Rep. Steve Gander

Maddy summaryHF 12 restricts participation on female-designated sports teams in Minnesota K-12 schools to students identified as female at birth, based on specific medical criteria. It requires students in disputes about sex to provide a physician's statement confirming their sex using three factors: reproductive anatomy, natural testosterone levels, and chromosome analysis. The bill directly affects public and private schools offering girls' sports teams and students seeking to join them. It amends Minnesota education law to take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 2002 abolishes a prohibition that prevented the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission from issuing a certificate of need for new nuclear power plants. This change would allow the commission to approve applications for new nuclear plant construction, which was previously blocked by law. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 216B.243, subdivision 3b, by removing the language stating the commission "may not issue a certificate of need" for new nuclear facilities. The policy change directly affects nuclear energy developers seeking to build new plants in Minnesota and the commission's approval process.

Maddy summaryHF 729 expands Minnesota's medical assistance program to cover face-to-face care evaluations for home care planning, directly benefiting seniors and disabled residents needing home care services. The bill modifies payment rates for homemaker services, home health agencies, and home care nursing, while establishing a grant program to train home care professionals. It requires counties to report on implementation and appropriates funding for these changes. These updates aim to improve access to personalized home care assessments and support service providers through revised reimbursement structures.

Maddy summaryHF 3127 modifies Minnesota's pass-through entity tax election process, allowing certain businesses (like partnerships and S corporations) to file a single tax return instead of requiring each owner to file individually. It specifies that qualifying entities must meet ownership thresholds (over 50% of qualifying owners) to elect this tax, and the election is irrevocable for the tax year. The bill clarifies that the tax amount equals each qualifying owner's income multiplied by Minnesota's highest individual tax rate, without allowing standard deductions. This directly affects pass-through business owners and entities filing under Minnesota Statutes 289A.08 and 290.06. The changes streamline tax filing for these entities while maintaining the tax calculation method.

Maddy summaryHF 2113 exempts small Minnesota employers with 50 or fewer employees from the state's paid leave requirement. This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 268B.01, to explicitly exclude such employers from the paid leave mandate. Small businesses that currently meet the 50-employee threshold will no longer be required to provide paid leave under this law. Employers with 50 or fewer employees may still choose to opt into the paid leave program if they wish. The bill directly affects small business owners and their employees in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $60.4 million from state bond proceeds to fund flood mitigation projects in Moorhead, Clay County, and the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District. The funds cover the state's share of publicly owned flood prevention projects under Minnesota law, including the local share when project costs exceed 2% of median household income multiplied by local households. It authorizes the state to issue up to $60.4 million in bonds to finance these projects, following standard bond procedures. The funding directly supports communities preparing for or responding to flood risks in these specific areas.

Maddy summaryHF 3378 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Human Services to immediately release unredacted initial reports produced by Optum, Inc. under contract with the Department of Human Services. These reports, defined as those announced in a February 6, 2026 department news release, must be made public without edits or redactions - except for limited redactions requested by Optum to protect proprietary information. The bill directly affects the Department of Human Services' reporting obligations and ensures public access to these documents. It takes effect 14 days after final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 964 expands an existing tax provision to include motorcycles under Minnesota's "in lieu tax" system, which replaces the standard sales tax for certain older or collector vehicles. Specifically, it requires buyers of older motorcycles (in their 10th year or later with a resale value under $3,000) to pay a $10 flat tax, while collector motorcycles (registered under specific classifications) face a $150 flat tax instead of the regular sales tax. This change directly affects motorcycle purchasers meeting these criteria, shifting their tax burden from the standard sales tax to these fixed amounts. The law takes effect for sales and purchases after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of up to $35 million in state bonds to fund flood hazard mitigation projects in Minnesota's Red River Basin. The funds will be distributed through grants to three watershed districts for specific infrastructure improvements, including river rehabilitation and water retention projects. The legislation allows for a higher state contribution of up to 75 percent of project costs, which is an increase from the standard grant rate, and includes provisions for calculating local matching requirements based on household income levels. The bill takes effect immediately upon final enactment and directs the commissioner of natural resources to manage the distribution of these funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill aligns Minnesota's state tax law with the federal tax treatment of tip income. It adds a provision allowing Minnesota taxpayers to deduct qualified tips under the federal Internal Revenue Code (section 224) as a subtraction from taxable income. The deduction applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2028, but is effective retroactively for years starting after December 31, 2024. This directly affects Minnesota residents who earn tip income and file individual income tax returns, potentially reducing their state tax liability.