Sen. Karin Housley

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $500,000 from the workforce development fund to provide a one-time grant to The Cookie Cart, a nonprofit bakery in Minnesota. The funding is intended to support an earn and learn program for youth aged 14 to 18, combining classroom instruction with on-the-job training in life, leadership, and employment skills. The money will be managed by the commissioner of employment and economic development and is designated for fiscal year 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies Minnesota laws regarding public waters and public drainage systems by updating procedures for repairs and work in these areas. It allows drainage authorities to proceed with repairs more efficiently when existing records are available, while requiring commissioner notification and review only when records are missing. The bill also creates exceptions to public-waters-work permit requirements for certain drainage system repairs and projects that do not substantially affect public waters. Additionally, it establishes a process for resolving conflicts between wetland management goals and drainage system maintenance needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires ticket resellers and online ticket marketplaces to clearly disclose pricing information to consumers when selling tickets for events in Minnesota. The law mandates that sellers show the total ticket cost including all fees, the original purchase price, and the percentage markup on resale tickets. It also requires sellers to display their refund policies and confirm that buyers have read these disclosures before completing a purchase. The bill defines various terms like ticket reseller and place of entertainment to clarify who must comply with these new transparency requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how child care providers in Minnesota can challenge correction orders issued by the state's Department of Children, Youth, and Families. It allows licensed family child care providers to request a review of an order within 20 days if they believe it contains errors, requiring them to explain the mistake and provide supporting evidence. The legislation also introduces a new process for providers to ask for official guidance on ambiguous rules before formally appealing an order. Additionally, the bill restricts when the department can publicly post these correction orders online, delaying publication until after the review period or any appeal is resolved. These changes are intended to give providers more clarity and time to address compliance issues, with the new rules taking effect on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires members of the Minnesota State High School League to permit live and recorded video broadcasts of their extracurricular competitions on public access channels. The legislation mandates that the league create a policy ensuring these broadcasts are available through public, educational, or governmental access systems without violating existing contracts. By adding a new subdivision to state statutes, the measure directly impacts high school sports organizations and local public access television providers. The policy must be implemented immediately upon the bill's final enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires sellers of emotional support dogs in Minnesota to provide written notice to buyers that the dog is not a service animal and does not have the special training required for service dogs. The notice must be printed in bold 12-point type and included on the purchase receipt or a separate document. Violations of this requirement are classified as misdemeanors, with repeat offenses carrying harsher penalties. The attorney general is authorized to enforce these provisions, and the law takes effect on August 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a property tax valuation freeze for homesteads owned and occupied by individuals who are 65 years of age or older, effective starting with the 2026 tax assessment. Under this provision, the estimated market value of the home, garage, and surrounding acreage cannot increase from the previous year's value unless the property has been improved or renovated. To qualify, both spouses in a married couple must be at least 65, and owners must apply to their county assessor by July 1 of the assessment year with proof of age. The legislation also requires county assessors to update their annual public notices to inform eligible residents about this new valuation limitation.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $5 million from the state's general fund to support the construction of a community center on the White Earth Reservation. The funds are designated for the White Earth Band of Ojibwe to cover costs related to design, site preparation, construction, and equipping the facility. Once built, the center will offer spaces for health services, wellness activities, and community gatherings open to both Tribal and non-Tribal residents. This is a one-time allocation that remains available until the project is finished or discontinued.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's criminal sentencing guidelines to allow judges to impose harsher penalties when an adult offender deceives a minor victim about their age to commit a crime. The law adds specific provisions that let courts consider age deception as an aggravating factor when determining sentences for felonies committed on or after August 1, 2026. These changes apply to crimes where an adult intentionally misrepresents themselves as a minor to facilitate the offense, giving judges additional discretion to sentence beyond standard guidelines based on this circumstance. The legislation affects both the sentencing guidelines section and creates a standalone provision for age deception cases, without changing the underlying criminal charges themselves.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates how Minnesota local governments calculate the base amount for property tax levy limits, starting with taxes payable in 2027. It changes the calculation method to use the final certified tax levy from the previous year instead of older levy aid bases, and adjusts how population growth and inflation factors are applied. The new formula allows local governments to increase their tax levy limits based on changes in the implicit price deflator and population, with additional adjustments for years after 2027 that account for differences between certified and final levies. These changes directly affect school districts, cities, counties, and other local taxing units that rely on property taxes to fund their operations.