Rep. Bryan Lawrence

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's "Read Act" to require literacy instruction based on "science of reading" research, emphasizing evidence-based methods like phonics and decoding while explicitly excluding the three-cueing system. It establishes a new Office of Achievement and Innovation within the Department of Education to support literacy implementation and creates a statewide school performance reporting system. The bill also allows school boards to opt out of complying with certain recently enacted state education laws or rules and authorizes fund transfers for education programs through fiscal year 2029. These changes directly affect all Minnesota public school districts, educators, and students by reshaping literacy instruction requirements and school accountability systems.

Maddy summaryHF 3531 exempts specific fuel-related products from Minnesota's retail delivery fee. It adds definitions for "diesel exhaust fluid" (a urea-based fluid for reducing emissions) and "fuel lubricants" (like motor oil not meant for combustion), clarifying these are not subject to the fee under existing fuel tax laws. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 296A.01, and 2025 Supplement, section 168E.01, to exclude these products from the fee structure. This change applies to retail deliveries made after July 31, 2026. The bill directly affects businesses selling these products, removing a fee they previously paid on such transactions.

Maddy summaryHF 3724 prohibits all Minnesota counties, cities, townships, school districts, and other local governments from adopting or using ranked-choice voting for local elections. The bill defines ranked-choice voting as any system where voters rank candidates by preference, and bans its use for local offices like mayor or city council. It also explicitly prohibits this voting method for all federal and state offices. The law prevents local governments from establishing such systems through rules, resolutions, or ordinances.

Maddy summaryHF 3723 requires voters applying for absentee ballots to verify their identity using either a Minnesota driver's license number, state ID number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number before the ballot is mailed. County auditors and municipal clerks must electronically submit these applications to the secretary of state for verification against government databases, with unverifiable applications forwarded to law enforcement. The bill directly affects voters seeking absentee ballots and county/municipal election officials processing applications. Key provisions include mandatory verification before mail delivery, a secure website for submission, and a requirement for the secretary of state to validate permanent absentee voters 60-75 days before elections. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 3722 requires Minnesota county auditors to remove deceased voters from the statewide voter registration system after changing a voter's status to "deceased." The bill also mandates that all currently listed deceased voters must be removed by June 1, 2027. This law directly affects county auditors, who manage voter registration records across all 87 counties. The policy change ensures voter registration databases reflect current eligibility by proactively removing deceased individuals' records.

Maddy summaryHF 1791 allows Minnesota school districts to use surplus funds from career and technical education (CTE) programs to provide postsecondary scholarships or grants to eligible students. Specifically, districts may allocate net proceeds (revenue exceeding program costs) to cover tuition, certificate programs, apprenticeships, or career supplies for students who complete a CTE course, apply during their senior year, and graduate from a Minnesota high school. The bill requires districts to report program finances to the Department of Education and takes effect July 1, 2025. It directly affects Minnesota school districts with CTE programs and their graduating students pursuing further education or career training.

Maddy summaryHF 2809 establishes a new crime for protesting directly in front of or about a person's home (excluding homes used as businesses). It makes this a misdemeanor, escalating to a gross misdemeanor if the person has a prior conviction under this law or ignores court orders like protection orders. The bill specifically allows peaceful protests about community meetings or assemblies held at locations commonly used for public discussion. This law applies to residential properties only and takes effect August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 3535 establishes a ten-year property tax exemption for primary residences in Minnesota, effective for assessment year 2027. It applies to homeowners who have owned and lived in the same property as their primary residence for at least 10 continuous years prior to applying, with no outstanding property tax delinquencies. Homeowners must apply to their county assessor with proof of ownership, occupancy, and tax compliance, and the exemption automatically ends if the property is sold, transferred, or no longer used as a primary residence. This bill directly affects qualifying homeowners by reducing their annual property tax burden for a decade, subject to specific eligibility and notification requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 3550 allows Minnesota school districts to develop their own health education standards instead of using statewide requirements. Currently, districts must follow state-mandated health standards, but this bill gives them the option to create local standards that meet their community's needs. When statewide health standards become available (expected after 2025), districts must choose between adopting the state standards or continuing with their locally developed ones. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and applies to all public school districts in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 3537 repeals Minnesota's estate tax, ending the state tax on inherited property. This directly affects individuals who inherit assets from deceased relatives, particularly those with estates exceeding the exemption threshold. The bill removes references to the estate tax from multiple tax statutes (including sections on income tax, tribal tax agreements, and return requirements) and sets an effective date of January 1, 2026, for estates of decedents dying after December 31, 2025. The changes ensure other tax laws no longer reference the repealed estate tax.