Rep. Paul Anderson

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's definition of sustainable aviation fuel under state law. It specifies that qualifying fuel must be derived from biomass, gaseous carbon oxides from biomass or direct air capture, or green hydrogen - excluding palm fatty acid distillates - and must achieve at least a 50% reduction in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum-based fuels. The requirement uses either the Argonne National Laboratory's GREET model or the International Civil Aviation Organization's methodology for verification. This directly affects Minnesota taxpayers engaged in producing or blending sustainable aviation fuel. The change ensures state compliance with specific environmental standards for eligible fuel.

Maddy summaryHF 199 appropriates $50 million from state bond proceeds to the Rural Finance Authority for agricultural loans in Minnesota. It directly affects farmers, particularly beginning farmers, by funding specific programs including the beginning farmer loan program, loan restructuring, seller-sponsored loans, agricultural improvement loans, and livestock expansion loans. The bill authorizes the state to sell up to $50.05 million in bonds to cover this funding, with bond sale expenses covered by an additional $50,000. All funds must be used for approved loan programs under Minnesota Statutes, with priority given to beginning farmer loans first.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HF 139) increases annual cost-of-living adjustments for retirees in Minnesota's Public Employees Police and Fire Retirement Plan and State Patrol Retirement Plan. It raises the standard adjustment from 1% to up to 1.5% annually (based on federal Social Security COLA), and shortens the required waiting period from 36 months to 12 months for full benefits. Retirees receiving benefits for less than 12 months will now get a pro-rated increase based on months served. The changes take effect for adjustments starting January 1, 2026, and apply automatically unless retirees opt out in writing.

Maddy summaryHF 288 requires the Minnesota legislature to approve any extension of a declared emergency beyond five days. It mandates that certain executive orders and rules must be enacted by the legislature to have legal effect, rather than taking effect automatically under current rules. The bill defines key terms like "public health emergency" and "bioterrorism" to clarify when emergency powers apply. Additionally, it repeals specific criminal penalties related to emergency management procedures.

Maddy summaryHF 147 increases Minnesota's estate tax general subtraction amount from $3 million to $6 million for estates of decedents dying after June 30, 2025. This change directly affects estates where the federal gross estate and adjusted taxable gifts exceed $6 million, reducing or eliminating Minnesota estate tax liability for many families. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 289A.10 and 291.016 to set this new $6 million threshold, replacing the previous $3 million amount that applied to estates dying in 2020 and later. The policy change takes effect for deaths occurring after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 38 appropriates $4,388,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $4,434,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the state general fund to the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute. This funding directly supports the Institute's operations under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116V. The bill provides specific, concrete financial resources to enable the Institute to continue its work on agricultural research and utilization projects. No policy changes are enacted; the bill solely allocates existing state funds for this designated purpose.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota law updates family court rules to ensure unmarried parents are treated the same as married couples when determining child custody and parenting time. The bill mandates that courts prioritize scheduling expedited hearings within 30 days if a parent is denied access to their child for 14 consecutive days or faces financial hardship during a legal dispute. It also establishes new rights and responsibilities regarding assisted reproduction and directs the state to modernize legal terminology used in family law statutes. These changes aim to support children's relationships with both parents while providing faster relief for urgent situations involving access or support.

Maddy summaryHF 4071 modifies the state appropriation for farm down payment assistance grants by adjusting funding levels for various agricultural organizations and programs. The bill specifically changes the budget amounts for entities such as county agricultural societies, the Minnesota Turf Seed Council, GreenSeam, Second Harvest Heartland, and the Emerging Farmers Office. These changes include increasing or decreasing specific dollar amounts allocated for activities like food bank support, local food promotion, agricultural research, and assistance to emerging farmers. The legislation also updates reporting requirements for some recipients to ensure transparency on how the funds are used and the outcomes achieved.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Minnesota Secretary of State to put two questions on the 2024 general election ballot asking voters to approve or reject new designs for the state flag and the state seal. These designs were previously selected by the State Emblems Redesign Commission, and the bill mandates that the changes take effect on May 11, 2025, only if voters vote "yes" on both questions. If the proposals are rejected by the public, the existing flag and seal designs will remain in place. Additionally, the bill updates state laws to clarify how agencies should handle the transition between the old and new emblems and directs unused seal-making tools to the Minnesota Historical Society.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows cities in Minnesota to create special districts that reassign property taxes based on land value rather than improvements like buildings. To establish such a district, a city must hold a public hearing and mail notices to all affected property owners before passing an ordinance. The tax reallocation must use specific formulas that focus on the value of the land itself, excluding the value of structures or improvements made after a certain date. These new tax rules would first apply to property taxes payable in 2024.