Sen. Ron Latz

Maddy summaryThis bill makes technical corrections to existing Minnesota laws to fix oversights, inconsistencies, and ambiguities in legislative language. It specifically updates the effective date for a child protection council provision and clarifies the requirements for election summary statement forms used by judges. The act also adjusts the start date for direct primary care service agreements under a separate bill. These changes do not introduce new policies but rather ensure that current laws are clear and function as originally intended.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new "public safety radio and crime victims account" funded by a 50-cent monthly fee on wireless and wire-line telecommunications services (excluding prepaid wireless). The fee applies to each customer access line or basic service, with proceeds deposited into the account to cover two specific purposes: purchasing interoperable public safety radio equipment for Minnesota's statewide emergency response system, and providing grants to crime victim service providers. The bill amends existing telecom fee statutes to create this dedicated funding stream and requires annual reporting on how the funds are used. It does not change the existing 95-cent fee for general 911 service maintenance.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's laws regarding employment and occupational licensing restrictions for people with criminal convictions. It requires hiring and licensing authorities to consider evidence of rehabilitation, including military honorable discharge, release orders, and documentation showing compliance with probation or parole. The legislation also mandates that when an applicant is denied employment or a license due to a criminal record, the authority must provide written notice explaining the reasons and outlining the process for reapplication. These changes aim to create a more structured framework for evaluating applicants with prior convictions while maintaining transparency in the decision-making process.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's ignition interlock program requirements and strengthens privacy protections for driver's license data. It establishes specific license revocation periods for out-of-state impaired driving convictions, requiring longer revocations for repeat offenders who must complete ignition interlock device programs. The legislation also classifies certain driver's license indicators as private data, limits how the Department of Public Safety can share this information with federal agencies, and allows individuals to request that their residence addresses be marked as private data for safety reasons. These changes directly affect drivers' license holders, the Department of Public Safety, and law enforcement agencies that handle driver records.

Maddy summarySF 3871 requires judges to ask during plea hearings whether victims have been notified about the plea agreement and sentencing. It expands victim notification rights by informing victims about eligibility for automatic expungement of their offense and protecting minor victims' identities in court documents. The bill also adds protections against employer retaliation for stalking victims and strengthens confidentiality for victim information in prosecutors' petitions. These changes directly affect victims in criminal cases, courts, and prosecutors handling plea agreements and sentencing.

Maddy summarySF 856 creates an independent Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in Minnesota to oversee state agencies and programs. The OIG will conduct audits and investigations into fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds, report findings publicly, and make recommendations for improvement. It requires the OIG to operate separately from executive agencies, with a qualified director appointed by an advisory council, and mandates annual public reports. The bill appropriates funding for the OIG and takes effect January 1, 2026. This directly affects all state agencies, programs, and entities receiving public funds by subjecting them to independent oversight.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution formally congratulates David Davis, a music teacher in St. Louis Park, on being named the 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. The document highlights his specific achievements, noting that he is the first music educator to receive this state honor since 1999 and detailing his recognition for promoting equity and arts education. By passing this resolution, the Senate acknowledges his contributions to public education and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send an official copy of the document to him.

Maddy summaryThis bill would ban the import, manufacture, and sale of table saws in Minnesota that fail a specific safety test designed to prevent deep accidental cuts. Under the new rules, effective January 1, 2027, any saw capable of cutting more than 3.5 millimeters deep when a probe is moved above the table and touches the spinning blade would be illegal to sell. The law applies to all businesses selling these tools but includes an exception for companies that cannot obtain a necessary patent license on fair terms. Violations of this safety requirement could result in penalties and allow private individuals to sue for damages.

Maddy summarySF 3699 bans civil arrests for people attending court as parties, witnesses, or court companions (such as family members, advocates, or interpreters). It protects individuals while traveling to, at, and returning from court, covering courthouse buildings, surrounding streets within 1,000 feet, and parking areas. The law does not apply to arrests for criminal violations or those supported by a judicial warrant. This directly affects people accessing courts for civil, criminal, or administrative cases, ensuring they cannot be detained for civil immigration matters or similar issues while participating in court proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 1122) increases annual cost-of-living adjustments for retired public employees in Minnesota. It modifies the Public Employees Police and Fire Retirement Plan and State Patrol Retirement Plan to provide higher postretirement adjustments: for the police/fire plan, adjustments will now be 50% of the federal Social Security COLA (capped at 1.5%) instead of a flat 1%, and for the State Patrol plan, the base adjustment rises from 1% to 1.5% annually. The bill also shortens the waiting period before full adjustments apply - from 36 months to 12 months for most retirees. These changes affect retired police officers, firefighters, and State Patrol members receiving benefits under these specific plans, effective January 1, 2026.