Sen. Jordan Rasmusson

Maddy summarySF 941 proposes a constitutional amendment to change Minnesota's state Senate election cycle. If approved by voters in 2026, it would require that after each redistricting (reapportionment), senators from even-numbered districts serve two-year terms while those from odd-numbered districts serve two-year terms at the next election - creating staggered terms. This would replace the current system where all Senate seats are up for election simultaneously after reapportionment. The amendment directly affects Minnesota state senators and the timing of Senate elections. Voters will decide this change through a "Yes/No" question on the 2026 general election ballot.

Maddy summarySF 917 authorizes the state to issue up to $1,050,000 in bonds to fund a 12-unit youth transitional facility in Perham, Otter Tail County. The bill appropriates these bond proceeds to the county for designing, constructing, and equipping the facility, which will provide comprehensive supportive services to youth transitioning from foster care or institutional settings. The facility aims to link housing with services like counseling and job training in a residential setting. This legislation directly affects Otter Tail County and youth in need of transitional housing support.

Maddy summarySF 850 modifies Minnesota law to adjust limitations on optometrists prescribing and administering certain drugs. The bill removes specific duration restrictions: it allows optometrists to prescribe oral antivirals for longer than 10 days, oral steroids for longer than 14 days without physician consultation, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors for longer than seven days. These changes apply to optometrists who meet educational requirements and are authorized under Minnesota statute. The bill maintains existing prohibitions, such as bans on intravenous drug administration (except for anaphylaxis), invasive surgery, and prescribing Schedule II/III oral drugs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a temporary $12.35 per resident day rate increase for nursing facilities in Minnesota that receive state reimbursement under Chapter 256R of Minnesota Statutes. The rate add-on applies to facilities serving Medicaid patients and takes effect July 1, 2025 (or after federal approval), expiring June 30, 2026. The increase is designed to address short-term cost pressures faced by these facilities. It directly affects nursing homes participating in Minnesota's state-funded nursing facility reimbursement program.

Maddy summarySF 669 repeals a Minnesota law that previously prohibited courts from considering whether a person was wearing a seat belt in personal injury or property damage cases involving motor vehicles. The bill removes the restriction found in Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 169.685, subdivision 4, which had barred evidence of seat belt use or non-use as evidence in such lawsuits. This change directly affects plaintiffs and defendants in car accident cases where seat belt usage might be relevant to determining liability. The key mechanism is the repeal of the specific statutory provision, allowing seat belt use to be presented as evidence in court. This is a policy change to the admissibility of evidence in personal injury litigation.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 602 removes the Minnesota Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board's ability to use expedited rulemaking (under Section 14.389) when updating or reviewing nursing home worker standards. The bill amends statutes to require the board to follow regular rulemaking procedures instead of expedited processes for establishing or revising standards related to worker compensation, training, and health/safety notices. This change affects how the board implements rules governing nursing home worker protections, including wage standards and posting requirements for employee rights information. The board must still conduct biennial reviews of standards but will no longer have streamlined authority for updates. The bill does not alter the substantive standards themselves, only the procedural method for adopting or revising them.

Maddy summarySF 76 clarifies and codifies Minnesota's self-defense laws, directly affecting residents who use force in defense of their home, person, or vehicle. The bill eliminates the requirement to retreat when facing a threat outside one's home, expands the definition of "dwelling" to include occupied vehicles and temporary living spaces like tents, and creates a presumption that a person using force in their dwelling or vehicle had a reasonable fear of imminent harm. It specifies that deadly force is justified to prevent a felony in one's dwelling, stop an immediate threat of serious harm or death, or stop a forcible felony. These changes apply to all Minnesotans using force in self-defense situations.

Maddy summarySF 691 prohibits Minnesota employers from knowingly hiring individuals without legal U.S. work authorization, directly affecting businesses operating in the state. The bill requires employers to terminate such employment immediately upon discovery and authorizes the Labor Commissioner to impose fines of $1,000-$10,000 per violation, suspend business licenses for up to 14 days, and investigate suspected violations. Employers using E-Verify for work authorization verification gain a rebuttable presumption they did not knowingly employ unauthorized individuals. This legislation creates enforceable standards for workplace compliance under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 181.

Maddy summarySF 684 requires Minnesota's Department of Human Services to notify the state revisor of statutes when federal approval is obtained for laws that depend on such approval to take effect. The commissioner must submit two annual reports: one by July 1 listing all newly enacted provisions with federal approval contingencies, and another by September 1 listing all such provisions and indicating which received federal approval since the prior report. These reports are provided to the revisor of statutes and legislative research offices (House and Senate). The bill clarifies reporting requirements for laws tied to federal decisions, directly affecting the Department of Human Services and state legislative staff.

Maddy summarySF 690 prohibits state-funded services - including MinnesotaCare health coverage and the North Star Promise scholarship program - from being provided to undocumented noncitizens. The bill amends Minnesota statutes to define undocumented noncitizens as those residing in the U.S. without approval from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, excluding them from eligibility for these state programs. It explicitly states that undocumented individuals cannot receive any financial aid, grants, or services paid for with state tax revenue. The changes take effect immediately upon final enactment, with the North Star Promise scholarship ineligibility applying to awards beginning fall 2025. This directly affects undocumented noncitizens seeking healthcare or postsecondary education support through state programs.