Sen. Rob Farnsworth

Maddy summarySF 126 declares Minnesota a "mining-friendly state" by amending Minnesota Statutes section 93.001 to establish a state policy supporting mineral development. The bill states Minnesota's policy is to "diversify the state's mineral economy through long-term support of mineral exploration, evaluation, environmental research, development, production, and commercialization." It does not change existing regulations or create new programs, but formally declares the state's supportive stance toward the mining industry. This declaration directly affects how the state positions itself regarding mineral resource development.

Maddy summarySF 570 streamlines environmental permitting in Minnesota by setting new timeframes for decisions and improving reporting. It requires the Pollution Control Agency to issue permits within 90 days for simpler "tier 1" projects or 150 days for more complex "tier 2" projects involving public input. The bill also mandates annual reports on permitting efficiency, modifies rules for incomplete applications, and eliminates certain environmental assessment requirements for projects needing full environmental impact statements. These changes primarily affect developers, businesses seeking permits, and the Pollution Control Agency, aiming to reduce processing delays.

Maddy summaryHF 1982 eliminates specific deadlines for schools to provide active transportation safety training to students in Minnesota. It repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 123B.935, subdivision 2, which previously required schools to provide training within set timeframes (e.g., by the end of the third week for some students). The bill removes these mandatory timelines, giving schools flexibility in scheduling the training. This directly affects K-12 public and nonpublic schools in Minnesota that previously had to meet these deadlines. The change only modifies existing timing requirements - no new training requirements are added.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the annual spending limit for free musical entertainment in third-class cities from $3,000 to $10,000. It amends Minnesota Statutes section 449.08, allowing cities of the third class to levy a special tax to fund public musical events. The change expands the previous $3,000 cap on annual expenditures for this purpose, enabling cities to spend up to $10,000 per year on free concerts or performances. All funds must still be used exclusively for providing free musical entertainment to the public, with no other uses permitted.

Maddy summarySF 3350 suspends the adoption of new social studies standards and delays the next review cycle for these standards until the 2030-2031 school year (previously scheduled for 2020-2021). It repeals requirements for schools to incorporate ethnic studies content into academic standards and cancels state funding allocated for ethnic studies programs. The bill directly affects Minnesota public schools, removing mandated curriculum elements related to ethnic studies and altering the timeline for social studies standards reviews. These changes modify existing statutes governing academic standards and funding, with no new requirements added.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3321) amends Minnesota child custody laws to ensure access to gender-affirming care isn't used to deny jurisdiction in custody cases. It removes restrictions that previously allowed courts to decline jurisdiction when a child sought gender-affirming care, explicitly stating that a child's presence in Minnesota for such care meets the "significant connection" requirement under custody jurisdiction rules (§ 518D.201). It also adds that inability to obtain gender-affirming care qualifies as an emergency for temporary custody orders (§ 518D.204). The bill repeals prior restrictions (§§ 62Q.585, 260.925, 543.23) that limited these protections. This directly affects minors seeking gender-affirming care and their families navigating custody disputes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3314) provides a temporary exception for unemployment insurance benefits to workers laid off from the iron ore mining industry between April 1 and July 2, 2025. If these workers take a short-term job in emergency medical services (EMS) within their local area during that period, it will not count against their eligibility for unemployment benefits. Specifically, their temporary EMS work will not be considered "failing to seek or accept suitable employment," and earnings from that work will not reduce their weekly unemployment benefit amount. The exception applies retroactively from April 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates targeted unemployment benefits for workers laid off from the iron ore mining industry or related explosive manufacturing during March 15-June 15, 2025, due to significant workforce reductions (50%+ layoffs). Eligible workers must have exhausted regular unemployment benefits and meet standard eligibility requirements, receiving up to 26 weeks of additional benefits at their prior weekly rate. The bill also establishes standards for storing reactive mine waste to prevent water quality impacts, defining "reactive mine waste" as material causing sustained pH decreases in contact water. It is effective retroactively from March 15, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary program providing additional unemployment benefits to workers laid off from iron ore mining jobs or related explosive manufacturing due to significant layoffs (50%+ workforce reduction) between March 15 and June 16, 2025. Eligible workers receive benefits equal to their regular unemployment amount for up to 26 weeks, retroactive to March 15, 2025, through June 19, 2026. To qualify, workers must have exhausted regular benefits from a previous job in the affected industry and meet standard unemployment requirements. The program excludes those already receiving federal Trade Readjustment Allowance benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates temporary additional unemployment benefits for workers laid off after May 19, 2025, due to job losses in the iron ore mining industry or from companies supplying goods/services to that industry. Eligible workers must have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits from a mining-related job and meet standard eligibility requirements. The program provides up to 26 weeks of additional payments at the same weekly rate as their regular unemployment benefits. These benefits are funded from Minnesota's unemployment trust fund and do not affect employer tax rates for most employers (except mining employers). The program ends May 30, 2026.