Rep. Terry Stier

Maddy summaryHF 654 amends Minnesota's PFAS ban to exempt safety-related items (like helmets, boots, and eye protection) used by juveniles operating all-terrain vehicles or dirt bikes. It allows PFAS in these specific safety products, which are otherwise prohibited under Minnesota Statutes § 116.943, but requires manufacturers to display a permanent warning label stating: "This product contains intentionally added PFAS..." The exemption applies only to safety accessories designed for juvenile operators and does not affect the general ban on PFAS in other juvenile products. This bill directly affects manufacturers and sellers of juvenile ATV/dirt bike safety gear.

Maddy summaryHF 1875 restricts social media access for minors in Minnesota. It prohibits social media platforms from allowing children under 14 to create accounts, requiring immediate termination of existing accounts (with a 90-day dispute period) and permanent deletion of personal data. For 14-15 year olds, platforms must obtain parental consent for account creation or maintenance; without consent, accounts must be terminated after 90 days. The bill also requires anonymous age verification for websites deemed harmful to minors, meaning platforms must confirm a user’s age without collecting personal information. These rules apply to platforms meeting specific criteria, including features like infinite scrolling or autoplay.

Maddy summaryHF 1828 implements recommendations from the state auditor's fire relief association working group by requiring Minnesota firefighters' relief associations to prepare detailed annual financial statements. These statements must show all income, expenses, assets, and liabilities in a format set by the state auditor and be certified by an independent CPA with at least five years of public accounting experience (not affiliated with the association). The associations must submit these certified statements to the state auditor by June 30 each year, with the requirement effective January 1, 2026. The bill directly affects all firefighters' relief associations operating under Minnesota law.

Maddy summaryHF 1874 requires a lifetime ban on operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) for drivers who use a CMV to commit specific felony offenses. The ban applies to crimes involving controlled substances (like drug trafficking) or forced labor/human trafficking offenses. This law, effective August 1, 2025, also imposes civil penalties for such violations. It directly affects commercial drivers convicted of these crimes by permanently prohibiting them from operating CMVs.

Maddy summaryHF 1881 appropriates $11.5 million from state bond proceeds to fund a centralized public safety center in New Prague. The bill requires the city to secure at least $11.5 million in nonstate funding before state money becomes available, then uses state bonds to cover the remaining cost. The center will expand the existing fire hall to provide integrated fire, police, and ambulance services for New Prague and surrounding communities. The legislation authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $11.5 million under Minnesota's bond statutes to finance this project. This directly affects New Prague's public safety operations and the communities it serves.

Maddy summaryHF 924 amends Minnesota law to allow retired peace officers to possess firearms in the Capitol complex, directly affecting retired law enforcement personnel who previously may have faced restrictions. The bill updates Section 609.66 of Minnesota Statutes by adding retired peace officers to an existing exception (under federal law § 926C) for firearm possession in Capitol Area buildings, alongside active officers and others with specific permissions. This change applies to all state buildings within the Capitol Area described in Chapter 15B, excluding the National Guard Armory, and takes effect August 1, 2025. The policy modifies existing felony prohibitions without altering general firearm laws or creating new permit requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 1374 amends Minnesota's eligibility rules for the Challenge Incarceration Program, which allows certain incarcerated individuals to serve part of their sentence in a community-based setting. The bill adds specific categories of people who can no longer participate, including those convicted of violent crimes involving death or injury (like murder or assault), recent sex offenses, or crimes requiring sex offender registration. It also bars individuals with active warrants, less than 180 days left on their sentence, recent disciplinary issues in prison, or suspended disciplinary sanctions. The changes directly affect incarcerated Minnesotans seeking to transition to community supervision through this program.

Maddy summaryHF 540 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Administration to submit a report by February 15, 2026, detailing all state-owned or leased office space and identifying substantially vacant properties. The report must assess the feasibility of converting vacant space into housing, estimate conversion costs, and analyze potential revenue from renting or selling repurposed properties. This report will be provided to specific legislative committees overseeing the Department of Administration's budget. The bill does not change existing laws but mandates a study to evaluate underutilized state assets. (HF 540, Section 1)

Maddy summaryHF 543 appropriates state funds for county attorney offices to cover costs of attending anti-human trafficking training. The bill allocates money from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to reimburse all participating Minnesota county attorney offices equally for training expenses. This provides direct financial support to county prosecutors who handle human trafficking cases, ensuring consistent access to specialized training resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a provision in Minnesota law that previously barred charging individuals with attempting sexual extortion. It allows prosecutors to file attempt charges for sexual extortion attempts, which were previously unchargeable under Minnesota Statutes 609.3458, subdivision 3. The change applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025, directly affecting individuals who make threats to coerce sexual acts without completing the act. This policy shift enables legal accountability for preparatory acts in sexual extortion cases.