This Senate resolution expresses the state's appreciation for the long-standing partnership between Minnesota and the Province of Québec. It highlights specific achievements such as increased trade, shared environmental goals, and mutual economic investments in sectors like aerospace and aluminum. The bill does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a formal statement of goodwill to be shared with the public and media.
This bill establishes a new Greenhouse Gas Pollution Superfund in Minnesota that would charge fossil fuel companies for their historical emissions. The program targets entities that extracted or refined fossil fuels between 1995 and 2026 and are responsible for more than one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Money collected from these charges would be placed in a dedicated account to fund climate change adaptation projects for state, local, and Tribal governments, as well as disadvantaged communities. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency commissioner would determine liability amounts and oversee collection and distribution of funds. The legislation defines covered emissions, fossil fuel businesses, and eligible projects, creating a mechanism to recover costs from major polluters for climate resilience efforts.
This Minnesota bill prohibits employers from requesting, requiring, or coercing employees to have microchips implanted in their bodies for any reason. It applies to all employers in the state, including government entities, and defines a microchip as a subcutaneous device containing a unique identification number or personal information that can be scanned externally, while excluding medical implants used for health diagnosis or treatment. Employees who believe they have been forced into such implantation can file a civil lawsuit seeking injunctive relief, actual and punitive damages, and attorney fees. The legislation clarifies that temporary adhesive devices like bracelets do not count as microchips under this law.
This bill clarifies labeling requirements for soil amendments, plant amendments, and beneficial substances sold in Minnesota. It requires product labels to clearly list active ingredients, net weight, manufacturer information, usage directions, and guaranteed analysis, while exempting inert ingredients from mandatory disclosure. The legislation also mandates that registration applications include a certificate of composition detailing the amounts and formulas of inert ingredients and beneficial substances. These changes directly affect manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of agricultural products by standardizing how product information is presented to consumers.
This bill authorizes the city of North Oaks to connect to the Metropolitan Council's sanitary sewer system and join the Metropolitan Urban Service Area. It requires the Metropolitan Council to approve the city's application for this connection regardless of existing policies or rules. The bill ensures that wastewater rates and fees for North Oaks remain similar to those of other communities in the service area, while still requiring standard environmental permitting.
This bill clarifies the role of volunteers in Minnesota's guardian ad litem program, which advocates for the best interests of children, minor parents, and incompetent adults in juvenile and family court cases. It amends existing state law to explicitly state that the program includes both volunteers and paid staff working under the State Guardian Ad Litem Board. The legislation requires the board to establish standards, policies, and procedures for the program while approving budgets and distributing funding, and allows the board to adopt rules ensuring quality advocacy for clients.
This bill allows nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Minnesota to permit residents to consume and display alcoholic beverages under specific conditions. The law requires that alcohol be used only during resident-focused activities, served by staff aged 18 or older, and never offered for sale or given to anyone under 21. Facilities must ensure all alcohol consumption remains within the facility and is limited to adult residents participating in approved events.
This bill expands the range of services that Minnesota school-based health centers can provide to students, including care coordination, home visits for those unable to attend school, and additional support for social determinants of health. It also establishes a new requirement that telehealth services be paired with in-person care when possible or offered responsively when students are not physically present at school. The legislation creates stabilization grants of up to $50,000 per center for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund specific initiatives like expanding telehealth, improving electronic health records, and offering trauma recovery and grief counseling. A total of $2.7 million is appropriated each year for these grants, technical assistance, and administration, with funding continuing into fiscal years 2028 and 2029. The bill clarifies that these health services do not replace existing daily student support provided by school staff such as nurses, counselors, and social workers.
This bill modifies Minnesota's family law procedures to require courts to prioritize expedited hearings for temporary relief when a parent alleges they have been denied parenting time for 14 consecutive days or more. It also mandates priority hearings within 30 days when a party claims unreasonable denial of access to necessary financial resources during a divorce or separation. The legislation clarifies that courts must consider evidence of domestic abuse, substance abuse, or neglect as valid reasons for denying parenting time, while ensuring priority hearings occur within 30 days for cases involving extended denial of parenting access. If temporary parenting time is granted, the court may also order temporary child support upon request. These changes affect parents involved in family law cases in Minnesota who seek urgent temporary orders.
This bill, titled the Yes in God's Back Yard (YIGBY) Housing Act, restricts local government regulations on affordable housing developments proposed by religious organizations in Minnesota. It defines "qualified development" as affordable housing built on land owned by a religious institution for at least one year and establishes a process where municipalities must temporarily suspend enforcement of zoning rules if a religious group claims they impose a substantial burden on religious exercise. Under the law, municipalities must review such claims within 30 days and adjust regulations if they fail to meet strict legal standards requiring a compelling governmental interest and the least restrictive means. The bill also allows religious institutions to sue for damages or other relief if their rights are violated, including reimbursement for legal fees.
This bill increases the maximum number of outdoor cannabis plants that microbusinesses in Minnesota can grow from half an acre to one acre. It allows the state licensing office to adjust cultivation limits based on market demand while ensuring outdoor microbusinesses can grow at least one acre of mature flowering plants. The legislation also sets manufacturing limits equivalent to the harvest from a 5,000 square foot indoor facility and permits microbusinesses with proper endorsements to operate one retail location. These changes directly affect cannabis microbusinesses and the state's cannabis regulatory office.
This bill increases penalties for unlawful firearm possession in Minnesota, primarily affecting individuals with prior violent crime convictions and those prohibited from owning certain weapons. It raises the maximum prison sentence for people convicted of violent crimes who possess firearms from 15 to 20 years, and increases penalties for prohibited persons possessing assault weapons or ammunition from five to 15 years in prison. The legislation also makes transferring firearms to prohibited individuals a felony with a maximum sentence of four years instead of two, and increases penalties for dealers and others who violate transfer laws. These changes apply to offenses committed on or after August 1, 2026, and include exceptions for individuals whose firearm rights have been legally restored.
