Rep. Isaac Schultz

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $238,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $238,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to support the Minnesota Helmets to Hardhats program. The funds will help Building Strong Communities connect National Guard members, military reservists, active duty personnel, and veterans to construction industry apprenticeships and career training through the Department of Labor and Industry. The program must not discriminate based on protected characteristics like race, religion, or gender. It directly affects military-connected individuals seeking careers in building and construction trades.

Maddy summaryHF 1839 repeals specific diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements in Minnesota's K-12 public education system. It removes mandates for schools to teach about Indigenous treaties, boarding schools, languages, sovereignty, and cultural contributions as part of curriculum standards. The bill amends or repeals several Minnesota Statutes (including sections 120B.021, 120B.11, and 121A.212) that previously required embedding these topics into academic standards and teacher training. This directly affects all Minnesota public schools serving prekindergarten through grade 12. The change eliminates required instructional content related to Indigenous history and cultural education in state-mandated curricula.

Maddy summaryHF 1922 requires Minnesota's commissioner of natural resources to submit a report by December 1, 2026, analyzing the state's payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) system for natural resource lands. The report must examine current payment rates, whether payments adequately compensate local governments for lost tax revenue (compared to private land ownership), and the funding impact of acquiring additional land. It directly affects local governments that rely on PILT payments to offset revenue loss from natural resource lands. The report will inform potential changes to Minnesota Statutes sections 477A.11-477A.14, which govern PILT payments. This is a procedural bill focused on analysis, not immediate policy change.

Maddy summaryHF 1905 amends Minnesota's earned sick and safe time law to exempt certain transportation workers from the requirement. Specifically, it adds a new exclusion in the definition of "employee" for individuals working in positions regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation under federal law (49 U.S.C. § 31502). This directly affects workers in DOT-regulated roles, such as commercial drivers or aviation personnel, who would no longer be required to accrue or use sick time under Minnesota's law. The bill modifies existing statute to clarify that these workers are excluded from the law's coverage, aligning with federal transportation regulations.

Maddy summaryHF 17 amends Minnesota's handgun permit law to create lifetime permits for carrying concealed handguns, replacing the previous temporary permits. It also reduces the application fee for these permits, capping it at $100 or the actual processing cost (whichever is lower), with $10 of each fee deposited into the general fund. The bill maintains existing requirements, including proof of firearm safety training (via certified courses or peace officer employment) and in-person application submissions with specific documents like training certificates and photo ID. This directly affects Minnesotans seeking or renewing concealed carry permits, streamlining the process by eliminating renewal fees and duration limits.

Maddy summaryHF 819 establishes the Minnesota Sustainable Foraging Task Force to develop science-based recommendations for foraging regulations on state lands. The task force, composed of 16 diverse members including Indigenous knowledge holders, scientists, conservation representatives, and foraging advocates, must gather data on foraging impacts, review current rules, and create guidelines balancing public access with ecological protection. It is required to produce a report with specific, actionable recommendations - including a permitting model allowing volunteer options - by December 1, 2026. The bill directly affects Minnesotans who forage on public lands and aims to guide future regulations through data-driven, inclusive processes.

Maddy summaryHF 170 phases out Minnesota's estate tax over a ten-year period, beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2034. It directly affects estates of individuals who die after June 30, 2025, by gradually reducing tax rates. The bill requires annual reductions of 1.6 percentage points to the tax brackets until rates reach zero, with adjustments to bracket amounts also phased out. This creates a structured, predictable transition to eliminating the estate tax without immediate impact on current taxpayers. The effective date is set for estates of decedents dying after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1841 requires Minnesota's commissioner of natural resources to amend state rules (specifically Minnesota Rules, part 6264.0050, subpart 4) to remove Little Rock Creek in Morrison County from the list of designated trout streams and to stop stocking trout in the creek. This rule change directly affects the management of Little Rock Creek and its fishery by the state's natural resources agency. The bill mandates this specific administrative action without creating new laws, focusing solely on updating the creek's classification and stocking policy.

Maddy summaryHF 1371 exempts specific paper products from Minnesota's extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for solid waste management. It adds two new categories to the list of exempt materials: packaging for newspapers (including supplements) and packaging for magazines with circulation under 95,000 that focus on news and current events. This means publishers of these paper products will no longer be subject to the EPR program's requirements, such as funding waste management or meeting recycling targets. The bill directly affects newspaper and small-circulation magazine publishers in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's renewable energy standards by expanding which hydroelectric projects count toward clean energy goals (including facilities over 100 megawatts if operating since 2023). It allows electric utilities to request delays in meeting renewable, solar, or carbon-free energy requirements if the commission determines it serves the public interest, considering factors like cost impacts and system reliability. The bill also expands sales tax exemptions for residential heating fuels and electricity, and prohibits demolition of fossil-fuel power plants under specific conditions. Additional provisions include supporting carbon capture technology and removing barriers to new nuclear power plants.