Rep. Terry Stier

Maddy summaryHF 1341 designates January 9 as Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in Minnesota, requiring the governor to issue an annual proclamation. It encourages school districts to partner with law enforcement agencies to create middle and high school "explorer" programs about law enforcement careers, which may count as course credit. The bill appropriates $6 million for 2026-2027 to reimburse agencies for peace officer training and $1 million for 2026 to fund pathway-to-policing programs that help recruit diverse candidates through local government grants. These provisions directly affect schools, law enforcement agencies, and local governments by supporting career education and training funding.

Maddy summaryHF 2420 establishes the Commission on Government Efficiency and Ethics to investigate allegations of fraud in state-funded programs and undisclosed legislative conflicts of interest. The commission will maintain an anonymous hotline and website for reporting, offer up to $5,000 rewards for reports leading to convictions or expulsions, and conduct investigations or forensic audits of state agencies. It requires public officials and entities handling public funds to cooperate with investigations and must report credible fraud evidence to law enforcement or legislative committees. The commission also submits annual reports with recommendations to prevent fraud and conflicts of interest. This bill directly affects state program administrators, legislators, and any individuals reporting misconduct.

Maddy summaryHF 897 amends Minnesota law to prohibit exposing children and vulnerable adults to fentanyl, methamphetamine, or related substances in specific locations. It makes it illegal for anyone to knowingly cause or permit such exposure in places like homes, public buildings, or overnight accommodations where children or vulnerable adults might be present. The bill adds criminal penalties for violations, including for exposing individuals to fentanyl (newly specified in the amendment) or methamphetamine-related materials. This directly affects caregivers, property owners, and anyone in environments where children or vulnerable adults could be present.

Maddy summaryHF 2448 prohibits counties, cities, and towns in Minnesota from banning the sale of flavored tobacco products, such as those with fruit, chocolate, mint, or candy flavors. It amends Minnesota Statutes to state that local governments may not enact ordinances that ban these products or create regulations making their sale impossible within their boundaries. The bill specifically defines "flavored products" as tobacco or nicotine products with non-tobacco tastes distinguishable before or during consumption. This law overrides any existing or future local ordinances attempting to restrict or ban such sales, while allowing local governments to maintain other tobacco sales regulations. The bill takes effect the day after final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 23 amends Minnesota Statutes section 181.932 to strengthen whistleblower protections for public employees. It expands the list of protected disclosures to include reporting gross mismanagement or waste of public funds (subsection 7), clarifies protections for health care quality concerns (subsection 4), and adds specific scenarios like reporting truthful scientific studies (subsection 5) or classified service communications about state services (subsection 6). These changes directly affect state and local government employees who report violations of law, safety risks, or financial misconduct. The bill modifies existing anti-retaliation language to explicitly cover these new disclosure types while maintaining that protected disclosures cannot override other legal data protections.

Maddy summaryHF 2168 increases penalties for motor vehicle theft under Minnesota Statutes § 609.52. The bill amends the statute to explicitly include "motor vehicle" as a circumstance triggering a higher penalty tier (up to 10 years in prison or $20,000 fine), previously not specifically listed under this level. This directly affects individuals convicted of stealing vehicles, moving such offenses to a more severe sentencing category. The change applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025, and modifies the existing penalty structure without changing other theft categories.

Maddy summaryHF 2170 defines "cell-cultured meat" and "cell-cultured poultry" as products grown from animal cells in a controlled environment, rather than from slaughtered animals. The bill requires food labels to clearly state when a product contains cell-cultured meat or poultry, and mandates restaurants to prominently indicate such items on menus. It amends Minnesota food labeling laws (sections 31.12 and 31.633) and updates definitions in food product statutes (section 31A.02) to include these products under "meat food product" and "poultry food product." This directly affects food manufacturers, retailers, and restaurants selling or serving cell-cultured meat or poultry products in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 2173 makes it a crime to approach or remain within 25 feet of police officers, firefighters, or ambulance personnel while they are performing emergency duties after receiving a verbal warning and with intent to interfere. The bill directly affects first responders by adding specific legal protection against obstruction during active emergencies. Key provisions require the person to know the individual's status as a first responder, have been warned verbally to stay back, and intend to hinder their work. This amendment to Minnesota Statutes section 609.50, effective August 1, 2025, criminalizes such behavior with penalties outlined in the statute.

Maddy summaryHF 24 amends Minnesota Statutes section 145.423 to require that infants born alive during an abortion be immediately recognized as human persons under the law and receive medical care. The bill mandates that medical personnel take "all reasonable measures consistent with good medical practice" to preserve the life and health of such infants, including compiling appropriate medical records. It directly affects healthcare providers performing abortions in Minnesota by establishing specific medical care obligations for infants born alive. The proposed changes would have taken effect the day after enactment, though the bill was not passed.

Maddy summaryHF 2179 appropriates $14.5 million for a State Patrol helicopter, $2.3 million for a Cirrus airplane, and $1.7 million annually for pilot staff and equipment costs, all from the trunk highway fund. These funds, available until June 2027, directly support the Minnesota State Patrol’s aircraft procurement and operational expenses. The bill provides specific, one-time funding for aircraft purchases and ongoing costs for pilot operations. It does not change laws or policies but allocates existing transportation funds for aviation needs. (Bill: HF 2179, Title: State Patrol aircraft purchases and operations funding provided, and money appropriated.)