Rep. Steve Jacob

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 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 17 amends Minnesota's handgun permit law to create lifetime permits for carrying concealed handguns, replacing the previous temporary permits. It also reduces the application fee for these permits, capping it at $100 or the actual processing cost (whichever is lower), with $10 of each fee deposited into the general fund. The bill maintains existing requirements, including proof of firearm safety training (via certified courses or peace officer employment) and in-person application submissions with specific documents like training certificates and photo ID. This directly affects Minnesotans seeking or renewing concealed carry permits, streamlining the process by eliminating renewal fees and duration limits.

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 1523 exempts certain agricultural workers from Minnesota's Paid Leave Law. Specifically, it excludes workers employed by a farmer, family farm, or family farm corporation who either work for a farm with five or fewer total employees, or work on the farm for 28 days or fewer each year. This amendment to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 268B.01, directly affects small-scale farm workers who meet these criteria. The bill clarifies that these workers are not covered by the state's paid leave requirements, while other agricultural workers remain subject to the law.

Maddy summaryHF 1702 allocates $100,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the state general fund to support mental health outreach and farm safety programs for Minnesota farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers. The funding will cover services like 24-hour hotlines, stigma reduction efforts, and educational programs under existing law (Minnesota Statutes §17.1195). Unused funds from 2026 will carry over and remain available until June 30, 2027, per the bill’s provisions. This bill directly affects agricultural communities by expanding access to mental health and safety resources.

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.

Maddy summaryHF 1259 appropriates $350,000 for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund to the Minnesota FFA. The funding directly supports FFA members participating in art- and history-related activities, including creating a history book and video series to commemorate 100 years of FFA work, and covering costs for events like FFA band/choir, talent competitions, and fair displays. Up to $125,000 annually must be used for historical documentation, with remaining funds allocated to other qualifying art and history activities. The commissioner of agriculture will develop grant criteria in consultation with the Minnesota FFA.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Minnesota's sales tax exemption to include additional baby products, directly affecting parents and caregivers who purchase these items. It adds baby wipes, cribs and bassinets (including mattresses and sheets), changing tables and pads, strollers, car seats and bases, baby swings, bottle sterilizers, and infant eating utensils to the list of tax-exempt items. The exemption applies to sales and purchases made after June 30, 2025. This change removes sales tax from these specific baby products, aligning with the existing exemption for items like breast pumps and baby bottles.