Rep. Peggy Bennett

Maddy summaryHF 2153 provides a refundable sales and use tax exemption for construction materials used in ice rinks within Albert Lea, Minnesota. It directly affects contractors and businesses purchasing materials for new, renovated, or expanded ice rinks in the city between April 9, 2024, and January 1, 2027. The bill requires taxes to be collected upfront but then refunded through the same process used for other qualifying projects, with refunds only issued after June 30, 2024. The exemption applies retroactively to eligible purchases made after April 9, 2024.

Maddy summaryHF 840 removes burial fees at Minnesota state veterans cemeteries for spouses and dependent children of eligible veterans. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 197.236, subdivision 9, to eliminate the requirement for fees on these family members, ensuring they can be buried without cost. This directly affects spouses and dependents of veterans who qualify for state veterans cemetery benefits under current law. The change applies to all eligible veterans' families, not just those who are indigent, and updates the fee schedule provisions to reflect this policy shift.

Maddy summaryHF 2050 establishes a temporary $12.35 per resident day payment increase for nursing facilities in Minnesota that receive state reimbursement under Chapter 256R of Minnesota Statutes. This rate add-on applies from July 1, 2025 (or after federal approval, whichever is later) through June 30, 2026. The bill directly affects nursing facilities providing long-term care services, increasing their reimbursement rates during this specific period. The change is a temporary funding adjustment with no ongoing policy impact beyond the specified expiration date.

Maddy summaryHF 1436 modifies Minnesota's student discipline laws to reduce exclusions, particularly for young children. It prohibits schools from dismissing students in preschool/prekindergarten or kindergarten through grade 3 (except for short-term removals or safety threats), and requires schools to first try non-exclusionary approaches before considering dismissal. School boards must establish clear policies emphasizing prevention, provide adequate alternative educational services for students during disciplinary periods, and ensure progress toward graduation standards. These changes, effective July 1, 2025, apply to all public schools and school districts in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 779 creates a new option for Minnesota taxpayers to receive half of their education credit amount as an advance payment before filing their annual tax return. It directly affects taxpayers who qualify for the education credit, particularly those with qualifying children, by allowing early access to funds (up to $750 per child) while requiring them to certify awareness that insufficient education expenses could increase their tax liability. The bill also prohibits transferring or selling education credits to others (disallowing credit assignments) and mandates a 2027 report evaluating the feasibility of delivering these advance payments via electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards, including cost analysis and pros/cons. These changes amend Minnesota's tax code to modify how education credits are distributed and administered.

Maddy summaryHF 11 delays the implementation of Minnesota's Paid Leave Law from 2026 to 2027, affecting employers, employees, and state agencies responsible for administering the program. The bill amends multiple statute sections to adjust key dates, including the start of employer premium payments (now January 1, 2027) and administrative requirements like public outreach and annual reporting. This one-year delay provides additional time for businesses to prepare for the new paid leave program without changing the law's core requirements. The law's substance - such as premium rates and fund management - remains unchanged, only the rollout timeline is extended.

Maddy summaryHF 1057 modifies Minnesota's definition of "employee" for earned sick and safe time benefits. It explicitly excludes certain workers, including independent contractors, specific emergency service personnel (like volunteer firefighters and ambulance attendants), elected officials, and farm workers under limited conditions. Farm workers are excluded if employed by a small farm (5 or fewer employees) or if their work totals 28 days or less per year. This change directly affects these excluded groups by determining who qualifies for the state's sick and safe time protections.

Maddy summaryHF 877 amends Minnesota's Read Act to define "evidence-based" reading instruction as science-based, explicitly excluding the three-cueing system. It requires school districts to use approved literacy screeners and intervention models, and mandates the Department of Education to develop a literacy plan template and approve evidence-based intervention models by June 2025. The bill also cancels specific appropriations related to Read Act implementation. These changes take effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting Minnesota public schools, educators, and literacy programs.

Maddy summaryHF 1492 clarifies a requirement in Minnesota law for the commissioner of education to annually report to the public and legislature about best practices used in schools identified as high performing under federal standards. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 120B.35 to ensure the reporting language is precise and consistent, without changing the existing obligation. This affects the commissioner of education, who must follow the clarified process when preparing these annual reports. The change takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 3 requires Minnesota's legislative auditor to annually report to the legislature by February 1 on whether state agencies have implemented audit recommendations from the prior five years. The bill mandates that agencies' commissioners must also submit detailed reports by September 1 each year, specifically itemizing unaddressed recommendations and explaining why they weren't implemented. This directly affects all state agencies subject to legislative auditor reviews and their commissioners, who must now document progress on audit findings. The law creates a structured process for tracking accountability without altering agency funding or creating new programs.