Rep. Tom Sexton

Maddy summaryHF 1242 establishes Minnesota's Commercial Driver Training Assistance Program, providing financial support for individuals seeking commercial driver's license (CDL) training. The program offers first-come, first-served funding to cover training costs, requiring applicants to document job shadowing with at least two motor carriers. It mandates the commissioner to set up application procedures, maintain a public website with program details, and limit administrative costs to 3% of funds. The bill directly affects aspiring CDL holders, commercial driver training schools (designated as "registered providers"), and motor carriers (designated as "registered employers"). It also updates road test definitions and scheduling rules for driver licensing.

Maddy summaryHF 1241 repeals Minnesota's Paid Leave Law, which previously provided state-funded family and medical leave benefits. The bill transfers any unspent funds from the family medical leave account to the general state fund, effective July 1, 2025. It specifically repeals all provisions of Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 268B.001 through 268B.30, which governed the paid leave program. This action eliminates the state's paid leave law and redirects unused program funds to the general state budget.

Maddy summaryHF 1283 amends Minnesota law to treat a veteran's original or certified DD214 discharge papers as legally equivalent to a permit to carry a firearm. This bill directly affects veterans (defined under Minnesota Statute 197.447) who wish to carry a pistol in locations requiring a permit. Under the bill, veterans no longer need to apply for a permit, pay fees, or complete firearm safety training to carry a pistol; they simply must carry their DD214. All other existing laws governing firearm permits and carry remain applicable. The bill takes effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 1260 authorizes special license plates for Minnesota firefighters who are also certified emergency medical technicians (EMTs), advanced EMTs, or paramedics. To qualify, applicants must provide proof of state certification from the Office of Emergency Medical Services, a letter from their fire chief confirming active membership, and own a passenger car, one-ton pickup, or motorcycle. The special plates require an additional fee, must display a distinct emblem, and become invalid if the holder loses either fire department membership or EMT certification. The bill also allows limited plate transfers between qualifying vehicles for a $5 fee and takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 1286 amends Minnesota's vehicle registration tax to provide reduced rates for disabled veterans. It requires the tax on a disabled veteran's vehicle to be lowered to a percentage matching their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating, with only one vehicle per veteran eligible for the reduction. The bill also mandates that the state treasury transfer funds from the general fund to the highway user tax fund each July to cover the tax reductions provided under this provision. This change directly affects disabled veterans who own vehicles in Minnesota and alters how vehicle registration tax proceeds are handled for this specific group.

Maddy summaryHF 541 establishes a $2.5 million reimbursement program to cover training costs for peace officers on use of force, including deadly force. Certified postsecondary schools providing approved in-service training must meet specific requirements, including scenario-based drills with nonlethal ammunition, stress management instruction, and de-escalation techniques. Schools receive $450 per officer completing the free training, which must be offered at no cost to officers or their law enforcement agencies. The program is administered by the Office of Higher Education using funds from the state general fund.

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 1226 allows natural gas utilities in Minnesota to issue special "extraordinary event bonds" to cover costs from major disasters like storms, cyberattacks, or sudden gas price spikes. Utilities would recover these costs through a separate, nonbypassable "extraordinary event charge" added to customers' bills, distinct from regular rates. The bonds must have high credit ratings (AA or better), mature within 30 years, and only cover approved, necessary recovery costs after accounting for insurance and government aid. This directly affects all natural gas customers in Minnesota who pay utility bills, as the new charge would apply to their accounts following qualifying emergencies.

Maddy summaryHF 1478 amends Minnesota's public land survey monument grant program to adjust how funding is prioritized for counties and Tribal governments. It requires the chief geospatial officer to prioritize grants for counties with financial need that also preserve monuments at risk of destruction, have low survey corner certification rates, or support economic development. The bill appropriates $10 million for fiscal year 2026 (with $10 million annually for 2027-2028) for monument preservation and updates, plus up to $350,000 yearly for program administration. This law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1221 exempts reported tip income from Minnesota's individual income tax and employer tax withholding requirements. The bill adds a new definition to state tax law specifying that "tips" include amounts workers report to employers under federal tax rules (IRC 6053(a)) or to the IRS as taxable wages (IRC 3121(q)). This means tipped workers, such as restaurant servers, will no longer have their reported tips counted toward their taxable income for Minnesota state taxes, and employers will not need to withhold state income tax on those amounts. The change takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.