Rep. Bobbie Harder

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's property tax classification rules for special agricultural homesteads. It clarifies that properties initially classified as class 2a agricultural homesteads (typically under 10 acres with specific land use requirements) maintain that classification even if adjacent land changes use, as long as the owner still owns at least 20 acres of noncontiguous agricultural land within four townships/cities and meets the agricultural value threshold. The bill also specifies that noncontiguous land must be notified to county assessors to be included in homestead classification. It primarily affects Minnesota farmers who own qualifying agricultural properties meeting these revised maintenance criteria.

Maddy summaryHF 3107 modifies Minnesota's sales and use tax exemption for businesses building large-scale agriculture processing facilities. The bill sets a $100 million capital investment threshold for eligibility, exempting building materials and supplies used in facilities processing agricultural crops (excluding livestock, poultry, or wood products). Tax must be collected at standard rates and then refunded per existing procedures. This change affects businesses planning major processing facility investments exceeding $100 million, effective after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 104 makes statements and documents created during restorative justice practices (like conferences or circles) inadmissible in court. It protects confidentiality for all participants - including those who caused harm, those harmed, and community members - and classifies their personal data as private. The bill prohibits using such statements or data in legal proceedings unless exceptions apply, such as preventing serious harm or crime. This directly affects individuals participating in Minnesota's restorative justice programs by ensuring their discussions remain confidential during the process.

Maddy summaryHF 3233 requires courts to publicly disclose name changes for individuals classified as risk level III predatory offenders under Minnesota law. The bill amends statutes to mandate that courts report such name changes - including the offender's prior name, new name, Social Security number, date of birth, and last known address - to the Department of Corrections, state patrol, and local law enforcement for public disclosure. This applies specifically to offenders required to register under section 243.166, ensuring their name changes cannot evade public registration requirements. The policy directly affects high-risk offenders seeking name changes and law enforcement agencies responsible for maintaining public records. It does not alter registration duties but ensures name changes become part of publicly accessible offender information.

Maddy summaryHF 601 appropriates $125,000 for livestock depredation compensation and $125,000 for crop damage compensation under Minnesota law, directly affecting farmers who suffer wildlife-related losses. The livestock funding covers compensation for destroyed or crippled livestock and allows up to $5,000 for university educators to assess fair market values. The crop funding supports compensation for damaged crops, includes $10,000 for claim investigations, and allocates $40,000 for grants to protect stored crops from elk. Both funds are one-time appropriations available until June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 2613 allows irrigators with water-use permits to transfer unused water gallons to other permit holders using the same water source, with the commissioner verifying compliance. It permits using "excess water" (unused gallons from the prior year) during declared drought conditions (D3/D4 on the U.S. Drought Monitor), provided use remains sustainable. The bill also adds 27,154 gallons per acre for irrigation of cover crops when needed, subject to sustainability checks by the commissioner. These provisions directly affect Minnesota irrigators managing groundwater or surface water permits.

Maddy summaryThis bill lowers the age threshold for early retirement reductions in Minnesota's Teachers Retirement Association from 62 to 60. It directly affects teachers who retire before normal retirement age but want to avoid reduced benefits. Specifically, members retiring before age 60 will now face the early retirement reduction, whereas previously the reduction applied only for retirement before age 62. The bill also clarifies procedures for delaying postretirement adjustments, though the exact mechanism isn't detailed in the provided text.

Maddy summaryHF 1680 establishes a property tax exemption for agricultural riparian buffers (vegetation zones along waterways) on specific land classes (2a/2b) in Minnesota, directly affecting landowners who maintain these buffers. To qualify, landowners must apply through county assessors and comply with buffer requirements under section 103F.48, verified by soil and water conservation districts. The bill requires the state to reimburse local governments and school districts for lost property tax revenue caused by the exemption, calculated annually and paid in two installments. Reimbursements are funded from the state general fund, starting in 2026 for property tax exemptions and 2027 for school districts.

Maddy summaryHF 985 appropriates unspecified funds from the general fund for Minnesota's Soil Health Financial Assistance Program, administered by the Commissioner of Agriculture. The program provides financial support to agricultural operations implementing soil health practices, with a limit of $50,000 per recipient annually. Funds may also cover up to 6.5% of the appropriation for program administration, and unspent balances from fiscal year 2026 carry over to 2027, with grants encumbered by June 2027 remaining available until June 2029. This bill directly affects farmers and agricultural entities participating in the state's soil health initiative.

Maddy summaryHF 882 appropriates specific funds for grants to help Minnesota retail fuel stations upgrade equipment to dispense higher-concentration biofuels like E25. It directly affects stations selling fuel for post-2000 vehicles with no more than ten locations in Minnesota, covering up to 65% of upgrade costs (max $200,000 per station). The bill requires the commissioner of agriculture to submit annual reports detailing funded projects, geographic distribution, funding leverage, and support for minority/female-owned businesses. These reports must be shared with relevant legislative committees each January.