Rep. Bryan Lawrence

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes fixed commission rates for Minnesota lottery retailers, replacing the previous flexible system with specific percentages tied to ticket sales and prize payouts. Lottery retailers will receive at least 7% of ticket prices for drawing games, 6.5% for instant games, and 2.5% of cashed winning tickets, with annual adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation. The law takes effect on August 1, 2026, and requires the State Lottery director to update commission rates annually using the St. Paul-Minneapolis Consumer Price Index. The bill also repeals the prior statute that allowed the lottery director to adjust retailer commissions without fixed percentages.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Minnesota state funds from being used to pay for, reimburse, or facilitate any protests or demonstrations related to political causes or issues. It directly affects state agencies and departments by restricting their ability to allocate money for protest-related expenses, including logistical support or financial assistance to protesters. The legislation would require state officials to ensure no public money supports activities aimed at advocating for or against specific political positions. This change would apply to all state-funded programs and grants, preventing the use of taxpayer money for protest facilitation regardless of the protest's topic or perspective.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's social studies standards to include information about the dangers and perils of communism and socialism, specifically during the 2030-2031 review and revision of state academic standards. The legislation mandates that the state commissioner incorporate details about estimated lives lost and negative outcomes associated with these ideologies into the updated curriculum. It directly affects Minnesota public school systems by setting a specific requirement for future social studies education content. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not change current curriculum requirements but establishes a mandate for future revisions.

Maddy summaryHF 13 would amend Minnesota Statutes section 609.06 to eliminate the requirement that individuals must attempt to retreat before using reasonable force in self-defense or defense of others. The bill specifically removes the "duty to retreat" provision, allowing people to use force without first trying to avoid confrontation if they reasonably believe it is necessary. This change would directly affect Minnesotans using force to defend themselves or others in situations where they perceive an immediate threat. The bill was introduced but not passed, as it was laid on the table during the 2025 legislative session.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the commissioner of labor and industry to update storm shelter construction rules to exclude Group E schools, which are typically smaller facilities like preschools or daycare centers. The change would remove the current requirement for these specific school types to build dedicated storm shelters, potentially reducing construction costs and regulatory burdens for smaller educational facilities. The legislation uses a fast-track rulemaking process that allows the commissioner to adopt the changes without going through the standard public hearing procedures. This policy adjustment directly affects school districts and building officials responsible for constructing or maintaining storm shelters in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new crime called disruption of worship services in Minnesota, targeting individuals who enter religious buildings with the intent to disrupt scheduled services by committing a crime. The law defines a religious establishment as a building used for worship that is clearly marked with a sign or other identifier. First-time offenders face gross misdemeanor charges, while repeat offenders could be charged with a felony punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of $10,000 or both. The provisions take effect on August 1, 2026, and apply only to crimes committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires publicly funded state and local correctional facilities in Minnesota to check the immigration status of certain noncitizens and notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when they are housed there. The law applies to individuals in pretrial confinement, those convicted of felonies, and people committed to mental health institutions, mandating that facility officers immediately report nationality, conviction details, commitment duration, citizenship country, and last entry information to federal immigration authorities. Additionally, the bill requires a one-time review of all felony inmates in public facilities by July 1, 2026, to identify any noncitizens and report their status to federal officials. This policy change directly affects correctional facilities, sheriffs, and county officials who manage public institutions, while requiring them to share specific inmate information with U.S. immigration officers.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits individuals convicted of a crime of violence from receiving Minnesota's major public assistance programs, including MFIP, medical assistance, food support, and MinnesotaCare. It achieves this by adding new disqualification clauses to existing state statutes that specifically target those with violent crime convictions, while maintaining eligibility rules for other offenses. The law applies to convictions under Minnesota law or equivalent statutes from other states or the federal government, and it removes a previous provision that allowed certain drug-related benefits to continue under specific conditions.

Maddy summaryHF 3562 modifies Minnesota's motor vehicle registration tax for passenger cars and hearses. It reduces the tax rate from 1.54-1.575% to 1.25-1.285% of a vehicle's manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP), depending on whether the vehicle was first registered in Minnesota before or on/after November 16, 2020. The tax amount decreases each year based on the vehicle's age (e.g., 100% of MSRP in year one, dropping to 10% in year ten), then becomes a flat $20 annually after the 10th year. This bill directly affects Minnesota vehicle owners paying registration fees for passenger cars and hearses, effective for registrations starting January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens penalties for misconduct by public officers and employees in Minnesota by increasing potential fines and prison sentences. It directly affects government officials and employees who fail to perform required duties, exceed their legal authority, harm others under false pretenses, or knowingly submit false official documents. Under the new provisions, first-time offenders could face up to one year in prison or a $5,000 fine, while repeat offenders could be sentenced to up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. The changes take effect on August 1, 2026, and apply to crimes committed on or after that date.