Rep. Andy Smith

Maddy summaryHF 290 exempts specific health-related purchases made by public and private health plans from Minnesota's sales and use tax. It creates two new exemptions: (1) single-use medical items prescribed by a physician (like bandages or syringes), and (2) other items purchased under private health plans not already covered by existing exemptions. These changes apply to purchases made after June 30, 2025, and directly affect health plans purchasing these items. The bill modifies Minnesota Statutes 297A.67 to clarify which health care materials qualify for tax exemption.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's HF 1384 expands the state's dependent care credit and creates a new "Great Start child care credit" for families with young children. It directly affects Minnesota taxpayers with children under age six who pay for child care, including parents using family day care homes or not enrolled in employer-dependent care plans. The bill increases the credit amount for one qualifying child to a maximum of $600 and for two or more children to $1,200, with phaseouts for higher-income households. These changes apply to 2025 tax returns and reduce the tax liability for eligible families based on their child care expenses.

Maddy summaryHF 1705 appropriates $1.95 million annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the general fund to support Minnesota's farm-to-food shelf program. The funding, managed by Second Harvest Heartland, directly supports five Feeding America food banks in Minnesota by purchasing milk ($850,000/year), surplus produce from local farms, protein products (meat, eggs, etc.), and produce from The Good Acre. Key provisions require all food to come from Minnesota producers/processors, with specific allocation formulas for milk distribution and limits on administrative spending (up to 15% for surplus produce). The bill also mandates quarterly reports to the commissioner and legislative committees detailing fund usage, food purchased, and distribution to food shelves.

Maddy summaryHF 2144 appropriates unspecified funds from the general fund for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program under Minnesota Statutes § 462A.204, for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The bill directly affects families in Minnesota at risk of homelessness by providing funding for prevention and assistance services. Key provisions include directing the Housing Finance Agency to administer the program using these allocated funds. This is a funding bill with no new policy requirements, solely authorizing budget resources for an existing state program.

Maddy summaryHF 770 appropriates $30 million from state bond proceeds to fund specific agricultural loan programs administered by Minnesota's Rural Finance Authority. It directly affects Minnesota farmers by financing beginning farmer loans, seller-sponsored loans, agricultural improvement loans, and livestock expansion loans under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 41B. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $50.05 million in bonds, with debt service repaid by the Authority, and prioritizes funding first for beginning farmers, then seller-sponsored loans, and finally agricultural improvement loans.

Maddy summaryHF 1907 appropriates $3 million for fiscal year 2026 and $3 million for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to Youthprise. The funds must support economic development services aimed at improving long-term economic self-sufficiency in Minnesota communities with concentrated populations from the African diaspora. At least 50% of the money must be used for subgrants to organizations serving areas outside the seven-county metropolitan region. This is a one-time funding allocation, not an ongoing appropriation.

Maddy summaryHF 1565 designates July 6 as "Philando Castile Restoration Day" and July 7 as "Philando Castile Unity Day" each year to honor Philando Castile, a Saint Paul Public Schools nutrition supervisor killed by police in 2016. Restoration Day focuses on community connection, humility, and restoring relationships across differences, while Unity Day emphasizes collective remembrance of Castile and others lost to police violence. The bill requires the governor to issue annual proclamations for both observances. This measure directly affects Minnesotans by establishing formal annual commemorations centered on Castile’s legacy and community healing. It is a commemorative resolution with no new policy requirements beyond the designated dates and proclamations.

Maddy summaryHF 1762 proposes adding a new constitutional amendment to Minnesota's state constitution. If approved by voters, it would guarantee all persons equal rights under state law and prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, or sex - including protections for pregnancy decisions, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. The amendment would apply to all state actions and agencies, requiring any discriminatory state action to be the "least restrictive means" of achieving a "compelling governmental interest." The proposed amendment must be submitted to voters in the 2026 general election, with implementation starting January 1, 2027, if ratified.

Maddy summaryHF 1757 requires anyone who owns, possesses, or controls a firearm to report a loss or theft to local law enforcement within 48 hours. Failure to report can result in escalating penalties, starting with a minor offense for the first violation and increasing to a gross misdemeanor for repeated failures. The bill also provides immunity from prosecution for storage-related offenses if the report is made on time and mandates that law enforcement agencies report lost or stolen firearms to the state commissioner within seven days. Additionally, the bill appropriates $36,000 for a one-time implementation of a reporting system to support these requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 1750 establishes the Minnesota Civic Fund program, replacing the existing political contribution refund program. It allows donors to receive credits toward future political contributions instead of cash refunds, with political committees required to report redeemed credits. The bill amends campaign finance laws (Minnesota Statutes, chapters 10A and 10B) to define "contribution" to include Civic Fund credits and mandates reporting on credit redemptions. This directly affects political committees, candidates, and donors participating in Minnesota's campaign finance system.