Rep. Duane Quam

Maddy summaryHF 58 prohibits Minnesota public schools and state universities from teaching or promoting nine specific concepts labeled as "racist or sexist," including ideas that one race or sex is inherently superior, individuals bear responsibility for past actions of their race/sex, or merit-based systems are inherently racist. It directly affects school districts, charter schools, and state colleges/universities by banning them from requiring students to engage with materials promoting these concepts or penalizing students for refusing to adopt them. The bill creates a private right for Minnesota residents to sue schools or universities that violate these provisions, with potential consequences including loss of state funding for the following fiscal year and court-awarded attorney fees. This legislation establishes concrete policy changes to restrict certain classroom content and enables legal action against educational institutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates "Immigrant Worker Enterprise Zones" in Minnesota to address labor shortages by attracting immigrant workers to specific areas. The commissioner will identify these zones based on regional labor needs, immigrant workforce data, and required community services like housing and healthcare. It also requires state/local law enforcement to hold individuals for up to 48 hours when federal immigration detainers are issued, regardless of bail eligibility. The bill appropriates funds for fiscal year 2026 to support these zones through the commissioner of employment and economic development. The policy directly affects immigrant workers seeking employment, employers in designated zones, and local law enforcement agencies.

Maddy summaryHF 143 creates a legal exemption allowing businesses or organizations to refuse specific services (like wedding planning or adoption services) if providing them conflicts with their sincerely held religious beliefs, without facing civil or criminal penalties. The bill directly affects entities providing services covered under Minnesota's Human Rights Act (Chapter 363A), overriding that law to permit such refusals. Key provisions state that no penalty applies for refusing services or denying property use for activities prohibited by the entity's religious beliefs. This applies to any "person, organization, or entity" and explicitly supersedes existing state laws to the contrary.

Maddy summaryHF 273 establishes the "Student Religious Liberties Act" in Minnesota, requiring public school districts to treat religious expression the same as secular expression. It prohibits discrimination against students based on religious viewpoints in assignments (like homework or art), classroom activities, and school clubs, ensuring religious content isn’t penalized or rewarded. Schools must create a "limited public forum" for student speech at events, provide disclaimers stating the district doesn’t endorse student views, and allow religious groups equal access to facilities as nonreligious groups. The law directly affects public school students, parents, and school districts, mandating policy changes to ensure religious expression is handled neutrally under academic standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires voters in Minnesota to present a government-issued photo identification card to register to vote and to cast a ballot in person. To support this requirement, the legislation creates a new state voter identification card and mandates that counties waive fees for certified vital records, such as birth certificates, when those documents are needed to obtain the ID. The bill also establishes a process for provisional ballots for voters who cannot produce the required ID on election day and directs the state to report on the number of records issued and the funds appropriated for this program.