Rep. Andy Smith

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special election process for the Rochester Independent School District No. 535 school board, requiring elections to follow Minnesota Statutes chapter 205A. The legislation allows the district to choose between electing board members at large or dividing the district into separate election districts, with specific ballot formatting rules to prevent incumbent bias. The bill also clarifies how board members take office and handles transitions between different election systems, while designating the law as a special provision that applies only to this specific school district.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how money recovered in consumer protection cases is handled in Minnesota by removing a previous cap on deposits and establishing new limits on how much individual consumers can receive. It requires that 50% of recovered funds be deposited into the consumer protection restitution account without a dollar limit, while the remaining 50% goes to the state's general fund. The law also sets distribution rules so that eligible consumers can receive up to $50,000 in full compensation, or 50% of any amount exceeding that threshold. These changes affect the Minnesota Attorney General's office and consumers who have received restitution orders for consumer protection violations.

Maddy summaryHF 3693 modifies Minnesota's 2025 Department of Agriculture budget by increasing the total appropriation from $56,052,000 to $56,552,000. Key changes include raising funding for dairy programs ($23,801,000 vs. $23,301,000), boosting the local food purchasing grant program to $1,200,000 in the second year (from $700,000), and adding $1,000,000 annually for county fairs. The bill adjusts specific line-item allocations within existing programs but does not create new initiatives or change eligibility rules. It directly affects how the Department of Agriculture allocates funds for current programs like dairy support, organic certification, and biofuel infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHF 970 requires original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of farm equipment to provide independent repair shops with necessary tools, parts, and documentation on fair and reasonable terms. It directly affects Minnesota farmers and independent repair providers by ensuring they can access repair resources without being forced to use manufacturer-approved services or pay excessive fees. Key provisions include prohibiting OEMs from imposing unreasonable restrictions (like requiring repair shops to become authorized dealers) or charging more for parts/tools than they offer to their own authorized providers. The bill amends Minnesota law to define terms like "authorized repair provider" and "fair and reasonable terms" to clarify these requirements. This applies specifically to digital electronic farm equipment, aiming to increase repair options and reduce costs for farmers.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's HF 1269 requires health insurance plans to cover all FDA-approved medical services and prescription medications for treating dementia, including diagnostic tests to assess treatment effectiveness. It also prohibits health plans from using "step therapy" (requiring patients to try cheaper drugs first) for dementia treatments. The bill modifies prior authorization rules for certain medications, ensuring automatic 60-day coverage for brand-name mental health drugs when generics become available, and streamlines approval for oral liquid drugs used with feeding tubes. These changes apply to health plans offered in Minnesota starting January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 821 appropriates $3.866 million for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund nitrate mitigation for private drinking water wells in Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona counties. It directly affects private well owners in these counties with nitrate levels exceeding 10 mg/L, prioritizing households at or below 300% of the federal poverty guideline and those with infants or pregnant individuals. The funding covers reverse osmosis systems, well repairs, and reconstruction, plus education and outreach. The commissioner of agriculture may also transfer funds to the commissioner of health to administer the program, with up to 6.5% of the appropriation allowed for administrative costs.

Maddy summaryHF 1857 prohibits elective declawing of cats in Minnesota, meaning veterinarians cannot perform surgery to remove a cat's claws for cosmetic or convenience reasons. The bill allows exceptions only for medically necessary procedures addressing infections, injuries, or health issues. Violators face civil penalties: $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, and $2,500 for third or subsequent violations. This directly affects veterinarians performing the procedure and cat owners seeking it, while prioritizing animal welfare through enforceable standards.

Maddy summaryHF 1795 appropriates state funds for Minnesota's farm-to-school and early childhood care programs, directly supporting schools and child care providers serving children. The bill allocates specific funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to purchase Minnesota-grown fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, grain, and dairy for these settings, including reimbursements for equipment and food purchases. It also sets aside $150,000 annually for a statewide coordinator to assist farmers and institutions, and allows limited state funding (up to 7.5% of federal funds) to support federal program administration. Eligible entities must participate in federal nutrition programs like the National School Lunch Program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires sellers of emotional support dogs to provide written notice to buyers stating that the dog is not a service animal and does not have the special training required for service dogs. The notice must be printed in bold 12-point type and included on the purchase receipt or a separate document, informing buyers that the dog is not entitled to the legal rights and privileges granted to service animals. Additionally, the bill increases criminal penalties for intentionally misrepresenting an emotional support dog as a service dog, raising the offense from a petty misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor for repeat violations. These changes apply to all sales of emotional support dogs and take effect on August 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 362 establishes a state licensing system for massage therapists and Asian bodywork therapists in Minnesota. It requires practitioners to meet specific educational standards (including minimum contact hours), pass a credentialing exam, and obtain a license from the Minnesota Department of Health. The bill defines both practices (e.g., Asian bodywork therapy uses techniques like pressing and stretching based on Chinese medical principles), sets application and renewal fees, and includes criminal penalties for practicing without a license. This directly affects therapists seeking to legally provide these services and ensures they meet standardized training and safety requirements, while also providing funding for implementation.