Rep. Bobbie Harder

Maddy summaryHF 3574 provides $750,000 in state funds to the city of Watertown for road improvements on Fremont Street and Lewis Avenue corridors, including ADA accessibility upgrades and related public infrastructure. The state will issue bonds up to $750,000 to cover this cost, drawing from the transportation fund as authorized by existing law. This funding directly supports Watertown’s local infrastructure projects, benefiting residents and commuters using these corridors. The bill authorizes the state to sell bonds under Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631-16A.675.

Maddy summaryHF 3576 amends Minnesota law to allow school districts, school bus companies, and service cooperatives to become designated third-party programs that administer road tests for school bus drivers. It adds "third-party testing of school bus drivers" as a service cooperatives may provide under section 123A.21, and establishes rules for how these programs can operate, including agreements between entities to test drivers for other districts or companies. The bill requires agreements to be submitted to the commissioner for approval and allows reimbursement for testing services. This directly affects school bus drivers, school districts, school bus companies, and service cooperatives that provide driver testing services.

Maddy summaryHF 3575 provides $6 million in state funding to the city of Norwood Young America for designing a new wastewater treatment plant. The funds, sourced from state bonds, will specifically address chloride and phosphorus pollution in the city's wastewater. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $6 million in bonds and appropriates the money to the Public Facilities Authority for a grant to the city. This legislation directly affects Norwood Young America's water infrastructure planning and pollution mitigation efforts. The funding is limited to the design phase of the plant, not construction.

Maddy summaryHF 1 establishes a centralized Office of Inspector General (OIG) for Minnesota state government, replacing existing agency-specific inspector general offices. The OIG will oversee state spending, require agencies to halt payments when fraud is suspected, and mandate a fraud reporting hotline for employees and contractors. It directly affects all state agencies and recipients of state funds (such as contractors and organizations administering state programs) by requiring them to report suspected fraud and prohibiting retaliation against whistleblowers. The bill also specifies the OIG must coordinate with the legislative auditor and amends statutes related to fraud detection, waste prevention, and oversight.

Maddy summaryHF 15, the "Safe Haven In Every Local District (SHIELD) Act," requires all Minnesota public school districts and charter schools to include specific student and staff safety measures in their long-term facility plans by August 2025. The bill creates new grants to fund comprehensive security systems, including features like bullet-resistant doors, emergency alert systems, and staff training, with priority given to schools serving the most students. School districts must apply for these grants through the Minnesota School Safety Center, which will rank applicants and provide lists of approved vendors. The law appropriates funds from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to support these security upgrades and plan updates.

Maddy summarySF 2200 protects communications from restorative justice programs by making statements and documents created during these processes inadmissible as evidence in civil or criminal court cases. It directly affects participants in restorative programs, including victims, offenders, and community facilitators, by shielding their discussions from legal use. The law establishes specific data classification rules for handling these protected materials, ensuring they are stored and managed separately from standard court records. This change aims to encourage open dialogue in restorative processes without fear of legal repercussions.

Maddy summaryHF 457 proposes a refundable tax credit of up to 30% of qualifying conversion costs for developers converting underutilized buildings in Minnesota. Eligible projects must convert buildings first placed in service at least 15 years ago, either by changing to a new commercial use (not previously intended for that purpose) or by restoring at least 50% of vacant space to income-producing use, while retaining 75% of external walls and internal structure. Applicants must apply for an allocation certificate before starting work and can choose a credit, a grant, or both. The credit is claimable in the year the project is completed, with annual reporting required to the state.

Maddy summaryHF 766 amends Minnesota Statutes section 609.2231 to increase penalties for assaulting police officers during lawful duties. It elevates simple physical assaults on peace officers to a gross misdemeanor felony (with up to 2 years in jail or $4,000 fine), and makes assaults causing bodily harm or involving bodily fluids/feces a felony (up to 3 years or $6,000 fine). The bill directly affects individuals who physically assault officers while they are performing official duties, as defined under Minnesota law. It becomes effective August 1, 2025, applying to offenses committed on or after that date. The change specifically modifies existing penalty levels without altering the definition of assault.

Maddy summaryHF 1925 creates Minnesota's participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact, allowing registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) licensed in Minnesota to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. The bill establishes a "multistate license" issued by Minnesota that authorizes practice across all compact states, requiring nurses to meet Minnesota's licensing standards (including NCLEX exams, education requirements, and English proficiency if needed). It also mandates sharing disciplinary information between states to maintain safety standards. This directly affects Minnesota nurses seeking to work in other compact states and simplifies interstate practice for healthcare providers.

Maddy summaryHF 200 appropriates $35 million in state funds for Minnesota towns' road and bridge maintenance, with $25 million specifically for roads and $10 million for bridges. The funds will come from bonds issued by the state under Minnesota law, to be distributed by the commissioner of transportation according to existing rules (Minnesota Statutes §162.081). This bill directly affects Minnesota towns needing infrastructure repairs by providing dedicated funding for local road and bridge projects. The bond sales and fund distribution follow established procedures outlined in Minnesota Statutes and the state constitution.