Sen. Van Wanggaard

Maddy summarySB 237 creates a sales and use tax exemption for physical equipment used to train, manage, or care for search and rescue dogs. It directly affects state and nationally recognized search and rescue agencies that use trained dogs to locate missing persons or disaster victims. The bill exempts the purchase price of such equipment from state sales and use taxes. This change simplifies cost management for agencies relying on canine units in emergency response. The bill is procedural and focuses solely on tax policy, not broader operational changes.

Maddy summarySB 414 requires animal testing facilities and breeders to offer dogs and cats for adoption to shelters or rescue groups for at least three weeks before euthanizing them, provided the animals pose no health or safety risk. Facilities must report annually on the number of animals they owned, used for testing, and transferred to adoption groups. Violations could result in fines up to $5,000 per animal. This bill directly affects facilities and breeders that handle dogs or cats for research, education, or breeding purposes.

Maddy summarySB 239 prohibits hotels, motels, and inns from discriminating against dog handlers accompanied by certified search and rescue (SAR) dogs. It requires these businesses to allow full access and equal treatment without extra fees, discriminatory communications, or segregation, provided the SAR dog wears an identifying harness or cape and is leashed. Exceptions apply if accommodating the dog would fundamentally alter services or jeopardize safety, but businesses must modify policies to prevent separation of handlers from their dogs. The bill directly affects hospitality businesses and SAR professionals who rely on these facilities during emergency response work.

Maddy summarySB 553 clarifies that certain medical procedures performed to save a pregnant woman's life do not count as "abortion" under state law. The bill creates specific definitions for terms like "anembryonic pregnancy," "ectopic pregnancy," and "molar pregnancy," and explicitly states that abortion does not include procedures like emergency cesarean sections, removal of a dead fetus, or treatment for these specific conditions when doctors make reasonable efforts to preserve both the mother's and unborn child's life. This directly affects healthcare providers who perform these emergency procedures and pregnant patients facing medical crises. The law updates multiple statutes to ensure these scenarios are excluded from the legal definition of abortion.

Maddy summarySB 470 increases the maximum court cost fee in municipal court actions from $38 to $48 per case, applying to most matters like defaults, guilty pleas, or contested trials. It excludes specific violations, such as financial responsibility cases under section 344.62(2). The bill requires that $5 of each collected fee be paid monthly to the general fund, with the remainder retained by the municipality. This change directly affects municipal courts and residents facing court costs in local proceedings. The bill does not alter eligibility for fee waivers or other court procedures.

Maddy summarySB 671 creates a new criminal offense for grooming a child for sexual activity and establishes penalties for this conduct. The bill amends multiple statutes to define "grooming" as a serious crime, specifically adding it to lists of offenses that bar individuals from certain homes (like relatives' homes or unlicensed childcare settings) if they have prior convictions or plea agreements related to child sexual abuse. It updates definitions of "serious crimes" for entities serving minors, ensuring that grooming violations trigger mandatory reporting and registration requirements under laws like 948.072. This directly affects children at risk of exploitation, individuals convicted of grooming-related offenses, and organizations that provide services to minors.

Maddy summarySB 445 requires state agencies and local governments (including cities, counties, and school districts) to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) 2016 definition of antisemitism when evaluating discrimination cases involving race, religion, color, or national origin under state laws, ordinances, or criminal penalty enhancements. It specifically applies when assessing whether a victim was targeted due to their actual or perceived identity. The bill clarifies it does not override First Amendment rights or conflict with existing federal or state antidiscrimination laws. This is a procedural requirement for consistent application of the IHRA definition in relevant legal contexts.

Maddy summarySB 628 requires the state environmental department to notify county health departments, tribal health departments, and county land conservation departments within 7 business days whenever groundwater pollution levels exceed safety standards or PFAS chemical limits. It mandates that the department create a public notification system to alert affected local governments about these exceedances, including adjacent counties that might be impacted. The bill directly affects local health and environmental agencies in counties where pollution incidents occur, ensuring they receive timely information to address potential public health or environmental risks. This is a procedural requirement focused on transparency and rapid communication, not on changing pollution standards or enforcement actions.

Maddy summarySB 403 requires political committees, conduits, and parties to verify the credit card verification value (CVV) and a U.S. billing address for online credit card donations. It directly affects organizations accepting such donations, with an exception for U.S. citizens living abroad who must instead provide their U.S. voter registration address. The bill mandates treasurers to maintain donor records for reporting and imposes penalties on financial institutions that process these donations without the required verification, requiring them to forfeit the full contribution amount. This aims to enhance transparency and prevent fraudulent or non-compliant online political donations.

Maddy summarySB 409 updates traffic laws to require drivers to exercise caution when approaching stopped emergency or roadside service vehicles, or disabled vehicles (defined as vehicles showing warning lights, flares, or attended by people). Drivers must either safely change lanes away from the stopped vehicle if possible, or slow down and proceed at a reduced speed until clear. The law applies to all drivers approaching these stopped vehicles within 12 feet of a roadway. It creates clear, specific actions for drivers to improve safety around roadside stops without changing existing penalties.