Rep. Andy Smith

Maddy summaryHF 2380 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in services, programs, or activities receiving state funding in Minnesota. It directly affects public and private entities (like schools, hospitals, and businesses) that receive state money. The bill requires these entities to provide reasonable accommodations and bans exclusion or denial of benefits due to disability. It also specifically prohibits businesses from banning service animals or charging extra fees for them, defining "disability" broadly to include conditions substantially limiting major life activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Greenhouse Gas Pollution Superfund in Minnesota to address climate change impacts. It establishes a program that requires fossil fuel companies responsible for over one billion metric tons of emissions between 1995 and 2026 to pay into a dedicated account. The collected funds will be used to finance climate change adaptation projects for state, local, and Tribal governments, as well as for disadvantaged communities. The bill defines specific terms like "responsible party" and "covered greenhouse gas emissions" to determine which companies must contribute and what types of projects can receive funding.

Maddy summaryHF 3658 modifies Minnesota's process for extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs), which are temporary court orders preventing individuals deemed a threat from accessing firearms. The bill expands who can file petitions - including law enforcement agencies, family/household members, and guardians - while clarifying definitions of "family or household members" and requiring specific evidence in petitions. Key changes include waiving court filing fees, mandating mental health professionals to report firearm-related suicide risks to law enforcement, and requiring courts to notify law enforcement and update background checks within 24 hours of issuing an order. These changes aim to streamline access to ERPOs for at-risk individuals and improve enforcement coordination.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Minnesota municipalities from signing nondisclosure agreements that prevent them from sharing information about projects funded with public money. It directly affects local governments, including cities, counties, school districts, and other political subdivisions that manage public funds. The law makes any such restrictive contracts automatically unenforceable and requires municipalities to publicly disclose any agreements that violate this rule. The provision specifically covers projects involving land development, economic initiatives, tax revenues, bonds, and other debt obligations.

Maddy summaryHF 3624 appropriates $5,392,000 from the general fund for Minnesota's food shelf programs in fiscal year 2027. The funding, added to the base allocation, supports existing food shelf operations under Minnesota Statutes section 142F.14, administered by the state agency for children, youth, and families. This bill directly affects community food shelves that provide emergency food assistance to Minnesotans in need, without changing program eligibility or creating new requirements. The measure focuses solely on providing dedicated state funding for current food shelf services.

Maddy summaryHF 3586 establishes a $10 million annual grant program for regional food banks and Minnesota Tribal governments in Minnesota, funded through the general fund for fiscal years 2027-2029. The program distributes funds based on poverty and unemployment data in each area, requiring grantees to use money for purchasing, transporting, and distributing food and hygiene products (like diapers) at no cost to recipients. Funds cannot cover staff salaries or other ineligible expenses, and grantees must report spending and maintain records for oversight. This bill directly supports food banks serving low-income individuals and families by expanding access to essential food and hygiene supplies.

Maddy summaryHF 2700 modifies Minnesota's Consumer Data Privacy Act by explicitly classifying consumer health data as a type of sensitive data requiring heightened protections. The bill adds new consent requirements for businesses processing health information and strengthens safeguards for all sensitive data, including health, genetic, and biometric information. It directly affects Minnesota residents whose health data is collected by businesses and requires those businesses to obtain clear, specific consent before using such data. The law amends key sections of Minnesota Statutes (325M.11-325M.20) to implement these changes, repealing the previous section that defined health data protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's tax exemption rules for data centers by creating a new category for large-scale facilities and updating the definition of enterprise information technology equipment. It directly affects businesses constructing or operating data centers in the state by changing the financial thresholds required to qualify for sales tax exemptions on equipment and software. The legislation defines a qualified large-scale data center as a facility with at least 25,000 square feet and a minimum investment of $250 million over 60 months, while also clarifying what counts as enterprise information technology equipment for tax purposes. These changes will take effect on July 1, 2026, and apply to purchases made after that date.

Maddy summaryHF 2904 requires certain Minnesota school employers - including school districts, charter schools, and vocational education centers - to join the state's public employees insurance program. It establishes an "educator group insurance program" specifically for school employees, mandating coverage tiers that match existing school employee pool options and including high-deductible plans. The bill creates a labor management committee with 12 members (including seven from Education Minnesota and representatives from unions and school administrators) to study program issues like cost efficiency. It also requires mutual agreement between the commissioner and the committee before changing cost-sharing plans. This bill directly affects school employees and their employers by integrating them into the state's insurance framework with specific administrative structures.

Maddy summaryHF 3476 establishes Minnesota's Patient-Centered Care program, which directly affects medical assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees by changing how healthcare providers are paid. The bill requires the state to pay healthcare providers directly for services (instead of through managed care plans), authorizes contracting with administrative organizations for tasks like claims processing (without financial risk), and mandates care coordination services. Key provisions include fee-for-service payments to providers, flat payments for primary care coordination, and funding for community outreach to help vulnerable patients access care. This replaces existing managed care contracts and aims to improve health outcomes while increasing transparency for public health programs.