Sen. Eric Pratt

Maddy summaryThis bill increases local optional aid for Minnesota schools and limits state-paid free school lunches to families with incomes at or below 500% of the federal poverty level. It creates a "free enhanced school meals program" requiring participating schools (those with high student poverty rates) to provide two free, federally reimbursable meals daily to all eligible students. The bill amends funding formulas to adjust state aid payments for school lunch programs based on this new income threshold, effective for fiscal year 2026. It directly affects Minnesota public schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and their students from households meeting the income criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's requirements for publishing public notices. It requires local governments to post notices online on their own websites and the Minnesota Newspaper Association's statewide public notice website when no qualified newspaper is available for publication. The online posting must continue until a qualified newspaper can be identified, with no additional cost to the local government. This change applies to public notices mandated by law, rule, or ordinance.

Maddy summarySF 2528 requires North Star Promise scholarship recipients in Minnesota to live and work in the state for three years after completing their degree or certificate program (starting within six months of graduation). If they fail to meet this requirement, their scholarship converts to a repayable student loan for the full amount plus interest. The bill applies to students receiving scholarships awarded for fall 2026 and later, directly affecting low-income Minnesota residents pursuing postsecondary education through this program. Limited waivers exist if recipients haven't completed their program, aren't enrolled in college, or face extreme hardship.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the Transportation Advisory Board, a body that previously provided input on transportation policy to the Metropolitan Council. It modifies the Metropolitan Council's governance by amending appointment procedures for its 44 members, including changes to how county commissioners and local representatives are selected. The bill also removes provisions related to the Transportation Advisory Board from state law (repealing Laws 1994, chapter 628, article 1, section 8). These changes directly affect the Metropolitan Council's structure and transportation stakeholders who previously engaged with the Advisory Board.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $7.3 million from state bonds to fund a specific trail segment in Scott County. The money will support Scott County in acquiring land, designing, and building approximately 4.3 miles of the Louisville Segment of the Merriam Junction Regional Trail, connecting Louisville Swamp Trailhead to the Big Woods Trail in Shakopee. The state will issue bonds up to $7.3 million to cover this cost, as authorized under Minnesota bond laws. This funding directly supports Scott County's infrastructure project to expand regional trail access.

Maddy summarySF 2422 amends Minnesota's Peace Officers Discipline Procedures Act to explicitly include local correctional officers under the law's disciplinary framework. The bill defines "correctional officer" as someone working in a security capacity at a local correctional or detention facility, and clarifies that "officer" includes these staff members. This change ensures local correctional facilities and their employees are covered by the same disciplinary procedures that apply to other peace officers. The bill directly affects local jails and detention centers that employ correctional staff, bringing their disciplinary processes under the standardized state framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development to submit annual reports starting January 2026 on organizations receiving workforce development grants. The reports must include specific metrics for each grant recipient, such as grant amounts, number of Minnesotans served, successful job placements in living-wage positions, and calculated effectiveness rates (placement and cost). It also mandates explanations if grants serve non-Minnesotans and exempts organizations with non-measurable programs from certain reporting requirements. The legislation aims to increase transparency about how state grant funds are used to support job training and workforce development.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases Minnesota's income threshold for the child tax credit, allowing more families to qualify for the full benefit. It raises the phaseout threshold to $45,490 for married couples filing jointly and $38,340 for other filers (up from $35,000 and $29,500, respectively), meaning families earning above these new levels will retain more of their credit. The bill also requires annual inflation adjustments to these thresholds starting in 2026, ensuring the credit remains accessible as costs rise. This directly affects low-to-moderate income families who claim the child tax credit but would have seen benefits reduced under the previous thresholds.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $6.25 million from state bond proceeds to fund wastewater treatment improvements in Jordan, Minnesota. The funds will be used by the city to replace aging infrastructure, including a lift station, final clarifier, and pretreatment systems. The money comes from bonds issued by the state under Minnesota law, with the Public Facilities Authority administering the grant for design and construction. The project directly affects Jordan's municipal wastewater system and residents relying on it.

Maddy summarySF 2496 appropriates $3 million from the arts and cultural heritage fund to the Hindu Society of Minnesota for initial planning and design work on a cultural, arts, and education center in Maple Grove. The funds will cover early-stage activities like architectural studies and site planning to prepare for the center's construction, not the building itself. This appropriation is specifically for fiscal year 2026 and directly affects the Hindu Society of Minnesota as the recipient of the grant. The bill focuses solely on funding the predesign phase of the project, with no construction or operational funding included.