Battery producers would fund statewide collection of removable batteries

Battery producers would fund a collection and management system run by stewardship organizations. The rules cover loose batteries and batteries people can easily remove from products. They exclude lead-acid batteries, most vehicle batteries, certain medical-device and energy-storage batteries, and recalled batteries. Producers must contract with a stewardship organization by July 1, 2027, and organizations must submit plans by January 1, 2029. The commissioner must approve a plan before it is implemented. Producers pay program costs, with no charge to the public, collectors, service providers, or government. The provisions take effect July 1, 2026. Producer contracts are due July 1, 2027, plans are due January 1, 2029, and sales restrictions begin July 1, 2029.

An adult who grooms a child would commit a felony. A child for the grooming offense is 15 or younger. Listed examples of grooming conduct include sexual communications, sexualized physical conduct, and threats or pressure to keep secrets. The adult must express sexual intent toward the child and deliberately build a false trusting relationship to manipulate the child for future sexual conduct. No sexual contact needs to occur. A conviction may carry up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. The bill also makes certain offenses felonies when committed by a person in a position of authority who is over 36 months older than a victim under 18, or by a licensed school educator against a student enrolled at that school. The offenses apply to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2026.

Employers would provide suitable seats and let employees use them when the work reasonably permits. The rule covers employees whose work reasonably permits the use of seats. Seats must be adequate in number and reasonably close to the work area. A violation could bring a penalty of up to $250. The provision does not reduce other legal protections for workplace safety, pregnancy, disability, or health conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth.

The commerce commissioner could award supplemental energy grants to eligible households and outreach organizations. Household grants are for low-income Minnesota residents. Outreach grants are for organizations experienced in serving low-income households. A household must live in Minnesota and have income below the applicable energy-assistance threshold. Grants may help with energy bills, shut-off crises, or emergency heating repairs; outreach grants may go to experienced organizations. When practicable, available federal energy-assistance funds must be awarded to eligible applicants first. The proposed $15 million state appropriation is one-time funding. The proposed one-time appropriation is for fiscal year 2027 and would remain available through December 31, 2029.

The state would count certain deaths linked to on-duty infectious-disease exposure as line-of-duty deaths for benefit purposes. The listed diseases include COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis B or C, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, meningitis, MRSA, whooping cough, and streptococcus pneumoniae. Medical records must identify a listed disease as a cause or contributing factor in the death, and the exposure must have occurred in the line of duty. The bill directs the commissioner to review previously denied claims for deaths from February 1, 2020, through the bill’s effective date, and award benefits when applicants qualify. The provision would apply retroactively from February 1, 2020. Claims for earlier deaths must be filed before July 1, 2028.