Rep. Andy Smith

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's regulations for mobile food units, such as food trucks and carts, by establishing new rules for how the state can license and inspect them. It directly affects mobile food unit operators, local governments, and state health officials by limiting what restrictions can be placed on these businesses. The law prohibits rules that limit the number of licenses, set operating hours, restrict propane capacity, require GPS tracking, mandate constant motion, or force agreements with commissaries when proper waste disposal is already in place. Additionally, it requires the state to transfer a portion of mobile food unit licensing fees to local governments based on how many days each unit operated in their jurisdiction, and it clarifies that mobile food units are not classified as high, medium, or low-risk establishments for inspection purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how the City of Rochester can use local sales tax revenue collected from a specific tax extension. It directs that up to $195 million in tax funds be allocated to four specific projects: an economic vitality fund, street reconstruction, flood control and water quality improvements, and a sports and recreation complex. The legislation also limits the ability to collect funds for the sports complex after June 30, 2026, and adjusts the total bonding authority for these projects from $205 million to $140 million. These changes update existing statutes to clarify spending priorities and financial limits for the city's infrastructure initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases property tax refunds and renters credits for Minnesota residents by adjusting the income thresholds and payment percentages used to calculate these benefits. It directly affects renters and homeowners who pay property taxes through their rent, particularly those with lower to middle incomes. The key change involves raising the household income limits for eligibility and reducing the percentage of rent that claimants must pay before receiving credits, which results in higher refund amounts for more people. These adjustments are made to Minnesota Statutes 290.0693 and 290A.04 to update the financial parameters for the existing tax relief program.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $150,000 from the state's general fund for fiscal year 2027 to hire a new full-time staff member for the University of Minnesota Extension. The funding is designated to support the farmer-lender mediation program, which helps resolve financial disputes between agricultural producers and their lenders. The money will be distributed through the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to create this new position. This legislative action directly affects the state budget and the operational capacity of the mediation program serving Minnesota's farming community.

Maddy summaryHF 2499 expands Minnesota's renter's credit to match the maximum refund amount available under the homestead credit for homeowners. The bill adjusts the calculation so renters with household incomes up to $137,789 can receive a maximum credit of $3,500, aligning with the homestead credit's highest tier. This change directly affects renters who pay rent considered equivalent to property taxes, ensuring they receive the same maximum tax credit as homeowners. The key mechanism revises the credit formula in Minnesota Statutes 290.0693 to eliminate the previous disparity in maximum benefit amounts between renters and homeowners.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new legal right in Minnesota allowing individuals to sue if their name, likeness, or voice is used for commercial purposes without their permission. It defines likeness as any recognizable image of a person and voice as any sound that identifies a specific individual, covering both recorded and computer-generated versions. The law permits people to sell or license these rights and allows lawsuits to continue for up to 70 years after death if the person's identity was used commercially during that time. Courts can award damages for financial losses, profits made from the unauthorized use, and attorney fees, with triple damages available if the misuse was intentional. The bill includes exceptions for news reporting, criticism, satire, and other First Amendment-protected uses, ensuring free speech rights remain intact.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program to provide social services and mental health support to victims of Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement operation. The program will fund organizations that help affected individuals with basic needs like housing, food, and employment assistance, as well as mental health care. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, government agencies, tribal nations, and legal service providers, with priority given to areas most impacted by the operation. The bill appropriates unspecified funding from the state's general fund for one-time use through June 2029, requiring grantees to report on program participation and outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota bill restricts state and local government participation in federal civil immigration enforcement efforts, prohibiting agencies from using resources to investigate, detain, or arrest individuals for immigration violations. It defines civil immigration enforcement to exclude criminal law enforcement and clarifies that cooperation with federal authorities on criminal matters remains permitted. The legislation also establishes a cause of action for constitutional rights violations related to immigration, prohibits denying education based on immigration status, and requires hospitals to create policies for interactions with law enforcement. Additionally, the bill appropriates funding to support these provisions and amends existing state statutes regarding immigration-related activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $250,000 from the state's general fund to Minnesota's Rally to Read program, which operates under the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The funding supports community reading coalitions that aim to improve reading proficiency across the state, with a specific focus on early childhood development from prenatal to age three. Grant recipients must match each dollar of state funding with private money and use the funds for activities like staffing, coordination, data tracking, and program evaluation. The appropriation is a one-time allocation available until June 30, 2028, and requires a targeted strategy to prioritize literacy resources for children who need them most.

Maddy summaryHF 3407 prohibits the sale, possession, and distribution of "ghost guns" - firearms without unique serial numbers, undetectable by metal detectors, or made via 3D printing by unlicensed individuals. It restricts 3D printing of firearms to federally licensed manufacturers, bans sharing 3D gun design files, and requires all firearms to have engraved serial numbers. Owners of existing ghost guns must either have a licensed dealer add a serial number, remove the item from Minnesota, make it permanently inoperable, or surrender it within 180 days (or 30/60 days for inheritors/new residents). Violations carry penalties of up to five years in prison or $10,000 fines.