Rep. Bernie Perryman

Maddy summaryThis bill stops annual payments from the Monticello nuclear plant to a state renewable energy fund and modifies how distributed solar energy standards are handled. It extends a sales tax exemption on residential natural gas and electricity to apply year-round instead of seasonally. Additionally, the bill exempts electric and natural gas facilities from paying the state commercial-industrial property tax. These changes directly affect the Monticello nuclear plant operator, solar energy developers, residential energy consumers, and utility companies operating gas and electric infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHF 2962 modifies Minnesota's paid leave program by clarifying who qualifies as an employee and employer under the law. It excludes seasonal hospitality workers (defined as those employed ≤150 days/year in hospitality with specific revenue patterns), self-employed individuals, and small employers unless they elect coverage. The bill also expands the definition of "family member" to include grandparents, grandchildren, in-laws, and up to one annually designated non-family individual with a close personal relationship. These changes directly affect workers and employers covered by Minnesota's paid leave law, particularly in hospitality and small businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Minnesota to use electronic signatures for motor vehicle registration and title transfers, enabling the Department of Public Safety to accept digital signatures on forms and documents. It defines electronic signatures as digital symbols or processes that indicate a person's intent to sign and requires the state to accept them whether submitted electronically or printed on paper. The law mandates that systems capturing these signatures must verify user identity and securely store access logs and user information for five years. It also prohibits requiring electronic signature vendors to be state-certified and prevents the need to convert electronic documents back to paper format unless physical submission is specifically required.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in Minnesota to make retirement contributions for teachers who return to work after receiving a pension. It applies to any school district or employer unit covered by the Teachers Retirement Association when a retired teacher resumes teaching service. Under the new rules, employers must contribute to the retirement fund during the period of reemployment, and the bill clarifies how salary thresholds affect annuity deferrals for reemployed retirees. The changes take effect immediately upon final enactment of the legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's social studies standards to include information about the dangers and perils of communism and socialism, specifically during the 2030-2031 review and revision of state academic standards. The legislation mandates that the state commissioner incorporate details about estimated lives lost and negative outcomes associated with these ideologies into the updated curriculum. It directly affects Minnesota public school systems by setting a specific requirement for future social studies education content. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not change current curriculum requirements but establishes a mandate for future revisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts individuals under 15 years old from Minnesota's Paid Leave Law requirements. It directly affects employers who hire workers younger than 15, removing them from the state's paid leave coverage mandates. The legislation amends Minnesota Statutes 268B.01 by adding language to exclude young workers from the definitions of "covered employment" and "employee" under the paid leave program. Employers of workers under 15 will no longer be required to provide paid leave benefits to these employees under this law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires sellers of emotional support dogs to provide written notice to buyers stating that the dog is not a service animal and does not have the special training required for service dogs. The notice must be printed in bold 12-point type and included on the purchase receipt or a separate document, informing buyers that the dog is not entitled to the legal rights and privileges granted to service animals. Additionally, the bill increases criminal penalties for intentionally misrepresenting an emotional support dog as a service dog, raising the offense from a petty misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor for repeat violations. These changes apply to all sales of emotional support dogs and take effect on August 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 3456 implements recommendations from the state auditor's fire relief association working group by updating Minnesota's firefighter retirement statutes. It clarifies key terms like "firefighting service" to include fire prevention and volunteer emergency medical personnel, and defines "separate from active service" and "break in service" more precisely. The bill adds new rules allowing firefighters who leave service and return to active duty to regain pension eligibility, provided they meet specific service requirements under the relief association's bylaws. This directly affects firefighters who take breaks in service but later return to active roles with their fire department.

Maddy summaryHF 16 prohibits Minnesota cities, counties, or local governments from passing laws that block law enforcement from sharing immigration status information with federal authorities. It requires county attorneys to notify federal immigration agencies when someone without legal status is arrested for a violent crime. The bill overrides any local "noncooperation" policies that would restrict this information sharing or federal immigration enforcement. It applies to all local law enforcement and government entities in Minnesota, ensuring consistent cooperation with federal immigration enforcement on specific matters.

Maddy summaryHF 13 would amend Minnesota Statutes section 609.06 to eliminate the requirement that individuals must attempt to retreat before using reasonable force in self-defense or defense of others. The bill specifically removes the "duty to retreat" provision, allowing people to use force without first trying to avoid confrontation if they reasonably believe it is necessary. This change would directly affect Minnesotans using force to defend themselves or others in situations where they perceive an immediate threat. The bill was introduced but not passed, as it was laid on the table during the 2025 legislative session.