Rep. Marj Fogelman

Maddy summaryHF 3130, the "Minnesota Stand Your Ground Act," eliminates the requirement to retreat when using self-defense outside one's home and expands the definition of "dwelling" to include temporary living spaces like hotels, tents, and vehicles. It creates a legal presumption that a person using force in self-defense reasonably believed it was necessary, shifting the burden to prosecutors to prove otherwise. The bill affects all Minnesotans using self-defense in public or non-home settings and amends Minnesota Statutes sections 609.06 and 609.065. It takes effect August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $35 million from state bond proceeds specifically for Minnesota town roads and bridges. $25 million is allocated for town roads and $10 million for town bridges, to be distributed by the commissioner of transportation per existing rules (Minnesota Statutes §162.081). The state will issue up to $35 million in bonds to fund this appropriation, following established bond procedures under Minnesota law. The funding directly affects local town governments responsible for maintaining roads and bridges within their jurisdictions. The bill becomes effective upon final enactment.

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 2933 appropriates $7.5 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to provide operating assistance to transit systems in Greater Minnesota (outside the Twin Cities metro area). The funding replaces local contributions when those fall below specified percentages under state law, ensuring transit systems receive necessary operating support. This one-time appropriation is available until June 30, 2027, and must be used as direct operating assistance under Minnesota Statutes §174.24.

Maddy summaryHF 2885 allows school staff with valid firearm permits and completed training to carry weapons on school property. It requires the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to provide free annual active shooter training to eligible teachers and employees at public, charter, and postsecondary schools. The bill amends Minnesota law to clarify that permitted school staff carrying firearms on campus will not face misdemeanor charges under existing school property firearm restrictions. This directly affects certified school staff who hold current permit-to-carry licenses and complete the mandated training program. The policy changes focus on modifying penalties for permitted staff while maintaining restrictions for others on school grounds.

Maddy summaryHF 1840 amends Minnesota Statutes section 200.031 to establish a specific standard for determining the residence of individuals under civil commitment orders. It states that such individuals' residence is defined as their last known residential address prior to the commitment order, rather than their current location in a facility. This change directly affects people subject to civil commitment under chapters 253B or 253D of Minnesota law. The bill updates the existing voting residence rules to clarify that commitment status does not automatically change an individual's voting residence. This is a technical amendment to existing election law, not a new policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill forgives a penalty that withheld the city of Alpha's 2023 local government aid payment, requiring the city to have submitted its 2022 financial report by June 1, 2025. The state auditor must certify receipt of this report to the commissioner of revenue, who will then pay $18,472 to Alpha by June 30, 2025. The funds come from a one-time appropriation in the 2025 general fund. This is a specific, one-time adjustment for Alpha’s 2023 aid, not a broader policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill reverses a penalty on the city of Alpha's 2023 local government aid payment, requiring the state to pay $18,472 if Alpha submitted its 2022 financial report by June 1, 2025. The payment is funded by a one-time appropriation from the general fund, with the commissioner of revenue required to make the payment by June 30, 2025. It directly affects only the city of Alpha and provides a specific correction to a withheld aid payment.

Maddy summaryHF 2798 modifies Minnesota's rules for escort vehicles required when transporting overdimensional loads. It eliminates the need for escorts on loads 15 feet wide or less at the bottom (or 16 feet at the top), while specifying one rear escort for wider loads on divided roads and one lead plus one rear escort on undivided roads. The bill also gives the transportation commissioner authority to require additional escorts or peace officer escorts in specific safety situations, and to allow non-officer "escort drivers" if carriers establish alternative safety measures. These changes take effect July 1, 2025, directly impacting commercial trucking companies transporting oversized cargo in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 2192 eliminates Minnesota's North Star Promise scholarship program and redirects any unspent funds from its special revenue account to the state grant program. The bill repeals the program's funding statute (Minnesota Statutes §136A.1465) and requires transferring unencumbered balances to the state grant program by July 2025, with the account closed by August 2025. This affects future scholarship recipients who would have qualified for North Star Promise, as the program will no longer provide aid starting fall 2025. The state grant program will now receive these redirected funds, though the bill does not create new scholarship eligibility or funding.