Rep. Bryan Lawrence

Maddy summaryHF 3580 appropriates $125,000 for wolf-related livestock compensation (Minnesota Statutes § 3.737) and $125,000 for elk-related crop/fence damage compensation (§ 3.7371), both for fiscal year 2026. The bill funds direct payments to affected farmers, covers up to $5,000 for livestock valuation assessments, and allocates $40,000 for producer grants to prevent elk crop damage. Funds may transfer between programs if claims exceed normal levels, and all money must be spent by June 30, 2027. This one-time appropriation directly supports Minnesota agricultural producers facing wildlife-related losses.

Maddy summaryHF 3494 creates a new "safe schools aid" program in Minnesota to fund school safety initiatives for public school districts, charter schools, and cooperative school units. It replaces the previous "student support personnel aid" with specific funding rates: $34.32 per pupil unit for districts (minimum $40,000), $1.60 per pupil unit for cooperative units (minimum $40,000), and $20,000 for charter schools. The funds must be used directly for school safety purposes, including hiring security personnel, implementing violence prevention programs, providing mental health support staff, enhancing facility security, and improving school climate. This aid applies to fiscal year 2027 and beyond, with all school entities required to use the funds for specified safety-related expenses.

Maddy summaryHF 3491 authorizes Minnesota to participate in a federal tax credit program that allows scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs) to provide scholarships to students. These SGOs must be tax-exempt nonprofits that spend at least 90% of funds on scholarships, verify household income, prioritize returning students and siblings, and avoid earmarking funds for specific students. The bill requires SGOs to annually report compliance to the Minnesota Department of Education, which must then post a list of qualified organizations online. The law explicitly states it does not grant schools or districts additional control over nonpublic schools or students.

Maddy summaryHF 3529 increases safe schools funding for Minnesota school districts and expands eligibility to charter schools, cooperative school units, nonpublic schools, and Tribal contract schools. For school districts, starting in fiscal year 2026, safe schools revenue will be the greater of $32,000 or $44 multiplied by the district's adjusted pupil count. Charter schools, nonpublic schools, and Tribal contract schools will receive aid calculated as $44 multiplied by their student enrollment or pupil units, as reported to the state. Funds must be used exclusively for school safety measures, including security, drug prevention programs, and student safety initiatives.

Maddy summaryHF 2517 restricts MinnesotaCare (the state's Medicaid program) from using public funds to cover abortions, except in three specific cases: when the pregnancy endangers the patient's life, causes substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function, or results from rape or incest. This directly affects MinnesotaCare enrollees who might seek abortion coverage, limiting public funding to those narrow exceptions. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes § 256L.03 to clarify that public funds cannot cover abortions outside these circumstances. The change applies to all MinnesotaCare-covered health services, excluding the listed exceptions.

Maddy summaryHF 29 suspends the scheduled 2030-2031 review of Minnesota's social studies academic standards and repeals requirements for schools to include ethnic studies content in their curriculum. It also cancels funding allocated for ethnic studies programs. The bill modifies existing education statutes by removing mandates for schools to integrate ethnic studies or Indigenous education into social studies standards, effectively eliminating these curriculum components. This directly affects Minnesota public schools and students by removing specific educational content requirements and associated funding. The changes take effect upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 1784 requires government entities (such as state agencies or local municipalities) to pay the legal costs - including attorney fees - of individuals or organizations they sue and lose in court. If a government entity initiates a civil lawsuit against a person and does not win, the bill mandates that the government cover all defense-related expenses incurred by the losing party. This applies to actions filed on or after August 1, 2025, and does not limit other legal remedies available to defendants. The bill aims to discourage government entities from filing meritless lawsuits by making them financially responsible for opposing legal costs.

Maddy summaryHF 3251 eliminates the requirement for a license to sell copper scrap metal in Minnesota. The bill repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 325E.21, subdivision 2c, which previously mandated the license. This change means sellers of copper scrap metal no longer need to obtain or maintain a separate license. The bill directly affects copper scrap metal sellers and scrap metal dealers, who no longer need to verify a copper-specific license for transactions. The repeal removes the existing licensing requirement without introducing new rules for copper sales.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires underground telecommunications installers working near existing utilities to be "safety-qualified" starting in 2025. It mandates that certified installers must perform utility location checks (via hand/hydro-excavation) and monitor directional drilling operations, with at least two certified installers present during drilling. Installers must complete a 40-hour training course covering utility safety, incident response, and equipment use, pass an exam, and take 4-hour refresher courses every three years to maintain certification. The rule applies to all installations within 10 feet of existing utilities or crossing them, beginning July 1, 2025, in the seven-county metro area and January 1, 2026, statewide - excluding private property installations under 36 inches deep.

Maddy summaryHF 200 appropriates $35 million in state funds for Minnesota towns' road and bridge maintenance, with $25 million specifically for roads and $10 million for bridges. The funds will come from bonds issued by the state under Minnesota law, to be distributed by the commissioner of transportation according to existing rules (Minnesota Statutes §162.081). This bill directly affects Minnesota towns needing infrastructure repairs by providing dedicated funding for local road and bridge projects. The bond sales and fund distribution follow established procedures outlined in Minnesota Statutes and the state constitution.