Rep. Tom Sexton

Maddy summaryHF 22, titled "Parent's Bill of Rights," establishes specific rights for parents of minor children (under 18) in Minnesota. It requires schools and healthcare institutions to respect parental authority over education, access to school/medical records, moral/religious training, and consent for medical procedures or recordings of minors. The bill prohibits employees from coercing children to withhold information from parents or discriminating against parents who exercise these rights. It explicitly states these rights do not override child abuse laws or court orders, and does not limit other existing parental rights. This bill directly affects parents, schools, and healthcare providers serving minors.

Maddy summaryHF 10 prohibits Minnesota state-funded financial assistance, including health coverage and college scholarships, for undocumented noncitizens. The bill explicitly excludes undocumented noncitizens (defined as those residing without U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approval) from MinnesotaCare (state health insurance) and the North Star Promise scholarship program. It amends state statutes to require that these programs deny eligibility to individuals without lawful immigration status. The policy change takes effect upon final enactment, with scholarship eligibility applying to awards beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $238,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $238,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to support the Minnesota Helmets to Hardhats program. The funds will help Building Strong Communities connect National Guard members, military reservists, active duty personnel, and veterans to construction industry apprenticeships and career training through the Department of Labor and Industry. The program must not discriminate based on protected characteristics like race, religion, or gender. It directly affects military-connected individuals seeking careers in building and construction trades.

Maddy summaryHF 484 prohibits local governments (like cities or counties) from banning new natural gas hookups in residential construction after July 1, 2025. It directly affects local regulations and residential builders by preventing municipalities from requiring all-electric new homes. The bill requires that new residential units must allow natural gas connections, removing local authority to restrict this energy source. It applies only to new construction, not existing homes or other building types. The law takes effect the day after it is enacted.

Maddy summaryHF 1463 appropriates $25 million annually (fiscal years 2026-2027) from the general fund for Minnesota town roads and $10 million annually for town bridges. The funds will be distributed under existing rules in Minnesota Statutes section 162.081 to support local road and bridge maintenance programs. This bill directly affects Minnesota's town road and bridge systems by providing dedicated state funding for upkeep. It does not create new policies or alter current distribution methods, only allocating existing budget resources.

Maddy summaryHF 483 prohibits local governments (like cities or counties) from banning natural gas or propane hookups to any building. It directly affects municipalities that might have tried to restrict these energy services through local ordinances, as well as building owners and utility companies seeking connections. The bill explicitly bans any local rule that prevents utilities from connecting, reconnecting, or supplying natural gas or propane to buildings. This creates a statewide standard, ensuring consistent access to these energy sources regardless of local restrictions. The policy change takes effect immediately after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's renewable energy standards by expanding which hydroelectric projects count toward clean energy goals (including facilities over 100 megawatts if operating since 2023). It allows electric utilities to request delays in meeting renewable, solar, or carbon-free energy requirements if the commission determines it serves the public interest, considering factors like cost impacts and system reliability. The bill also expands sales tax exemptions for residential heating fuels and electricity, and prohibits demolition of fossil-fuel power plants under specific conditions. Additional provisions include supporting carbon capture technology and removing barriers to new nuclear power plants.

Maddy summaryHF 289 establishes the SAVI (State Agency Value Initiative) program, allowing all Minnesota state agencies - including Minnesota State Colleges and Universities - to retain 50% of unspent operational funds from cost-saving innovations or efficiency measures. Agencies must use these retained funds only for mission-related projects, after a peer review panel (composed of employees and managers) recommends the project and the commissioner of management and budget approves it. The program requires agencies to publicly post project spending plans for 30 days and undergo review by the Legislative Advisory Commission before funding. This policy directly affects state agencies by creating a structured way to reinvest savings into new initiatives without creating future financial obligations.

Maddy summaryHF 1311 modifies Minnesota's rules for how public utilities recover costs for electric generation and transmission assets. It requires utilities to submit detailed assessments showing how new assets contribute to system reliability during peak demand, including seasonal load calculations, before adding them to customer bills. For retiring assets, utilities must prove the action won't impair reliability, with the Public Utilities Commission required to explain impacts in its decisions. The bill directly affects Minnesota's electric utilities (like Xcel Energy) and the commission that reviews their rate requests. These changes apply to new filings after enactment, focusing on ensuring reliability while determining which costs can be passed to ratepayers.

Maddy summaryHF 1475 abolishes Minnesota's Metropolitan Council and transfers its core responsibilities to other state entities. Specifically, it moves the Council's duties to the commissioners of Administration and Natural Resources, shifts transportation and transit functions to the Department of Transportation, and creates a new metropolitan area sanitary sewer district. The bill also repeals land use planning provisions previously managed by the Council and ends its oversight of the Metropolitan Airports Commission. These changes reorganize regional governance for key services like transportation, environmental management, and sewer infrastructure across the metropolitan area.