Rep. Tom Sexton

Maddy summaryHF 3390 authorizes the city of Owatonna to impose a 0.5% local sales and use tax (subject to voter approval) to fund a $75 million community center project and related tax administration costs. The city may issue bonds up to $75 million for construction without counting toward debt limits, using tax revenues or city funds to repay them. Revenues must cover both the center's construction costs and tax collection expenses, with the tax expiring after 25 years or once project costs are fully paid. This bill directly affects Owatonna residents and businesses through the new sales tax and impacts local budgeting for community infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $400,000 from state bond proceeds to fund the city of Medford's fire station project. The funds will specifically cover property acquisition, predesign, and design work for a new fire station. The state will issue up to $400,000 in bonds to provide this funding, following standard bond issuance procedures under Minnesota law. The bill directly affects Medford by enabling planning for a new fire station facility.

Maddy summaryHF 3391 amends Minnesota's veteran special license plate inscriptions to update wording and add new categories. It requires plates to display specific inscriptions based on military service, such as "WOMAN VETERAN" for qualifying women veterans, corrected wording for Bronze Star and Silver Star recipients (e.g., "BRONZE STAR MERITORIOUS" or "SILVER STAR HEROISM"), and clarifies eligibility for National Guard members with certain medals. The bill directly affects Minnesota veterans who qualify for these specialized plates based on their service history or military awards. It takes effect October 1, 2026, for newly issued plates.

Maddy summaryHF 29 suspends the scheduled 2030-2031 review of Minnesota's social studies academic standards and repeals requirements for schools to include ethnic studies content in their curriculum. It also cancels funding allocated for ethnic studies programs. The bill modifies existing education statutes by removing mandates for schools to integrate ethnic studies or Indigenous education into social studies standards, effectively eliminating these curriculum components. This directly affects Minnesota public schools and students by removing specific educational content requirements and associated funding. The changes take effect upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 2130 modifies several driver's license and ignition interlock requirements for individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI). It extends the required use period for ignition interlock devices after license reinstatement and adds criminal penalties for drivers who operate vehicles without these devices. The bill also adjusts procedures for license revocations, judicial review of extensions, temporary license issuance, and the process for reissuing impounded license plates. These changes primarily affect drivers with DUI convictions who are required to use ignition interlocks or face license restrictions.

Maddy summaryHF 1256 extends the annual $6 million funding for the Philando Castile Memorial Training Fund, making it ongoing rather than temporary. This funding reimburses law enforcement agencies for approved training courses focused on use-of-force protocols (per MN Stat. §626.8452), crisis response/cultural diversity (§626.8469), and autism training (§626.8474). Agencies must submit detailed course applications including learning objectives, instructor qualifications, and assessment plans for board approval before reimbursement. The bill amends existing law to ensure this funding remains available each year for these specific training programs.

Maddy summaryHF 51 authorizes Minnesota school districts to use state education funds for roof repairs and replacements costing $100,000 or more per site as part of the long-term facilities maintenance program. School districts must develop a ten-year facility plan that includes a roof maintenance schedule, health and safety measures (like indoor air quality management), and provisions for gender-neutral restrooms at each school. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to explicitly include roof projects in eligible uses of the funding, effective for fiscal year 2027 and later. This legislation expands the types of maintenance projects that can be funded under the existing education finance program without changing the overall funding formula.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows public employees in Minnesota's police and fire retirement plan who are 55 years or older to receive their full retirement pay without reduction or suspension when they return to government employment. It amends retirement laws to require the retirement plan administrator to pay a normal retirement annuity without cutting it off due to reemployment, provided the retiree has reached age 55. The law also clarifies that continued employment does not change the annuity amount, and neither the member nor their employer must make additional retirement contributions. These changes take effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 1263 repeals Minnesota's Paid Leave Law (all provisions in statutes 268B.001-268B.30) and transfers any remaining funds in the family medical leave account to the state's general fund. This bill directly affects the state's paid leave program, which previously provided wage replacement for medical or family leave. The key mechanism is the elimination of the law's requirements and the reallocation of unspent funds to the general budget. The changes take effect on July 1, 2025.

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.