Sen. Cal Bahr

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of up to $4.3 million in state bonds to fund improvements at the intersection of Trunk Highway 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard Northeast in Ham Lake, Minnesota. The funds will be used for engineering, environmental studies, design, land acquisition, and construction of the road interchange and associated frontage and backage roads. The project is specifically designated for the portion eligible to be funded with general obligation bond proceeds, and the state does not require a nonstate contribution. The commissioner of transportation will oversee the project, while the commissioner of management and budget will handle the bond sale and issuance process.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota family law to establish a rebuttable presumption that it is in a child's best interest to maximize their time with each parent, aiming to maintain strong parent-child relationships. It requires courts to include specific schedules for regular parenting time, including holidays and school breaks, and mandates written findings when deviating from the 50 percent time presumption. The bill outlines specific circumstances under which courts may deviate from equal time, such as parental mental illness, substance use issues, scheduling conflicts, distance between parents, or special needs of the child. Additionally, it creates a standardized form for self-represented parents to request parenting time modifications and requires courts to assess each parent's ability to comply with the awarded schedule.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires money transmission companies in Minnesota to verify that senders of foreign remittance transfers are lawfully present in the United States before processing the transfer. To comply, senders must provide specific documentation such as a REAL ID, passport, birth certificate, or other government-issued identity documents that prove their legal status. The bill also mandates that companies keep detailed records of these verifications and transfer information for at least three years and allows the state commissioner to inspect these records. Failure to follow these verification and recordkeeping rules could result in civil or criminal penalties for the money transmission companies involved.

Maddy summarySF 3843, titled the "Minnesota Civil Remedies Act," establishes direct civil liability for government employees who violate individuals' rights under color of law - whether on or off duty. The bill prohibits common legal defenses like qualified immunity and sovereign immunity, allowing victims to seek compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees for civil wrongs committed by government employees. It directly affects injured individuals (who gain new legal recourse) and government employees (who lose prior immunity protections), while preserving immunity for judges, prosecutors, and legislators acting in their official capacities. The law applies to government actions occurring on or after its effective date and does not replace existing federal claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks Congress to call a constitutional convention specifically to limit how many terms members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate can serve. Minnesota is submitting this request under Article V of the Constitution, which allows state legislatures to apply for such a convention when two-thirds of states agree on the same topic. The resolution states that Minnesota's application will be combined with similar applications from other states but not with requests for different constitutional changes. If enough states submit matching applications, Congress would be required to convene a limited convention focused solely on term limits for federal legislators. The Minnesota Secretary of State is instructed to send copies of this resolution to federal officials and other state legislatures to coordinate the process.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $2.9 million from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for planning and design work on road and infrastructure improvements near Rogers. The funds will support environmental analysis, complete required environmental impact statements, and assess how highway changes affect local water and stormwater systems. The project area is defined by the boundaries of Trunk Highway 101, U.S. Highways 10 and 169, Trunk Highway 610, and Interstate Highway 94. The money is designated for planning and preparation activities rather than construction, and the bill takes effect immediately upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Transactional Gold and Silver Act in Minnesota, which would recognize gold and silver bullion as legal tender for private transactions and state obligations if the state agrees to accept it. The legislation requires the commissioner of commerce to authorize a bullion depository that stores physical gold and silver, operates an electronic payment system backed by actual metal reserves, and allows account holders to buy, sell, save, or spend these metals. While gold and silver would be recognized as legal tender, the bill explicitly states that individuals and businesses are not required to accept them as payment. The commissioner must also create rules for depository operations and submit a report on the implementation of the system.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Minnesota that would exempt local governments and school districts from complying with state mandates unless the state provides funding to cover the costs of compliance. The amendment defines a state mandate as any requirement that affects daily operations, changes resource allocation, or alters spending priorities for local entities. If passed, local governments could formally refuse to comply with unfunded mandates by passing a resolution, which would then be reported to state budget committees annually. The bill also establishes a process for agencies to challenge these noncompliance resolutions through contested case hearings. This measure would take effect on January 1, 2027, if approved by voters at the 2026 general election.

Maddy summarySF 3849 requires Minnesota's Department of Human Services (DHS) and Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to disclose the existence of ongoing investigations into possible overpayments of public funds to service providers or recipients within 30 days of a written request. This affects service providers and recipients who may be under investigation for potential overpayments of state benefits. The bill amends existing law to mandate this 30-day disclosure timeline, replacing previous requirements that allowed agencies to withhold such information without a specific time limit. It does not change the substance of investigations or payment decisions, only the disclosure process for the investigation's existence.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota licensing boards to automatically suspend or revoke a license, or refuse license renewal, when a licensed professional or applicant is convicted of specific theft or fraud offenses. It directly affects individuals holding state-licensed professions (like healthcare, finance, or trades) who face convictions under listed statutes, including fraud (e.g., 609.23, 609.52) or theft (e.g., 609.2231, 609.496). The key provision mandates that boards take this action without discretion upon a court conviction for any of the 14 specified offenses. The law applies to all licensed professionals covered under Minnesota Statutes 214.10, effective immediately after enactment.