Rep. Patty Mueller

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 1966 appropriates $55,000 annually from the general fund to the Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs for its STARS program, starting July 1, 2025. The funding supports students in alternative education programs by helping them develop employment, academic, and social skills through trainings and conferences. It directly affects students in alternative programs across Minnesota who participate in the STARS initiative. The bill establishes a base annual appropriation of $55,000 for fiscal years 2026 through 2027 and beyond, with specific funding amounts designated for those years.

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 1523 exempts certain agricultural workers from Minnesota's Paid Leave Law. Specifically, it excludes workers employed by a farmer, family farm, or family farm corporation who either work for a farm with five or fewer total employees, or work on the farm for 28 days or fewer each year. This amendment to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 268B.01, directly affects small-scale farm workers who meet these criteria. The bill clarifies that these workers are not covered by the state's paid leave requirements, while other agricultural workers remain subject to the law.

Maddy summaryHF 1543 appropriates $450,000 annually (2026-2027) to the Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota to provide free, evidence-based literacy interventions for students reading below grade level in public schools where most students qualify for free/reduced-price meals. The funds must cover tutor training, materials, program delivery, and administration. The Institute is required to submit annual reports to education committees by January 15 each year (until 2028), detailing how funds were used and progress in improving student literacy. This bill directly supports struggling readers in high-need school districts through targeted funding and accountability.

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 1566 requires landlords in Minnesota to make reasonable safety modifications for tenants with children who have autism, specifically when hazards like lakes, rivers, or other water bodies are near rental properties. Tenants must request these accommodations, and landlords can ask for documentation unless the child's condition is obvious. Landlords cannot retaliate against tenants making such requests and must adjust policies or property features to protect the child, unless the change would fundamentally alter the property. This bill directly affects tenants with autistic children and their landlords in rental housing.

Maddy summaryHF 661 appropriates $750,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $750,000 for fiscal year 2027 from Minnesota's workforce development fund to provide grants to Bridges to Healthcare. The funding supports career training and job skills programs in high-demand healthcare fields for low-income parents, non-native English speakers, and other hard-to-train individuals. Grant funds cover program expenses like instructor salaries, facility rentals, and essential support services including childcare, transportation, and housing assistance to help participants complete training. This directly addresses workforce shortages in healthcare while helping participants build stable careers and improve economic security.

Maddy summaryHF 1381 modifies Minnesota's teacher licensing rules to exempt certain special education teaching permissions from renewal limits. Specifically, it states that out-of-field permissions allowing teachers to instruct in special education assignments between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2030, will not count toward any cap on how many times such permissions can be renewed. This directly affects licensed teachers in special education programs who need to teach outside their primary certification area during this five-year period. The change aims to provide flexibility for school districts to meet student needs in special education without being restricted by previous renewal limits for these specific assignments.

Maddy summaryThis bill would authorize the city of Austin to impose a 0.5% local sales and use tax, subject to voter approval, to fund a new law enforcement center and related costs. The tax revenue must cover the center's construction and operation (up to $25 million plus bond costs) and the city's tax collection expenses. The tax would expire after 14 years or once the $25 million funding goal is met, whichever occurs first, and would not count toward the city's debt limits. It would be in addition to existing local sales taxes.