Rep. Bobbie Harder

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 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 1523 exempts certain agricultural workers from Minnesota's Paid Leave Law. Specifically, it excludes workers employed by a farmer, family farm, or family farm corporation who either work for a farm with five or fewer total employees, or work on the farm for 28 days or fewer each year. This amendment to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 268B.01, directly affects small-scale farm workers who meet these criteria. The bill clarifies that these workers are not covered by the state's paid leave requirements, while other agricultural workers remain subject to the law.

Maddy summaryHF 1359 increases funding for solid waste management by changing how fees collected from waste management are allocated. Starting in 2026, 7% of these fees will go to a resource management account (rising to 20% in 2027 and 30% after 2028), instead of the general fund. The funds must be distributed to counties for waste management programs under state law. This directly affects counties receiving these allocations and changes the percentage of fees dedicated to environmental resource management over time. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1409 amends Minnesota Statutes to expand the definition of "qualified relatives" eligible for agricultural homestead property tax benefits. The bill adds grandparents, grandchildren, nephews, and nieces to the list of family members who can qualify as "actively farming" relatives under existing tax rules. This change directly affects Minnesota farmers who own agricultural land and have qualifying family members living with them or farming the property. Under the amendment, these additional relatives can now meet the criteria for classifying agricultural property as a homestead (class 2a), reducing property tax burdens. The policy modifies Section 273.124, subdivision 14(b)(2) of Minnesota Statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Minnesota's sales tax exemption to include additional baby products, directly affecting parents and caregivers who purchase these items. It adds baby wipes, cribs and bassinets (including mattresses and sheets), changing tables and pads, strollers, car seats and bases, baby swings, bottle sterilizers, and infant eating utensils to the list of tax-exempt items. The exemption applies to sales and purchases made after June 30, 2025. This change removes sales tax from these specific baby products, aligning with the existing exemption for items like breast pumps and baby bottles.

Maddy summaryHF 1423 amends Minnesota Statutes section 273.124, subdivision 8, to increase the maximum number of shareholders, members, or partners allowed for certain agricultural entities to qualify for homestead property tax treatment from 12 to 18. This change directly affects family farm corporations, joint farm ventures, limited liability companies (LLCs), and partnerships operating farms, allowing them to have up to 18 qualifying members while still qualifying for class 1b or class 2a property tax classifications. The bill does not alter tax rates but expands eligibility for existing homestead tax benefits by raising the shareholder cap. It takes effect for homestead applications filed in 2025 and later.

Maddy summaryHF 465 requires all peace officers in Minnesota, including those with the Minnesota State Patrol, to be U.S. citizens. The bill amends state law (Minnesota Statutes 626.843, 626.845, and 626.87) to add citizenship as a mandatory qualification for licensing and employment. This change applies to both full-time and part-time peace officers seeking or renewing certification. The bill establishes a new requirement that would be enforced through the existing licensing and certification processes managed by the Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training. It does not address existing officers' current citizenship status but would affect future hiring and license renewals.

Maddy summaryHF 358 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit Minnesota governors to two terms in office. If approved by voters in 2026, the amendment would change the state constitution to state that "a person elected twice to the office of governor is no longer an eligible candidate." The measure requires voter approval at the 2026 general election, with the ballot question asking "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to limit a governor to two terms?" This change would apply to all future governor elections, affecting any candidate seeking a third term after the amendment takes effect. The bill does not change current term limits for governors serving before the amendment is approved.

Maddy summaryHF 2 requires state agency employees to immediately report suspected fraud to law enforcement and legislative committee leaders when they have reason to believe fraud exists in agency programs. It mandates that all state agencies post current organizational charts online with contact details for leadership and division heads. The bill strengthens grant management by requiring agencies to conduct unannounced monitoring visits before final payments for grants over $50,000 (and annually for grants over $250,000), perform financial reconciliations prior to disbursement, and withhold funds from grantees failing to submit required progress reports. Violating these grant management requirements constitutes a misdemeanor under the bill.