Rep. Paul Anderson

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies and expands Minnesota's self-defense laws by removing the requirement to retreat before using force to protect oneself or one's home. It specifically eliminates the "duty to retreat" outside the home, broadens the definition of "dwelling" to include vehicles and adjacent areas like porches or decks, and creates a legal presumption that force was justified when someone enters a dwelling or occupied vehicle by stealth or force. The law applies directly to Minnesotans defending their homes, vehicles, or occupants against unlawful entry or threats, and extends protections to individuals defending others in these spaces. These changes codify existing common law principles into statute while removing restrictions on defensive force in specified scenarios.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $4,518,000 for fiscal year 2026 and an additional $4,518,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the state general fund to the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute. It directly provides funding for the Institute to carry out its existing duties under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116V, which focus on agricultural research and utilization. The bill makes no new policy changes but ensures continued financial support for the Institute's current operations.

Maddy summaryHF 114 appropriates $500,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to provide grants to all 95 Minnesota county agricultural societies. The funds must be distributed equally to each county fair to enhance arts access, education, and the preservation of Minnesota's agricultural, historical, and cultural heritage. This grant program operates in addition to existing funding under Minnesota Statutes section 38.02. The commissioner of agriculture will develop grant criteria and seek public input to guide funding for projects supporting these goals.

Maddy summaryHF 1008 modifies Minnesota's definition of "public waters" to clarify that inclusion in the public waters inventory is not the sole factor determining public waters status, effective July 1, 2027. The bill eliminates an annual $1 million appropriation from the general fund that had funded updating the public waters inventory map through fiscal year 2032. This change removes dedicated funding for maintaining the inventory map, which previously tracked waters designated as public under state law. The bill impacts the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, local governments, and landowners who rely on the inventory for water management and land use decisions.

Maddy summaryHF 636 removes the requirement for a permit to carry a firearm in public places for eligible Minnesotans, while creating an optional permit system. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 624.714 to state that anyone not prohibited by state or federal law (and at least 21 years old) may carry a firearm without a permit in public places - defined as government-owned property or private property open to the public, excluding homes, businesses, gun shops, and hunting areas. An optional permit, which requires proof of pistol safety training and background checks for disqualifying offenses, remains available for those who choose it. This change directly affects eligible residents who currently need permits to carry firearms in public, eliminating that barrier while preserving the option for a permit.

Maddy summaryHF 525 transfers a one-time amount from the state's general fund to the University of Minnesota's agriculture research account for the Forever Green Initiative. The bill directs these funds to support research on perennial and winter-annual crops, aiming to help Minnesota farmers increase efficiency and profitability while protecting natural resources. This funding specifically targets the University's research program focused on integrating these crops into existing farming systems. The transfer applies only to fiscal year 2026 and is not a recurring appropriation.

Maddy summaryHF 519 amends Minnesota law to simplify the exemption process for public schools that wish to retain American Indian mascots. It changes the requirement from seeking approval from all 11 federally recognized Minnesota tribes and the Tribal Nations Education Committee to instead requiring that no American Indian Tribe within the school's county objects to the mascot use. Schools are automatically exempt if a local tribe doesn't object, or if no tribe exists in the county. This directly affects Minnesota public schools using such mascots, altering how they obtain permission to continue the practice under state education rules.

Maddy summaryHF 518 repeals Minnesota Statutes section 121A.041, which required public schools and charter schools to stop using American Indian mascots, nicknames, or logos by September 1, 2026. The bill directly affects all Minnesota public schools and charter schools that previously had to comply with this prohibition. By repealing the law, the bill removes the requirement for schools to replace such mascots or seek tribal exemptions. The repeal takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond, meaning schools are no longer mandated to eliminate these symbols.

Maddy summaryHF 646 appropriates $634,000 for fiscal year 2026 and another $634,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to continue Minnesota's dairy development programs. The funding supports the dairy development and profitability enhancement programs, including dairy business planning grants, as specified in Minnesota Statutes section 32D.30. This directly benefits Minnesota dairy farmers and businesses by providing financial assistance for planning and improving their operations. The bill makes no changes to existing laws but ensures ongoing funding for these specific support services.

Maddy summaryHF 451 eliminates the dedicated funding source for pollinator habitat work by repealing the statutory requirement to appropriate money to the "pollinator account" (previously established under Minnesota Statutes 103B.101, subd. 19). It also repeals the "Lawns to Legumes" grant program (Minnesota Statutes 103B.104), which provided financial assistance to homeowners and communities for planting native, pollinator-friendly vegetation. These changes end two specific programs administered by the Board of Water and Soil Resources that supported habitat restoration for declining pollinators like the rusty patched bumble bee. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.