Rep. Peggy Bennett

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 1983 allocates $5 million from the general fund for grants to Minnesota organizations developing early-stage commercial markets for continuous living cover crops and related systems (like Kernza grain, elderberry, and regenerative poultry systems). The grants, administered jointly by the employment and agriculture commissioners, must support new enterprises and supply chains without duplicating funding from other agencies in the same year. By January 15, 2027, the commissioner must submit a report detailing grant usage, including administrative costs. This one-time appropriation directly affects agricultural innovators and businesses working to scale these specific crop systems in Minnesota.

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 summaryThis bill appropriates $238,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $238,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to support the Minnesota Helmets to Hardhats program. The funds will help Building Strong Communities connect National Guard members, military reservists, active duty personnel, and veterans to construction industry apprenticeships and career training through the Department of Labor and Industry. The program must not discriminate based on protected characteristics like race, religion, or gender. It directly affects military-connected individuals seeking careers in building and construction trades.

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 1457 prohibits the construction of new public and charter schools within one-quarter mile of specific contaminated sites, including closed landfills listed by Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency or identified dump sites from historical records. The bill directly affects school districts and developers planning new educational facilities by requiring them to avoid these locations. Key provisions define "closed landfill" as sites on the Pollution Control Agency's contamination list and "dump site" as unpermitted waste disposal areas documented in a 2001 study or identified by county officials. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, aiming to prevent new schools from being built on potentially hazardous land.

Maddy summaryHF 1493 clarifies Minnesota's requirements for schools to support students' career and college readiness. It mandates that schools annually help students in grade 9 and above explore college or career paths using regional job market data, developing individualized plans for their future. The bill requires schools to record student progress toward career and college readiness on high school transcripts for students in grade 8 and later, and establishes clear benchmarks to ensure students are prepared for college or careers without needing remedial courses. These changes apply to Minnesota public school districts and take effect on July 1, 2025.

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.

Maddy summaryHF 1018 proposes adding a new section to the Minnesota Constitution that would establish parents' right to direct their child's education as a fundamental liberty. It specifically guarantees parents the right to choose private, religious, or home schooling as alternatives to public school, and the right to make reasonable educational choices within public schools. The proposed amendment would require voter approval at the 2026 general election, with the ballot question asking whether the state constitution should protect these parental rights. If passed, this would change Minnesota's constitutional framework, not current education laws.