Rep. Duane Quam

Maddy summaryHF 1664 requires county auditors, municipal clerks, and school district clerks to livestream all ballot board activities during absentee voting, election day, and the following day if processing absentee ballots. Specific activities like examining envelopes, opening ballots, depositing ballots, and counting must be recorded using cameras positioned to show board members, ballots, and room doors while avoiding private data. The Commissioner of Information Technology Services must provide this livestreaming service free of charge, retain recordings for 22 months, and make them publicly accessible online. The bill appropriates funding for implementation starting in fiscal year 2026 and applies to elections on or after September 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1495 allows candidates, their representatives, and political parties to observe absentee ballot processing and recounts in Minnesota. The bill specifies that candidates may have one representative present during absentee ballot envelope acceptance/rejection and one additional representative when ballots are opened and counted. During recounts, candidates may have one representative observe ballot sorting and one additional for counting, with all observation occurring in designated public viewing areas. The bill requires election officials to ensure observers do not interfere with ballot handling while maintaining transparency in these specific election procedures.

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 1494 requires voters who register on election day to cast provisional ballots instead of regular ballots. This applies to anyone registering in person at their polling place on election day, who must provide proof of residence and complete a registration application with an oath. The bill amends several election statutes to implement this change, including updating provisions about election day registration procedures. It directly affects voters registering for the first time or updating their registration on election day, ensuring their ballots are processed as provisional until verified. The bill makes technical changes to election law to align with this new requirement.

Maddy summaryHF 1447 amends Minnesota campaign finance law to require disclosure of donors who contribute $200 or less and live outside the district represented by a legislative candidate. Currently, small donors within a candidate's district are exempt from full disclosure; this bill eliminates that exemption for out-of-district small donors. The key provision adds these contributors to public campaign finance reports, listing their name, address, employer, and contribution amount/date. It directly affects candidates running for Minnesota House or Senate seats, increasing transparency about local campaign funding sources. The change applies to all contributions under $200 from non-local donors, regardless of the candidate's district.

Maddy summaryHF 1235 classifies specific voter registration data as private, directly affecting Minnesota voters whose personal information is now protected. The bill defines private data to include dates of birth, driver's license numbers, Social Security numbers (or parts of them), military IDs, and passport numbers - previously considered public. It also allows voters to request name withholding for safety reasons and requires anyone accessing voter lists to sign a written pledge not to use the data for non-election, non-political, or non-law enforcement purposes. Additionally, the bill prohibits publishing voter data online in searchable formats like databases. These changes update Minnesota’s election laws to restrict public access to sensitive voter details while maintaining core election-related transparency.

Maddy summaryHF 1236 removes the legal authority for public sector unions in Minnesota to require non-members to pay "fair share fees" for collective bargaining services. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to eliminate provisions allowing these fees and repeals related sections of law. As a result, public employees not in a union but covered by a collective bargaining agreement will no longer be required to pay such fees. This change directly affects non-union public sector workers in Minnesota who were previously subject to this fee structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies reimbursement rules for ambulance services in Minnesota covering volunteer ambulance attendants' education costs. It sets specific reimbursement amounts: $1,200 for initial EMT training, $400 for continuing EMT courses, $600 for initial EMR training, and $200 for continuing EMR courses. Eligible ambulance services must have handled 5,000 or fewer emergency calls in the prior year. The bill appropriates $100,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund these reimbursements under Minnesota Statutes §144E.35.

Maddy summaryHF 1238 requires Minnesota colleges receiving state student aid to publicly disclose career-related information for each four-year degree program. Specifically, institutions must provide details on local job availability, median earnings, and whether advanced degrees are needed for jobs in each major, all posted on their websites. This applies only to schools offering four-year degrees and eligible for state student aid under current law. The bill mandates this information be easily accessible online, with links prominently featured on institution websites and catalogs.

Maddy summaryHF 638 prohibits Minnesota cities, counties, townships, and school districts from adopting or enforcing ranked-choice voting (RCV) for local elections. The bill defines RCV as any system where voters rank candidates by preference, and states that any local rules conflicting with this prohibition are void. It directly affects all local governments seeking to implement RCV for local offices, preventing them from using this voting method. The law takes effect after enactment and applies to future elections. This is a policy change restricting local election method choices, not a procedural or commemorative measure.