Rep. Bobbie Harder

Maddy summaryHF 1436 modifies Minnesota's student discipline laws to reduce exclusions, particularly for young children. It prohibits schools from dismissing students in preschool/prekindergarten or kindergarten through grade 3 (except for short-term removals or safety threats), and requires schools to first try non-exclusionary approaches before considering dismissal. School boards must establish clear policies emphasizing prevention, provide adequate alternative educational services for students during disciplinary periods, and ensure progress toward graduation standards. These changes, effective July 1, 2025, apply to all public schools and school districts in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 2045 increases Minnesota's estate tax exemption threshold to $6 million for estates of decedents dying after June 30, 2025, and raises the combined deduction limit for qualified small business and farm property from $5 million to a new cap. This directly affects estate owners who own small businesses or farmland, allowing them to deduct more value from their taxable estate. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 289A.10 and 291.016 to implement these changes, with the higher deduction cap applying only to the combined value of eligible business and farm assets. The effective date is set for estates closing after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1057 modifies Minnesota's definition of "employee" for earned sick and safe time benefits. It explicitly excludes certain workers, including independent contractors, specific emergency service personnel (like volunteer firefighters and ambulance attendants), elected officials, and farm workers under limited conditions. Farm workers are excluded if employed by a small farm (5 or fewer employees) or if their work totals 28 days or less per year. This change directly affects these excluded groups by determining who qualifies for the state's sick and safe time protections.

Maddy summaryHF 764 eliminates the statute of limitations for prosecuting first-degree arson in Minnesota. This means prosecutors can file charges for any first-degree arson offense at any time, regardless of when it occurred. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 628.26 to remove the previous time limit (previously six years for some cases) specifically for violations of section 609.282 related to arson. It directly affects individuals who commit first-degree arson and the state's ability to pursue such cases, with the change applying to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 3 requires Minnesota's legislative auditor to annually report to the legislature by February 1 on whether state agencies have implemented audit recommendations from the prior five years. The bill mandates that agencies' commissioners must also submit detailed reports by September 1 each year, specifically itemizing unaddressed recommendations and explaining why they weren't implemented. This directly affects all state agencies subject to legislative auditor reviews and their commissioners, who must now document progress on audit findings. The law creates a structured process for tracking accountability without altering agency funding or creating new programs.

Maddy summaryHF 893 clarifies and strengthens Minnesota's self-defense laws by eliminating the requirement to retreat before using force when defending one's home or person. It expands the definition of "dwelling" to include occupied vehicles, porches, decks, and adjacent structures, and creates a legal presumption that someone entering a dwelling by stealth or force poses an imminent threat. The bill allows individuals to use deadly force without retreating in certain situations, such as when preventing a forcible felony or imminent harm to themselves or others. This directly affects Minnesotans using self-defense, particularly in home or vehicle defense scenarios.

Maddy summaryHF 898 withdraws Minnesota from the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, a multi-state agreement that would have awarded the state's presidential electors based on the national popular vote. The bill amends Minnesota election law to revert to the state's existing method for selecting presidential electors: candidates are nominated by party conventions and elected based on congressional district and statewide vote totals, rather than the national popular vote. This change directly affects how Minnesota's 10 presidential electors are chosen in future elections. The bill repeals Minnesota Statutes sections 208.051 and 208.052, which had implemented the compact.

Maddy summaryHF 2015 limits the growth of state jobs in Minnesota's executive branch agencies by tying it to population growth. Specifically, the number of full-time equivalent state positions cannot increase faster than the state's projected population growth rate, as determined by the state demographer. This rule applies to all executive branch agencies (excluding Minnesota State Colleges and Universities) and would require agencies to align hiring with population changes each fiscal year. The bill establishes a clear, measurable cap on state employment expansion without specifying exceptions or enforcement details.

Maddy summaryHF 22, titled "Parent's Bill of Rights," establishes specific rights for parents of minor children (under 18) in Minnesota. It requires schools and healthcare institutions to respect parental authority over education, access to school/medical records, moral/religious training, and consent for medical procedures or recordings of minors. The bill prohibits employees from coercing children to withhold information from parents or discriminating against parents who exercise these rights. It explicitly states these rights do not override child abuse laws or court orders, and does not limit other existing parental rights. This bill directly affects parents, schools, and healthcare providers serving minors.

Maddy summaryHF 10 prohibits Minnesota state-funded financial assistance, including health coverage and college scholarships, for undocumented noncitizens. The bill explicitly excludes undocumented noncitizens (defined as those residing without U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approval) from MinnesotaCare (state health insurance) and the North Star Promise scholarship program. It amends state statutes to require that these programs deny eligibility to individuals without lawful immigration status. The policy change takes effect upon final enactment, with scholarship eligibility applying to awards beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year.