Sen. Jordan Rasmusson

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces state aid to counties, cities, and towns for local government programs by the amount of lobbying expenses they report under Minnesota law. Specifically, it lowers certified aid payments (for counties under Minn. Stat. §477A.0124, cities under §477A.013, subd. 9, and towns under §477A.013, subd. 1) by the total lobbying costs reported directly or as part of dues paid to local government associations. The reduction cannot lower aid below zero, and the rule applies to aid payments starting in 2026. It directly affects all local governments receiving these specific state funds based on their lobbying expenditure reports.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's rules for Medicare supplemental insurance (Medigap) policies sold in the state. It prohibits insurers from denying coverage, charging more, or imposing waiting periods for preexisting health conditions during specific enrollment periods. Specifically, it requires that Medigap policies cannot limit coverage for preexisting conditions for applicants who enroll within six months of initially signing up for Medicare Part B or during open enrollment. The bill also ensures that if a policyholder temporarily loses eligibility for medical assistance (like Medicaid), their Medigap coverage automatically reinstates without new waiting periods or reduced benefits.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 577 aims to streamline permitting under the Wetland Conservation Act by setting clear timeframes: 90 days for simpler "tier 1" permits and 150 days for more complex "tier 2" permits requiring public input. It requires the Pollution Control Agency to issue separate construction and operation permits for certain facilities and mandates annual reports tracking whether these deadlines are met. The bill also eliminates some scoping requirements for projects needing full environmental impact statements and requires petitioners to live in affected counties. These changes directly affect developers, landowners, and the agency handling environmental permit applications. The goal is to reduce delays in approving projects while maintaining environmental review standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies medical care requirements for infants born alive during abortion procedures in Minnesota. It mandates that medical personnel provide all reasonable measures to preserve the life and health of such infants, except when a life-threatening condition is diagnosed, in which case only "comfort care" (palliative care to ensure comfort) must be provided. The bill also adds specific data reporting requirements to abortion records, including whether an infant was born alive, the infant's gestational age, medical actions taken, and survival status. These changes apply to all physicians and facilities performing abortions in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's earned sick and safe time laws (Minnesota Statutes sections 181.9445-181.9448) to clarify employer definitions and adjust key provisions. It specifies that employers with 15+ employees (including nonprofits, government entities, and staffing agencies) must provide at least 1 hour of sick time per 30 hours worked (capped at 48 hours yearly). Employers may either allow unused time to carry over (up to 80 hours total) or pay out unused time at year-end, with options for prorated initial employment time. The bill also updates notice requirements, allowing up to seven days' advance notice for foreseeable absences and mandating written policies for employees.

Maddy summarySF 3141 modifies Minnesota's paid leave program by clarifying eligibility definitions. It excludes seasonal hospitality workers (defined as those employed ≤150 days annually in hospitality) from coverage unless their employer elects to include them. The bill also updates rules for small employers, allowing them to opt into providing paid leave coverage for their employees. Additionally, it expands the definition of "family member" to include up to one annually designated individual with a personal relationship, beyond the existing list of relatives. These changes affect workers, employers, and family members seeking paid leave benefits under the program.

Maddy summarySF 3467 makes technical updates to Minnesota's pension and retirement laws to improve administrative clarity and efficiency. It revises provisions for the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement, adjusts annual funding requirements for the statewide volunteer firefighter plan, and repeals outdated reporting rules for the State Board of Investment. The bill does not change benefit levels or eligibility for retirement programs but streamlines how pension systems are managed and reported. These updates modernize existing administrative processes without altering core retirement benefits for state employees and firefighters.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals the requirement for a license to sell scrap metal copper (previously under Minnesota Statutes §325E.21, subd. 2c) and modifies record-keeping rules for scrap metal dealers. It requires dealers to document transactions involving copper metal, including verifying sellers have a copper license (though the license itself is being eliminated). The bill directly affects scrap metal dealers who purchase copper scrap, mandating detailed transaction records like seller ID, vehicle details, and proof of copper license status. Key provisions include adding new record requirements (e.g., photocopy of license for copper sales) and updating inspection protocols for law enforcement. The bill does not create new licensing but adjusts administrative processes for copper scrap transactions.

Maddy summarySF 3459 would repeal Minnesota's public campaign subsidy program, which previously provided state funds to qualifying candidates. The bill removes the legal basis for this program by repealing specific sections of Minnesota Statutes (including 10A.25, 10A.255, and others) that established the subsidy rules and funding. This change directly affects candidates who participated in the public subsidy program, ending their eligibility for these state funds. The bill does not create new campaign finance rules but eliminates the existing public subsidy mechanism.

Maddy summarySF 3458 repeals Minnesota's political contribution refund program, which allowed voters to get tax refunds for campaign contributions. The bill eliminates the refund process for contributions made after April 15, 2026, and prohibits the commissioner from issuing refunds after June 30, 2026. This directly affects voters who previously claimed refunds under sections 290.06, subdivision 23, and related statutes. The repeal removes the specific legal mechanisms for processing these refunds, ending the program without creating new requirements.