Sen. Bill Lieske

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a crime in Minnesota to intentionally create, possess, or share images that have been digitally altered to show a person as nude or engaging in a sexual act without their consent. The law specifically targets "nudification images," which are realistic visual recordings where intimate parts or sexual acts were added to original photos or videos that did not originally show them. Penalties for violating this law include up to five years in prison and a fine of $10,000, with heavier sentences of up to ten years and a $20,000 fine for aggravating factors like profiting from the images, harassing the victim, or operating a website dedicated to this activity. The legislation also clarifies that consent to share a private image does not apply to these digitally altered versions and allows prosecutors to bring charges in the county where the crime occurred or where the victim lives.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Minnesota liquor laws by redefining "limited malt liquor" to include beverages with up to 15 percent alcohol and clarifying the definition of "food retailer" to cover various grocery and convenience stores. It authorizes the state to issue new off-sale licenses specifically for limited malt liquor and adjusts how certain food retailers are treated under existing food licensing rules. The legislation also modifies ownership restrictions, preventing manufacturers and wholesalers from owning retail liquor licenses and expanding disqualifiers for people with specific drug-related convictions. Additionally, it exempts certain food retailers from specific consolidated food licensing requirements and changes how license fees are calculated for exclusive liquor stores.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense in Minnesota for intentionally altering or generating images to make them appear nude when the original photo did not show nudity. It directly affects individuals who digitally modify pictures of others without their permission, specifically targeting deepfakes that realistically depict intimate body parts. Under the proposed law, a person convicted of this act faces up to two years in prison, a fine of $4,000, or both, provided they knew or should have known the subject did not consent to the change. The legislation will only take effect on August 1, 2026, and applies to any crimes committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits moving money from Minnesota's Health Care Access Fund to other state funds, with very limited exceptions. It ensures that any spending from the fund must align with how the program was funded in the 1990s or be part of a specific federal health care waiver. The law also blocks transfers to other state accounts unless they go to a designated special revenue fund. These rules directly affect how the state manages and spends the money set aside for MinnesotaCare.

Maddy summarySF 5257, titled the Parent's Bill of Rights, establishes a legal framework in Minnesota to protect parental authority over the upbringing, education, and health care of their minor children. The bill explicitly reserves these rights to parents and prohibits government entities from obstructing them, requiring written consent for medical procedures, biometric scans, and the storage of biological samples unless a medical emergency exists. It also mandates that parents be notified if a crime is suspected against their child and prohibits employees from coercing children to withhold information from parents. While the act affirms these protections, it clarifies that it does not authorize child abuse, neglect, or actions that would end a child's life, nor does it restrict the legal authority of courts and law enforcement.

Maddy summaryThe Protecting Families and Children Act establishes a legal framework in Minnesota to restrict gender transition procedures for minors and strengthen parental rights in education and healthcare. It prohibits the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors, defines biological sex based on genetics and anatomy, and requires parental consent for certain school activities. The bill also creates a new felony offense for grooming minors for sexual exploitation, repeals laws banning non-coercive talk therapy, and restores home-state jurisdiction in child custody disputes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary task force to study how well parenting time and custody orders are enforced in Minnesota. The group will include judges, law enforcement, child protection experts, and parents with personal experience in these disputes. Its main job is to look at current laws, find problems in how violations are handled, and suggest better ways to protect children while ensuring parents can spend time with their kids. By January 2027, the task force must submit a report with its findings and any new laws it recommends. The state will provide funding to cover the cost of running this group until it ends in June 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new section to the Minnesota Constitution to state that a preborn child has a right to life. It defines a preborn child as a living human fetus from fertilization until live birth. The amendment includes specific exceptions to allow medical treatment for the pregnant individual and the removal of nonviable or deceased preborn children. If passed by the legislature, the measure would be placed on the 2026 general election ballot for voters to decide.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the legal definition of a "disorderly house" in Minnesota to include locations where high-risk sexual activities regularly occur with the owner's or manager's knowledge. It specifically defines high-risk sexual conduct as activities likely to spread diseases through bodily fluid exchange, such as anonymous sex or sex with multiple partners. The changes apply to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2026, and do not alter the existing definitions for disorderly houses involving alcohol, gambling, prostitution, or drug sales.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires gas stations in Minnesota to display the specific amount of state and federal gas tax included in fuel prices on both pump signs and sales receipts. Starting in January 2027, retailers must show these tax figures in at least 11-point font, and the state will provide updated signs if tax rates change within the next 12 months. The legislation also removes a provision that automatically increased gas taxes based on construction costs, instead setting fixed rates for regular gasoline, diesel, and alternative fuels effective July 2026. These changes directly affect consumers by increasing price transparency and impact fuel retailers by mandating specific labeling practices.