Sen. Julia Coleman

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 updates Minnesota law to clarify that eligible postsecondary institutions, including public colleges and private trade schools, are not required to ask students for faith statements or make admission decisions based on race, creed, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs. By removing these specific restrictions from the statute, the legislation ensures that current enrollment options for concurrent enrollment courses remain free of such nondiscrimination mandates. Additionally, the bill provides a one-time appropriation in fiscal year 2026 to cover legal fees and expenses awarded to the plaintiff in the Loe v. Jett lawsuit, should the court grant such an award.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's school lunch funding and policies by restricting state-paid free meals to families with incomes at or below 500 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. It establishes a new "enhanced school meals program" that provides additional state funding for students whose family income falls between 185 and 500 percent of the poverty line, effectively creating a tiered payment structure for schools. The legislation also updates rules to prevent "lunch shaming" and requires schools to have clear policies regarding unpaid meal debts and third-party meal vendors. Additionally, the bill allocates money for school wellness, resiliency aid, and behavioral health grants, with specific funding amounts changing for the fiscal years 2025 through 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $1.2 million grant for the STRIPES program to fund a student mentoring initiative in Minnesota schools. The funds are designated for five specific purposes: organizing weekly mentoring meetings, supporting operations in five existing schools, expanding the program to new schools, creating a university partnership to train future teachers from diverse backgrounds, and helping teachers build culturally responsive classrooms. Grant recipients must submit a detailed report by January 15, 2028, to the Department of Education and legislative committees, outlining how the money was used, the number of students and mentors involved, and the results of the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a pilot program to test a trauma-informed approach for managing behavior and guiding students in prekindergarten through first grade. It allocates $1.2 million to fund the Mindful Foundations curriculum, which uses a specific five-step method to help educators support young children. Selected school districts will receive money to hire specialists, train staff and families, and evaluate how the program affects student outcomes and teacher retention. By the end of the pilot year, the program must submit a detailed report to lawmakers to determine if the approach should be expanded statewide.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Minnesota's commissioner of health to conduct a comprehensive study on how the state can support innovations in cell and gene therapies for treating rare diseases. The study will examine current research capacity, healthcare infrastructure, workforce needs, funding options, and access barriers across the state, with input from patients, healthcare providers, industry experts, and other stakeholders. By January 1, 2028, the commissioner must submit a report to the legislature with findings and recommendations for strategic investments, policy changes, and regulatory actions to advance these therapies. The bill also defines key terms such as cell and gene therapy and rare disease to establish a clear framework for the study.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends Minnesota's annual assessment on group health insurance companies to fund the state's reinsurance program. It requires these companies to pay an annual fee based on their share of Minnesota health plan premiums, calculated each year to cover reinsurance payments. The fee can be deferred for financially struggling companies under specific conditions, but deferred amounts increase other carriers' assessments proportionally. The funds support the Minnesota Premium Security Plan, which helps stabilize individual health insurance rates by covering high-cost claims.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires drivers to stop at least 20 feet away from a school bus displaying flashing red lights while children are boarding or exiting. It directly affects all drivers approaching school buses on Minnesota roads, mandating they remain stopped until the red lights cease flashing. The bill also adds a new provision warning drivers that amber lights indicate red lights will soon activate, requiring them to prepare to stop. These changes aim to improve safety for children near school bus stops. The bill is currently pending passage after committee approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes procedures for healthcare providers in Minnesota to implement orders not to resuscitate or withhold life-sustaining treatment for unemancipated minors. It requires providers to notify at least one parent or legal guardian before instituting such orders, with a mandatory 48-hour waiting period unless the situation is urgent. During this waiting period, parents can request a transfer of the minor to another facility, and the current facility must continue providing life-sustaining treatment for a minimum of 15 days while assisting with the transfer. The law also allows for exceptions if providers cannot contact parents after 72 hours of diligent effort and ensures parents can access medical records and seek second opinions.