using surveillance technology to set personalized prices for individual customers. It defines surveillance pricing as customized pricing based on data collected through cameras, sensors, or device tracking, and bans stores from using such data to charge different prices to different shoppers. The law also prevents stores from collecting data on children under 17 and restricts using protected class information like age, race, or gender to determine pricing. Large grocery stores over 10,000 square feet or smaller stores over 85,000 square feet with significant food sales would be directly affected by these restrictions. The bill does not ban traditional loyalty discounts based on purchase history or apply to financial institutions and insurance companies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new special license plate program in Minnesota called "Curl in Minnesota" to support curling facilities and the state's curling community. Vehicle owners who register for these plates must pay standard registration fees along with an additional $30 annual contribution to the Minnesota Curling Association account. The plates will feature the inscription "Curl in Minnesota" and can be transferred to another eligible vehicle if registered to the same owner. Funds collected from the contributions will first cover administrative costs, with remaining money distributed to the Minnesota Curling Association for maintaining curling facilities across the state. The program will become effective on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 3731 eliminates the "Class A installer" license category from Minnesota's electrical code. The bill amends statutes to remove references to this license from licensing requirements and definitions, and repeals the specific sections (326B.31, subd. 7; 326B.33, subd. 3) that previously defined and regulated it. This directly affects individuals who previously held or were eligible for a Class A installer license, which allowed them to install electrical systems in specific rural or farm settings under limited conditions. The change removes a distinct licensing pathway without creating new requirements for electrical work.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state rebate program for commercial and multifamily buildings installing geothermal heating and cooling systems. Eligible applicants (including businesses, nonprofits, and government entities) must have applied for federal rebates under the Inflation Reduction Act, complete a certified energy audit, and provide installation documentation. Rebates cover up to 15% of system costs or net costs after other funding, capped at $100,000 per project. Priority is given to nonprofit or government-owned low-income housing projects meeting specific affordability criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new advisory board in Minnesota to study the impacts of commercial autonomous vehicle operations on workers and small businesses. It creates a permit requirement that must be approved by the commissioner before any commercial autonomous vehicles can operate in the state, with the permit process requiring individual evaluations by the advisory board. The advisory board includes representatives from driver workforces, consumer advocacy groups, municipal governments, and autonomous vehicle companies, along with state agency officials. The board must hire an independent research institution to conduct a comprehensive study on economic impacts, workforce displacement, and reemployment pathways before permits can be issued.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's SF 3880 is a legislative resolution urging the President and Congress to reject S. 2967 (the "Border Lands Conservation Act"). It opposes provisions in S. 2967 that would allow border security infrastructure - like roads, surveillance systems, and motorized equipment - within the protected Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The resolution argues this would violate the Wilderness Act of 1964 by altering the pristine, untrammeled character of the 1-million-acre wilderness area visited by over 200,000 people annually. Minnesota’s legislature directs the Secretary of State to send this resolution to federal officials and Minnesota’s congressional delegation.

Maddy summarySF 4055 requires Minnesota's trunk highway system to follow new maintenance and expansion rules. It prohibits adding capacity to highways if pavement or bridge performance gaps exist (based on asset management plans), and mandates 60-year maintenance plans for major highway projects analyzing costs for preservation, operations, and indirect expenses. The bill also creates a requirement for a 10-year capital investment plan and updates transportation asset management plans to track infrastructure conditions across categories like bridges and pavement. These rules apply to projects entering transportation programs starting in fiscal year 2031.

Maddy summarySF 4014 requires a licensed human driver to be physically present in the driver's seat of a commercial motor vehicle whenever an automated driving system (designed to handle all driving tasks without a human, such as SAE levels 4 or 5) is used for operation. The human must monitor the vehicle and intervene if necessary to prevent unsafe or illegal driving. Violations by vehicle owners or lessors result in escalating fines, starting at $2,000 for a second offense, with penalties doubling for each subsequent violation.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $250,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to the Lake Superior Community Health Center in Duluth. The funds are specifically for predesign and design work to create a regional health and wellness center in western Duluth, intended to serve as a community hub for health programming. The appropriation is one-time and available until the design phase is completed or abandoned. It directly affects the Lake Superior Community Health Center and Duluth residents who would use the future facility.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the maximum amount of state funding allowed for port development projects in Minnesota. It changes the current limit so that state assistance cannot exceed 80 percent of a project's total cost, which is an increase from the previous 75 percent cap. The legislation also clarifies that state funds cannot be used to match other state funding sources and confirms that the state will not assume ongoing financial responsibility for commercial navigation facilities. These changes directly affect the Minnesota Department of Transportation and port authorities seeking state grants for infrastructure improvements. The bill aims to provide more flexibility for port development projects while maintaining specific restrictions on how the funds can be utilized.