Rep. Bjorn Olson

Maddy summaryHF 3532 expands eligibility for burial in Minnesota state veterans cemeteries to include honorably discharged National Guard members and other reserve component veterans, along with their spouses and dependent children. It modifies existing rules to explicitly cover these new groups while maintaining fee-free burial for active-duty service members and veterans as defined by federal law. The bill also establishes a fee schedule for the new eligibility group and requires the Veterans Affairs commissioner to create a policy for waiving fees for indigent applicants. These changes directly affect National Guard/reserve veterans and their families seeking burial in state cemeteries.

Maddy summaryHF 3685 creates a new high school diploma option for Minnesota veterans who did not complete high school before joining the military. It allows the state education commissioner to award a standard diploma based on military service experience to veterans who: (1) served in the Korean Conflict, Vietnam War, or left school before graduation to join active duty; (2) are Minnesota residents or former residents with an honorable discharge; and (3) apply through a joint process with the Education and Veterans Affairs departments. The bill directly affects veterans who left school early for military service but have not earned a high school diploma. It establishes concrete eligibility criteria and an application pathway without altering existing diploma requirements for other students.

Maddy summaryHF 3169 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Transportation to study and develop suicide prevention methods for new bridge construction, focusing on barriers like nets or physical structures. The bill mandates a study completed by January 2026 to identify high-risk bridges, evaluate prevention methods, assess costs, and involve health, public safety, and nonprofit groups. Starting January 2026, the commissioner must incorporate these methods into major bridge projects and report annually on implementation. The bill appropriates $750,000 for the study and planning, with funds available through June 2028.

Maddy summaryHF 226 allocates $21.62 million in state bond funds to support historic preservation across Minnesota. The bill directs $13.67 million for capital improvements at state historic sites (including buildings, exhibits, and landscaping), $6.7 million for enhancements to the Minnesota History Center, and $1.25 million in matching grants to counties and local jurisdictions for historic preservation projects. These funds will be used to maintain, improve access to, and preserve historical sites and collections under the Minnesota Historical Society's oversight. The bond authorization takes effect upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new 100% tax on money obtained through fraud by individuals or organizations, regardless of whether they have already paid fines or restitution. It applies to those convicted by a court, those identified by the state revenue commissioner as having committed fraud, and anyone paid to help facilitate such fraudulent activities. The revenue collected from this tax must be used exclusively to provide relief for state income or property taxes. The law takes effect retroactively for fraud cases determined after December 31, 2019.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Minnesota School Safety Center to create and distribute evidence-based model safety plans for K-12 schools, requiring districts to adopt similar plans by May 2028. It establishes strict criteria for what counts as "evidence-based," mandating that safety strategies be backed by strong research or well-designed studies before they are implemented. The legislation also enables anonymous threat reporting systems in schools and requires the safety center to consult with licensed mental health professionals when developing these plans. Additionally, the bill modifies grant programs for school buildings and cybersecurity while increasing funding for safe schools initiatives.

Maddy summaryHF 3513 defines key terms for autonomous vehicles in Minnesota Statutes, establishing a regulatory foundation for future rules. It adds definitions for terms like "automated driving system" (level 4/5 vehicles), "dynamic driving task," "minimal risk condition," and "on-demand autonomous vehicle network" to clarify operational standards. The bill does not impose new restrictions or requirements but creates the terminology needed for future legislation governing autonomous vehicle safety and operation. This procedural update prepares Minnesota’s legal framework for regulating self-driving technology as it develops.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires nonemergency medical transportation providers in Minnesota to equip their vehicles with global positioning systems and rear-facing cameras, while also mandating that they compile trip information and keep recordings for two years. The law applies to private and public transportation companies that carry Minnesota health care program beneficiaries to medical appointments, but exempts public transit systems, volunteer drivers, and not-for-hire vehicles. Providers must also comply with existing wheelchair securement standards and background check requirements for their drivers, with the commissioner of transportation responsible for enforcing these safety and operational rules. The bill amends current statutes to establish these new technical and data retention standards for vehicles used in medical transportation services.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota calculates registration taxes for passenger cars and hearses by lowering the tax rate based on the vehicle's manufacturer's suggested retail price. It changes the tax calculation for new vehicles registered on or after November 16, 2020, and reduces the percentage of the vehicle's value taxed for each subsequent year of ownership. The legislation also establishes a process to transfer money from the state's general fund to the highway user tax distribution fund to cover any revenue shortfall caused by these tax reductions.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota handles background checks and maltreatment investigations for child care centers. It requires the state commissioner to notify child care license holders when a background study reveals an individual has been responsible for maltreating a minor, even if the person is not disqualified from working with children. Additionally, the bill makes child care center directors and license holders responsible for systemic maltreatment that occurs over more than one month or in more than two instances, requiring written documentation of these findings. The legislation also clarifies notification procedures for when individuals pose risks of harm, specifying different requirements based on the level of risk and whether continuous supervision is needed.