Rep. Tom Sexton

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $120,000 from the general fund for a one-time grant to Waseca Area Caregiver Services for fiscal year 2026. The funds are available until June 30, 2027, and are intended to support the organization's services. The bill directly affects Waseca Area Caregiver Services by providing specific state funding for its operations. It is a straightforward funding measure with no policy changes beyond the allocation.

Maddy summaryHF 8 streamlines Minnesota's environmental permitting process to improve efficiency and transparency. It sets specific timeframes (90 days for simpler permits, 150 days for complex ones), requires the Pollution Control Agency to issue separate construction and operation permits for certain facilities, and mandates that petitioners for environmental assessments must live in affected or neighboring counties. The bill also eliminates preliminary environmental assessment steps for projects requiring full environmental impact statements and requires the agency to publish annual reports tracking permitting progress. These changes directly affect developers, landowners, and the Pollution Control Agency in processing environmental permits.

Maddy summaryHF 538 modifies Minnesota's law on when police may use deadly force, specifically preventing officers from using lethal force solely to stop a person from harming themselves (e.g., in a suicide situation). The bill requires that if an officer uses deadly force to protect someone from apparent death, they must instead reasonably believe the person poses an immediate threat of death or serious injury to others, meeting specific criteria like the threat being specific, likely to occur, and needing immediate action. This change directly affects Minnesota police officers and individuals in crisis, aiming to limit unnecessary lethal force while maintaining existing standards for protecting officers or the public from violence.

Maddy summaryHF 1255 allows certain public safety employees in Minnesota to purchase their surplus badges at fair market value. The bill specifically applies to current or retired state troopers, commercial vehicle inspectors, and Capitol security officers. It amends Minnesota Statutes to permit the commissioner to sell badges bearing pre-May 11, 2024 seals (or retired personnel badges) directly to the employee who originally used them. The sale price must reflect the badge's fair market value as determined by the commissioner. This is a procedural change affecting badge ownership for these specific state employees.

Maddy summaryHF 3038 appropriates $215,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 and $215,000 for fiscal year 2027 to the Minnesota Historical Society. These funds are designated for grants to the Minnesota Agricultural Interpretive Center - Farmamerica. The bill directly provides financial support to this center, which likely focuses on agricultural history and education. This is a straightforward funding measure with no policy changes beyond the specified monetary allocation.

Maddy summaryHF 19 establishes education savings accounts (ESAs) for Minnesota students from low-income households, defined as families earning no more than four times the income threshold for free school meals. The bill allows parents to use state funds to pay for qualifying education expenses - including tuition at eligible nonpublic schools, tutoring, approved curriculum, and school supplies - at participating schools or providers. Participation is capped at 5% of public school enrollment in the first year, increasing by 3% annually, with priority given to kindergarten students and those who attended public school full-time the prior year. The program directly affects eligible students (ages 18 and under) and their families, with funds restricted to approved educational services and materials.

Maddy summaryHF 3041 requires Minnesota's Legislative Budget Office to create business impact notes for proposed bills upon request by committee leaders. These notes must detail the financial effects and regulatory changes (like fees, licenses, or reporting requirements) on small businesses - defined as entities with fewer than 100 employees. The bill appropriates $ for the Legislative Budget Office to cover the costs of preparing these analyses. The notes must clearly explain assumptions, estimate whether regulatory burdens increase or decrease, and identify less costly alternatives if possible. This process aims to provide transparency about how new laws might affect small businesses before they become law.

Maddy summaryHF 2371 requires healthcare providers to obtain written, informed consent before performing pelvic, breast, urogenital, or rectal examinations on patients who are anesthetized or unconscious. This applies to most situations, with limited exceptions for emergencies, exams within a previously consented-to procedure, or court-ordered evidence collection. Violating this requirement is a gross misdemeanor and may lead to disciplinary action by the provider's licensing board. The law takes effect August 1, 2025, directly affecting patients under anesthesia/unconsciousness and healthcare professionals performing such exams.

Maddy summaryHF 363 establishes a $5 per acre property tax credit for agricultural land certified under Minnesota's agricultural water quality program in specific counties (Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona). This credit directly affects farmers who have land certified by the Department of Agriculture under the water quality program in those counties. The credit reduces property taxes payable to local governments, with the state reimbursing counties and school districts through annual appropriations from the general fund. Payments for the credit will begin for property taxes due in 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 987 modifies Minnesota's annexation election rules to prevent immediate re-attempts after a referendum defeat. It requires that if an annexation vote fails, no new annexation proceeding for the same area can be started within two years - unless initiated by a majority of property owners in that area and supported by neighboring townships or municipalities. This change directly affects cities, townships, and property owners involved in annexation disputes, altering the process for restarting such proceedings. The bill focuses on procedural clarity, ensuring annexation efforts cannot be repeatedly pushed without broader local consensus.