Rep. Ron Kresha

Maddy summaryHF 2786 modifies requirements for education grants administered by the Minnesota Department of Education. It establishes specific conditions under which the commissioner must terminate grant agreements with nonprofit recipients, including failing to file required IRS forms (990/990-EZ), missing state reports, exceeding 25% administrative costs relative to revenue, paying employees more than 110% of the governor's salary, or being under fraud investigation. The bill explicitly excludes school districts, charter schools, and other political subdivisions from these requirements. These changes aim to ensure grant recipients meet financial and compliance standards before receiving or continuing funding.

Maddy summaryHF 320 allows auto dealers in Minnesota to participate in designated auto shows. The bill amends state law to establish specific criteria for "auto shows" where dealers may legally exhibit vehicles, clarifying which events qualify under the new rules. It directly affects auto dealers seeking to showcase vehicles at public events and the organizers of those shows. The key mechanism creates a defined framework for permissible participation, removing prior restrictions that may have limited dealer involvement in such events. This is a procedural change focused on enabling dealer participation under clear, established conditions.

Maddy summaryHF 2676 exempts food and beverage service establishments (like restaurants, cafes, and hotels) from a Minnesota law requiring clear disclosure of mandatory fees, such as automatic gratuities, in advertisements. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 325D.44 to add these establishments to a list of exempt entities under the "mandatory fee advertisement" rule. This means restaurants no longer need to display details about automatic service fees in their marketing materials or online menus, as the requirement no longer applies to them. The exemption directly affects businesses operating under Minnesota's food service definition (section 157.15, subdivision 5).

Maddy summaryHF 2677, the Consumers in Crisis Protection Act, regulates companies that provide funding for lawsuits in exchange for a share of any settlement. It directly affects Minnesota consumers involved in civil cases who receive such funding and the companies that offer it (called "consumer litigation funding companies"). The bill creates new definitions for key terms, requires these companies to submit reports to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and establishes civil penalties for violations of the law. These provisions aim to protect consumers from potentially exploitative funding practices by setting clear rules and oversight requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 2430 appropriates $2,000 per school district (or $40 per student, based on fall 2024 enrollment) from the general fund to compensate teachers for completing required Read Act training. This funding directly affects school districts, charter schools, and cooperative units providing direct instruction in Minnesota. Payments must be distributed by October 15, 2025, and are designated for fiscal year 2026. The bill mandates that districts use these funds to compensate eligible teachers as specified in existing law or through teacher union agreements.

Maddy summaryHF 1034 clarifies eligible grant expenditures for Independent School District No. 482 in Little Falls for its aeronautics and commercial over-the-road technical program. The bill authorizes $450,000 for the program, specifying that funds may cover equipment, staffing, travel, and contracted services. It retroactively allows reimbursement for eligible program costs incurred after May 24, 2023, before the grant was officially awarded, and requires the district to report program details to legislators by February 1, 2027. This bill directly affects only Little Falls School District and clarifies the scope of its specific grant.

Maddy summaryHF 2388 replaces Minnesota's three-tier local optional aid system (with rates of $100, $300, and $424 per adjusted pupil unit) with a single, higher basic supplemental revenue amount for school districts. It affects all public school districts and charter schools by changing how supplemental education funding is calculated and distributed. The bill increases the basic supplemental aid level while adjusting local levy formulas based on property values, using new thresholds for fiscal years 2026 and beyond. This simplifies the previous structure but maintains the requirement for districts to fund supplemental revenue through local property taxes.

Maddy summaryHF 837 requires Minnesota's commissioner of commerce to apply to the federal government by December 31, 2026, for a waiver continuation under federal law (42 U.S.C. § 18052). This waiver is needed to keep Minnesota's premium security health insurance plan operating after 2027, as its future depends on federal approval. The bill also directs a one-time transfer of $413 million from the state general fund to the premium security plan account in fiscal year 2026. This funding supports the state's health insurance program for qualifying residents. The bill directly affects Minnesota's health insurance program and state budget management.

Maddy summaryHF 1845 expands Minnesota's definition of "veteran" to include two specific groups: (1) Hmong veterans naturalized under the federal Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000, and (2) individuals who served honorably with secret guerrilla units or irregular forces operating from Laos in support of U.S. forces between February 28, 1961, and May 14, 1975. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 197.447 to add these categories to the existing definition, ensuring these veterans qualify for state benefits. It also creates an advisory task force of veterans, experts, and community members to help determine eligibility under the new definition. This change directly affects Hmong veterans and Laotian-based veterans who previously may not have met Minnesota's veteran criteria.

Maddy summaryHF 805 establishes a property tax refund program for nonprofit child care facilities that rent their facilities. Eligible providers - nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status operating licensed child care centers or family day care that accept state child care assistance - receive a 10% refund on cash rent paid for their facility space. To claim the refund, providers must apply annually to the commissioner by the following year, with payments made according to state schedules. The bill appropriates funds for these refunds and requires reporting, effective for rent paid in 2024 and later.