Sen. Rob Farnsworth

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's wetland replacement rules to establish a specific priority order for where developers must restore wetlands when construction impacts existing ones. It requires that replacement wetlands be sited first in the same minor watershed, then the same watershed, then the same wetland bank service area, and finally in other service areas, with limited exceptions for older public transportation projects. The legislation also defines what counts as a reasonable replacement opportunity, emphasizing natural conditions, long-term functionality, and minimal environmental disruption, while mandating collaboration among agencies to identify suitable sites. Additionally, the bill directs the state board to set replacement ratios and service area priorities to guide where wetland restoration should occur.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies a prior appropriation for the Progress Parkway construction project in the city of Eveleth, St. Louis County. It allocates $6 million from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2024 to support various project phases including design, engineering, environmental analysis, land acquisition, and construction. The funds are designated for one-time use and remain available until June 30, 2030, to help complete road improvements and extensions connecting U.S. Highway 53 to Trunk Highway 37 and Station 44 Road.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts individuals under 15 years old from coverage under Minnesota's Paid Leave Law. It directly affects youth workers by removing them from the definition of "covered employment" and "employee" within the statute. The key provision adds a new category to the law that explicitly excludes anyone younger than 15 from participating in the paid leave program. Employers of workers under 15 would no longer be required to provide paid leave benefits to these young employees under this law. The bill also allows excluded entities to opt into coverage if they choose to do so following procedures set by the commissioner.

Maddy summarySF 3594 modifies the duties of Minnesota's school trust lands director by requiring a ten-year strategic plan (updated every five years) focused on increasing asset value, balancing revenue generation with land stewardship, and improving long-term management of school trust lands. It also mandates an annual report by January 15 to the Legislative Permanent School Fund Commission, detailing management activities, financial performance, revenue opportunities, and funding distributed to public schools. The report must include recommendations for statutory changes to enhance the trust's financial outcomes. These changes, effective July 2026, aim to increase transparency and accountability in managing school trust lands, which fund Minnesota's public schools and charter schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the licensing fee for nonmotorized watercraft such as canoes, kayaks, sailboards, paddleboards, paddleboats, and rowing shells that are over ten feet in length. It directly affects Minnesota residents and visitors who own or use these types of watercraft for recreation. The key provision removes the $23 fee that was previously required for these specific watercraft, while maintaining fees for motorized boats and other licensed watercraft. The bill also adjusts related surcharges for aquatic invasive species control to reflect the removal of the nonmotorized watercraft fee. This change applies to all watercraft licensed under the relevant Minnesota statutes.

Maddy summarySF 4014 requires a licensed human driver to be physically present in the driver's seat of a commercial motor vehicle whenever an automated driving system (designed to handle all driving tasks without a human, such as SAE levels 4 or 5) is used for operation. The human must monitor the vehicle and intervene if necessary to prevent unsafe or illegal driving. Violations by vehicle owners or lessors result in escalating fines, starting at $2,000 for a second offense, with penalties doubling for each subsequent violation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents violations of Minnesota's campfire maintenance law from being classified as payable offenses, meaning they cannot be assigned fixed fines through the state's uniform fine schedule. It directly affects individuals who break campfire rules by removing the option for judicial officials to set standardized monetary penalties for these violations. The law takes effect on August 1, 2026, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date. This change requires alternative penalty methods for campfire law violations rather than using the existing fine schedule system.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $12,189,000 from state bond proceeds to fund infrastructure improvements in Palisade's clean water and wastewater systems. It directly affects Palisade residents by financing a new water treatment plant, well rehabilitation, valve replacements, and wastewater facility upgrades. The key mechanism authorizes the state to issue bonds up to this amount to provide the funds for these specific projects. The money will cover predesign, construction, and equipment for both clean water (including water storage tanks) and sewer system improvements. The bill requires the Public Facilities Authority to administer the grant to the city.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes St. Louis County, Minnesota, to sell specific parcels of land through private sales instead of the usual public auction process. The legislation permits the county to sell tax-forfeited land and fee-owned land in designated areas to resolve issues like structure encroachments and to better serve county land management interests. The sale must follow a deed form approved by the state attorney general, who can also correct any errors in the land descriptions. This change allows the county to transfer ownership of two distinct property groups in St. Louis County without competitive bidding requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of up to $3.2 million in state bonds to fund a new facility for the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. The funds will be used for property acquisition, construction, and equipping the building with infrastructure to protect historical artifacts and space for exhibitions and cultural events. The state may lease or manage the facility's programs through a separate agreement. This legislation directly affects the Minnesota Discovery Center and the city of Chisholm by enabling the creation of a dedicated space for its operations.