Sen. Cal Bahr

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Minnesota state legislators from receiving per diem living expense payments while the legislature is in regular session. It also clarifies that the only compensation legislators can accept includes their salary, insurance contributions, retirement contributions, and specific payments outlined in existing laws. The changes are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates state funds in fiscal year 2027 to pay specific settlement claims against the state. It allocates money to compensate three individuals under the Imprisonment and Exoneration Remedies Act for damages related to their incarceration and exoneration. Additionally, the bill provides a separate payment to Mark Carroll for permanent injuries sustained while incarcerated. The legislation directs these funds to the commissioner of management and budget and the commissioner of corrections for distribution by June 30, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes moving Minnesota's state primary election from August to March and updates the rules for how political parties nominate candidates for legislative and congressional offices. It establishes new requirements for campaign finance reporting, mandating that committees file specific reports at set intervals before primary and general elections, with different schedules depending on the type of office being contested. The legislation also expands reporting obligations for local elections and certain non-general election years to include entities that spend more than $200 on influencing nominations, independent expenditures, or ballot measures. These changes are designed to modernize the election process and increase transparency in campaign financing, taking effect on January 1, 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $2,791,000 in bonds to fund infrastructure improvements for the City of Cambridge along Trunk Highway 95. The funds will be used for specific projects such as traffic signals, street lighting, and various sewer and water systems as part of a highway reconstruction effort. The Commissioner of Management and Budget is directed to sell and issue these state bonds to provide the necessary money for the grant. The legislation takes effect immediately upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to create a tax subtraction for income earned by Minnesota residents who are 65 years of age or older. It would allow eligible senior taxpayers to exclude certain income from their taxable income when calculating their individual income tax liability. The provision applies to single taxpayers aged 65 or older and to married couples filing jointly if at least one spouse meets the age requirement. The bill would take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits local elected officials in Minnesota from signing nondisclosure agreements related to potential data center projects within their jurisdictions. It directly affects city councils, mayors, county commissioners, and other local leaders by making such confidentiality contracts void and unenforceable. If a local government enters into a violating agreement, the law requires them to publicly disclose the contract, though other parts of the deal can remain valid. The restrictions apply only to agreements entered into on or after August 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Metropolitan Council to provide special transportation services within the city of Ramsey, ensuring these services are integrated with existing transit options in the area. To fund this new requirement, the legislation appropriates $680,000 for capital costs and $470,000 for operating expenses from the state's general fund for fiscal year 2027. These funds are designated as a one-time allocation specifically to support the implementation of the mandated transportation service. The measure directly affects the Metropolitan Council by adding a new obligation and provides the necessary financial resources to carry it out.

Maddy summaryThis bill would reduce the number of members in Minnesota's state legislature, decreasing the Senate from 67 to 45 members and the House of Representatives from 134 to 135 members. The changes would take effect on January 3, 2033, and apply to legislative sessions organized on or after that date. The bill also updates the apportionment rules to reflect the new district counts, with each district continuing to elect one representative or senator. Minnesota Statutes sections 2.021 and 2.031 would be amended to codify these membership changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the governor's ability to appoint individuals to fill vacancies on the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. It requires the governor to appoint only candidates recommended by the joint legislative committee if the legislature does not elect someone to fill the vacancy. The law affects the appointment process for board members and strengthens the role of the legislative committee in selecting candidates. This change ensures that when the legislature cannot fill a vacancy, the governor must choose from a pre-approved list rather than selecting any candidate independently.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits restrictions on displaying specific flags in residential settings. It voids any deed restriction, homeowners association rule, rental agreement, or local ordinance that limits the display of the U.S. flag, Minnesota state flag, POW/MIA flag, U.S. Armed Forces branch flags, or Blue/Gold Star Service flags. The law directly affects homeowners, tenants, and homeowners associations by making such display limitations unenforceable. It applies to all residential property agreements, including HOA documents and rental contracts, regardless of when the restriction was created. The bill takes effect upon final enactment.