Rep. Andy Smith

Maddy summaryHF 1760 exempts sales and use taxes on specific electric meters, software, and related components purchased for Rochester Public Utilities' Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project. The exemption applies to purchases made between July 1, 2024, and March 31, 2029, including retroactive refunds for taxes paid after June 30, 2024. Rochester Public Utilities and its vendors directly benefit from this tax break for qualifying equipment. The bill requires refunds to be processed through the state's existing tax refund system under Minnesota Statutes, section 297A.75.

Maddy summaryHF 1812 establishes a state-run Minnesota Health Plan to guarantee comprehensive, affordable health care for every Minnesota resident. The plan covers all necessary medical, dental, vision, mental health, and long-term care services without co-pays, with premiums based on income. It creates new state entities including the Minnesota Health Board, Health Fund, Office of Health Quality and Planning, a patient advocacy ombudsman, and an auditor for the plan. The bill also requests a federal waiver under the Affordable Care Act to modify certain health insurance requirements and appropriates funding for implementation.

Maddy summaryHF 1838 prohibits health insurance companies in Minnesota from using artificial intelligence in the "utilization review" process. This process determines whether health insurance will cover specific medical treatments or services before they are approved. The bill directly affects insurers and the organizations they hire to review medical claims, banning AI use in all aspects of these reviews, including initial evaluations and appeals. The law amends Minnesota Statutes to add this specific prohibition, requiring human review for coverage decisions.

Maddy summaryHF 34, the "Fair Competition Act," regulates monopolies and monopsonies (when one buyer dominates a market) in Minnesota. It prohibits businesses from using monopoly or monopsony power to control prices, fix rates, or exclude competition, and bans price discrimination. The law applies to businesses operating in Minnesota or affecting Minnesota commerce, with civil penalties up to $5 million for large corporations per violation. Enforcement is provided through the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and criminal penalties apply for willful violations of price-fixing or collusion provisions. The bill amends existing antitrust statutes (Minnesota Statutes 325D.49-325D.66) to add these specific prohibitions and penalty structures.

Maddy summaryHF 1006 allows Minnesota local governments to grant property tax abatements (temporary tax reductions) specifically for land bank organizations holding vacant, blighted, or foreclosed properties. It directly affects land banks - defined as nonprofits or affiliated LLCs managing such properties for future development - by adding "allowing the property to be held by a land bank organization for future development" as a valid reason for tax abatements under state law. The bill amends tax statutes to require that abatements for land bank properties last no longer than five years. This change aims to support land banks in stabilizing neighborhoods and preparing properties for redevelopment without long-term tax revenue loss for communities.

Maddy summaryHF 1359 increases funding for solid waste management by changing how fees collected from waste management are allocated. Starting in 2026, 7% of these fees will go to a resource management account (rising to 20% in 2027 and 30% after 2028), instead of the general fund. The funds must be distributed to counties for waste management programs under state law. This directly affects counties receiving these allocations and changes the percentage of fees dedicated to environmental resource management over time. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1350 modifies Minnesota's county veterans service office grant program by increasing funding based on each county's veteran population. Counties receive a base $7,500 grant plus supplemental amounts up to $20,000 depending on veteran population size (e.g., $10,000 for counties with 10,000-20,000 veterans). The bill appropriates $60,000 annually for fiscal years 2026-2027 to the Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers, allocating $20,000 each for specialized coordinators focused on women veterans, suicide prevention, and justice-involved veterans. These funds support training, administrative costs, and technical assistance to enhance veteran services statewide. The bill directly affects counties with veterans service offices and the statewide association.

Maddy summaryHF 1512 appropriates funding from the general fund for competitive research grants focused on sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC). The bill directs Minnesota's commissioner of health to award these grants to eligible Minnesota-based research facilities, universities, and health systems studying SUDC causes, risk factors, and prevention strategies. It requires annual reports starting in 2026 detailing grant recipients, funding amounts, research purposes, and findings until 2030. This one-time appropriation allows up to 5% of funds for administrative costs and ensures unexpended balances remain available until June 2029.

Maddy summaryHF 1533 amends Minnesota's corporate franchise tax laws to treat certain foreign corporations operating in Minnesota as "unitary" businesses. It directly affects foreign corporations that meet the new definition of a "tax haven" (e.g., jurisdictions with opaque tax regimes, preferential treatment for foreign entities, or favorable tax avoidance structures). The bill adds definitions for "tax haven" and requires corporations with significant business in such jurisdictions to have their worldwide income apportioned and taxed under Minnesota's unitary tax rules, rather than just income generated within the state. Key provisions include aligning Minnesota tax deductions with federal "Global intangible low-taxed income" (section 951A) and "Subpart F income" rules. The changes take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1348 modifies Minnesota's Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) program to change how support workers qualify for an enhanced pay rate. It requires support workers providing services to participants needing 10+ hours daily to meet specific training standards: either complete Medicare-certified home health aide/nursing assistant training, use state-approved alternatives, or receive individualized training from a participant's healthcare provider or responsible party. This change affects CFSS support workers directly, as their eligibility for higher pay rates depends on meeting these updated training requirements. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, or after federal approval, whichever is later.