Rep. Tom Sexton

Maddy summaryHF 711 appropriates $500,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 and another $500,000 for fiscal year 2027 to provide grants to the Minnesota Agricultural Education and Leadership Council. The funding supports the council’s existing programs under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 41D, which focus on agricultural education and leadership development. This bill directly affects the council by providing dedicated funding for its established initiatives, with no new policy requirements or program changes.

Maddy summaryHF 43 appropriates $4.5 million for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund grants for Minnesota gas stations upgrading equipment to dispense biofuels like E25. It directly affects retail petroleum dispensers with 15 or fewer sites in Minnesota, allowing up to $200,000 per station for equipment upgrades required to meet state biofuel goals. The bill mandates annual reports detailing project types, geographic distribution, minority-owned business participation, and program costs to legislative committees. Unused 2026 funds can roll over to 2027, with future funding base set at $3 million annually. The program aims to expand biofuel infrastructure access while requiring transparency through detailed reporting.

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 979 appropriates unspecified funds from the general fund to Minnesota's Board of Animal Health for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The bill directly affects the Board of Animal Health by providing it with funding to carry out its existing duties under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 35. This is a straightforward funding measure that allocates money for the Board's current operations, with specific dollar amounts not yet determined in the bill text.

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.

Maddy summaryHF 969 exempts farm fencing and related materials from Minnesota's sales and use tax. It adds fencing used directly in agricultural production (such as for crop growing or livestock containment) to the list of tax-exempt items under Minnesota Statutes § 297A.69, subdivision 4. The exemption applies to fencing materials, supplies, and equipment incorporated into fencing construction or repair for farming operations. It becomes effective for sales after June 30, 2025, directly benefiting Minnesota farmers purchasing qualifying fencing.

Maddy summaryHF 1297 increases Minnesota's property tax exemption for veterans with service-connected disabilities. It raises the excluded market value from $150,000 to $250,000 for veterans with a 70%+ disability, and from $300,000 to $500,000 for those with a total (100%) permanent disability. This directly affects veterans (or their spouses if the veteran dies) who own their primary residence (homestead), meet VA certification requirements, and have an honorable discharge. The change applies to property tax assessments after the bill's effective date, requiring applications by December 31 each year.

Maddy summaryHF 41 appropriates $1.25 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1.25 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to provide grants for meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing facilities in Minnesota. The grants help facilities start up, modernize, or expand operations, with each grant capped at $200,000. Funds are administered under Minnesota’s agricultural growth program and may be carried forward to 2028 if unspent. This directly supports Minnesota’s livestock processing sector by providing financial assistance for facility improvements.

Maddy summaryHF 653 transfers $11.1 million annually from Minnesota's general fund to the AGREETT account for agricultural research, education, and technology programs. It appropriates these funds for specific purposes, including $3 million for agricultural education grants (prioritizing farm business management training), $802,000 for the Forever Green Initiative promoting sustainable crop practices, and targeted research on turkey diseases, potato breeding, and wild rice. The bill requires annual reports from the University of Minnesota detailing fund usage and program achievements. This funding directly supports Minnesota's agricultural research institutions, extension programs, and farm-related education initiatives.

Maddy summaryHF 1396 expands Minnesota law enforcement's permitted uses of drones (unmanned aerial vehicles). It adds 10 specific scenarios where police may deploy drones, including conducting threat assessments before events, gathering evidence after serious traffic collisions, searching for missing persons, and collecting information with reasonable suspicion of crime. The bill modifies Minnesota Statutes section 626.19, subdivision 3, to authorize these uses while requiring written consent for private property use and written requests from other government entities. This directly affects all Minnesota law enforcement agencies operating drones under current statutes. The changes focus on operational safety, evidence preservation, and public safety during specific high-risk situations.