Rep. Shane Mekeland

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a felony to force or coerce a pregnant minor under 18 into seeking or obtaining an abortion, defining coercion broadly to include threats, isolation, financial pressure, and exploiting vulnerabilities. It requires hospitals and other facilities to screen and report suspected cases of human trafficking involving minors. Additionally, the law adds wrongful death as a cause of action for deaths resulting from abortions and mandates the creation of specific rules by the state health commissioner.

Maddy summaryHF 482 establishes "Choose Life" special license plates for Minnesota motor vehicle owners. To obtain these plates, applicants must pay a $25 initial fee and $25 annual contribution to a dedicated "Choose Life account," in addition to standard registration fees. Funds collected are deposited into this account and distributed by Choose Life Minnesota, Inc., to non-profit agencies within each county that assist pregnant women making adoption plans - excluding any agencies involved in abortion services or charging fees for services. The bill also specifies plate design requirements (featuring the "Choose Life" logo and inscription) and limits administrative costs for the program to 15% of funds. The program becomes effective January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the SAVE Minnesota Act, which requires voters to present a specific photo identification card to register to vote and to cast their ballots. To obtain this new voter identification card, applicants must provide proof of their U.S. citizenship and may receive certain vital records, such as birth certificates, without a fee. The legislation also creates a new voter identification card program, modifies existing driver's license requirements, and sets up a process for handling provisional ballots. Additionally, the bill includes funding provisions to support the administration of these new election procedures and establishes a children's trust fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires regulators in Minnesota to accept specific, recent evidence when checking if a property's subsurface sewage treatment system is working correctly. It mandates that officials use the most reliable data available, such as lab-tested groundwater samples or measurements of soil depth, provided the results are less than two years old. Property owners can now submit these existing records to prove compliance without undergoing new, potentially invasive testing, as long as the agency follows a set priority for which data to trust. Additionally, the law ensures that owners are notified of their rights at least 90 days before any official notice of noncompliance is issued.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new 100% tax on money obtained through fraud by individuals or organizations, regardless of whether they have already paid fines or restitution. It applies to those convicted by a court, those identified by the state revenue commissioner as having committed fraud, and anyone paid to help facilitate such fraudulent activities. The revenue collected from this tax must be used exclusively to provide relief for state income or property taxes. The law takes effect retroactively for fraud cases determined after December 31, 2019.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House resolution that formally impeaches Minnesota Governor Timothy J. Walz for alleged corrupt conduct in office. It directly affects the Governor by charging him with four specific articles of misconduct, including concealing fraud in state programs, obstructing oversight investigations, prioritizing political narratives over transparency, and failing to enforce laws protecting public funds. If adopted by the House, the resolution would immediately suspend the Governor's duties while the Senate conducts a trial to determine whether he should be removed from office. The bill also requires the Speaker of the House to serve formal notice of the charges to the Governor and directs the Chief Clerk to send copies of the resolution to relevant state officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota evaluates water usage for large data centers and provides specific financial and operational exemptions for them. It requires facilities that consume over 100 million gallons of water annually to submit detailed preapplication information to help state agencies assess local water availability, while exempting "qualified large-scale data centers" from these requirements if they meet certain filing deadlines or location criteria. Additionally, the legislation exempts electricity sales from these data centers when calculating utility solar energy standards and removes sales tax on their electricity purchases. The bill also defines requirements for emergency backup generators and establishes a new clean energy tariff option for public utilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Minnesota School Safety Center to create and distribute evidence-based model safety plans for K-12 schools, requiring districts to adopt similar plans by May 2028. It establishes strict criteria for what counts as "evidence-based," mandating that safety strategies be backed by strong research or well-designed studies before they are implemented. The legislation also enables anonymous threat reporting systems in schools and requires the safety center to consult with licensed mental health professionals when developing these plans. Additionally, the bill modifies grant programs for school buildings and cybersecurity while increasing funding for safe schools initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis House resolution initiates the formal impeachment process against Keith Ellison, Minnesota's Attorney General, alleging corrupt conduct and crimes while in office. The bill directs the House to adopt six articles of impeachment that accuse Ellison of abusing his office to defend unlawful protest activity, undermining religious liberty protections, failing to enforce laws impartially, engaging in conflicts of interest, and soliciting political support in exchange for favorable treatment. If adopted, the resolution immediately bars Ellison from exercising his duties as Attorney General until the Senate conducts a trial and votes on his acquittal or conviction. The House Speaker must serve notice of the charges to Ellison, and the enrolled resolution must be transmitted to the Governor, Secretary of State, and Senate leadership to begin the constitutional impeachment proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's gross receipts tax law to explicitly include hospitals and health care providers as taxable entities while excluding licensed chiropractors from the list of providers subject to the tax. The legislation defines "health care provider" to include various medical service providers such as doctors, dental professionals, and ambulance services, while listing specific exclusions like pharmacies, nursing homes, and home health agencies. A new provision adds licensed chiropractors to the list of excluded providers, clarifying that they will not be required to pay the gross receipts tax on their services. The changes will take effect for gross revenues received after December 31, 2026, and apply to the state's existing gross receipts tax framework.