Sen. Eric Lucero

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota bill (SF 1797) requires lenders to pause monthly payments for victims whose cell phones, vehicles, or other property associated with a bill is seized as evidence in a crime. Victims must provide law enforcement documentation verifying the seizure, and lenders cannot resume payments until the property is returned. The bill also prohibits lenders from reporting payment failures to credit agencies during the seizure period. This directly affects lenders and individuals whose property is held by law enforcement as evidence.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects crime victims whose vehicles were stolen, used as evidence in crimes, or involved in specific traffic violations. It prohibits charging victims for towing or impounding their vehicles, bans selling their vehicles for 180 days, and requires government reimbursement if a vehicle is sold. It also mandates law enforcement to investigate stolen vehicle reports and provide regular case updates to victims. These changes directly affect crime victims by preventing financial penalties and ensuring their vehicles remain accessible during investigations.

Maddy summarySF 3424 prohibits adding fluoride to public drinking water systems in Minnesota. It requires all public water systems (serving at least 15 households or 25 people for 60 days annually) to stop adding fluoride by August 1, 2025. The bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 144.145, which previously permitted fluoridation, and authorizes the state health commissioner to enforce the prohibition with daily fines for noncompliance. This change directly affects municipal and privately owned water providers across the state.

Maddy summarySF 3372 increases criminal penalties for swatting - making false emergency calls to trigger police responses - by amending Minnesota Statutes §609.78. It raises penalties based on harm caused: up to 10 years in prison or $20,000 fines for causing death/great bodily harm (subd. 2a), and up to 10 years or $20,000 fines for targeting officials’ homes (subd. 2c), including elected officials, judges, prosecutors, correctional staff, or peace officers. The bill applies to offenses committed on or after August 1, 2025, and directly affects individuals who make false emergency calls, particularly those targeting public officials. These changes aim to deter swatting by strengthening consequences for causing harm or threatening officials.

Maddy summarySF 3378 establishes grant programs to expand computer science education in Minnesota schools. It provides competitive grants to school districts and charter schools (especially those without existing computer science programs) to develop detailed K-12 curriculum plans, implement computer science instruction, and support teacher training. The bill also requires teacher license renewal to include professional development in foundational computer science concepts and funds new teacher preparation programs for computer science licensure. Appropriations totaling $15 million over two years are allocated for these initiatives, with specific grant priorities for schools ensuring K-8 computer science access and serving smaller schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a framework for computer science education in Minnesota public schools. It requires the Department of Education to develop a K-12 computer science framework by July 2026, defining skills by grade level and providing implementation guidance. School districts are encouraged to adopt this framework or use the state-developed standards, while the Department must hire a dedicated computer science supervisor to support districts. The bill also mandates a strategic plan by July 2027, including data collection on student access and participation, and professional development strategies for educators. These provisions directly affect Minnesota public school districts and K-12 students.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to Community Mediation Minnesota to administer a statewide family mediation pilot program. The funds will support services for grandparents and families facing disputes, including dispute resolution, increasing access to mediation, training mediators, and partnering with culturally specific programs. Key provisions require the program to provide family reconnection coaching, navigation services, and integrate with legal and court resources, while also evaluating program effectiveness. This is a one-time appropriation focused on expanding mediation access, not a law changing legal standards.

Maddy summarySF 3301 gradually phases out Minnesota's individual income tax and corporate franchise tax over four years. Starting in 2026, taxpayers pay 80% of their calculated tax bill, reducing to 60% in 2027, 40% in 2028, and 20% in 2029. This directly affects individuals and businesses subject to Minnesota's income and corporate taxes. The bill also repeals specific tax statutes and requires the revisor of statutes to identify additional changes needed for full repeal by 2026.

Maddy summarySF 2205 establishes a 13-member task force to study insurance affordability for homeowners, renters, and small businesses in Minnesota. The task force, including members from insurance groups, housing organizations, and climate experts, will examine factors like risk mitigation, liability laws, coverage notice rules, reinsurance markets, and climate-related claim costs. It must submit recommendations to state agencies and legislators by February 15, 2026, after reviewing these issues. The bill appropriates $200,000 for the task force’s operations but does not enact new insurance rules. This is a study-focused bill, not a direct policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3321) amends Minnesota child custody laws to ensure access to gender-affirming care isn't used to deny jurisdiction in custody cases. It removes restrictions that previously allowed courts to decline jurisdiction when a child sought gender-affirming care, explicitly stating that a child's presence in Minnesota for such care meets the "significant connection" requirement under custody jurisdiction rules (§ 518D.201). It also adds that inability to obtain gender-affirming care qualifies as an emergency for temporary custody orders (§ 518D.204). The bill repeals prior restrictions (§§ 62Q.585, 260.925, 543.23) that limited these protections. This directly affects minors seeking gender-affirming care and their families navigating custody disputes.