Rep. Luke Frederick

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Minnesota's human rights law to explicitly include gender identity and familial status as protected categories in employment, housing, and public accommodations. It expands the legal definition of disability to cover episodic conditions and clarifies that harassment constitutes discrimination based on sex. The legislation also strengthens enforcement mechanisms by extending the deadline for filing civil lawsuits to 90 days, allowing for tolling of time limits during mediation, and permitting the state to seek civil penalties and punitive damages against violators. Additionally, the bill clarifies protections for individuals with disabilities who use service animals in public places and outlines specific remedies for victims of discrimination in employment and housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands access to essential government documents for individuals in Minnesota who are eligible for medical assistance and have been treated for a substance use disorder within the last 12 months. It allows these individuals to apply for certified birth records and identification cards or driver's licenses with waived fees, provided they submit a verification statement from a public-funded treatment provider confirming their eligibility and treatment history. The legislation also establishes specific data privacy rules for the personal information shared during this verification process. By removing financial barriers and streamlining the application requirements, the bill aims to ensure that people recovering from substance use disorders can obtain critical identification without incurring costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it illegal to advertise a price for goods or services while hiding mandatory fees that consumers must pay. It defines these hidden fees as charges that are unavoidable or that a reasonable person would expect to be included in the total cost, though it excludes government taxes. Businesses must clearly show any additional flat fees or percentages before a customer selects items and again on a subtotal page before checkout. The law includes specific exemptions for motor vehicle dealers, utilities regulated by the state, and certain real estate settlement costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Minnesota Legislature to provide a one-time funding of $25,000,000 from the state's general fund to the Department of Transportation for the Small Cities Assistance Account. The money is intended to support transportation projects in smaller cities within the state, with all funds required to be distributed in the July 2024 payment cycle. The legislation becomes effective immediately upon final passage by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill, which has been signed into law, updates Minnesota's human services regulations to improve safety and operational clarity for disability, aging, and substance use disorder programs. It exempts small residential facilities with six or fewer residents from certain local rental licensing rules while maintaining zoning allowances for these programs. Additionally, the bill mandates that providers complete specific health and safety assessments within 45 days of a client's service start date to better address individual needs. These changes aim to modernize existing statutes and remove outdated language to better support service delivery across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's unemployment insurance rules to clarify eligibility for workers who stop working due to a labor dispute at their workplace. It states that applicants involved in such disputes are not considered to have quit or been fired, nor are they on leave, which preserves their potential claim for benefits. The law specifies that eligibility depends on whether the worker is directly participating in the dispute or if the dispute involves a conflict between different labor organizations. Additionally, the bill clarifies that quitting or being fired while a dispute is active does not end the worker's participation in the dispute for benefit purposes.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota bill officially approves five different salary plans for state employees covering the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years. The plans apply to specific groups, including general state staff, managers, higher education workers, MNsure employees, and university administrators. By ratifying these proposals, the legislature confirms the pay structures that were previously developed and approved by the Legislative Coordinating Commission Subcommittee on Employee Relations. The changes take effect immediately after the law is signed, ensuring these compensation schedules are officially in force for the upcoming budget period.