Rep. Max Rymer

Maddy summaryHF 1538 provides state funding from the workforce development fund for teacher apprenticeship programs in Minnesota for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It requires school districts to develop programs meeting five specific standards: school district involvement, mentorship, approved training, wage increases tied to skill levels, and a pathway to a Tier 3 teaching license. School districts, higher education institutions, and charter schools can partner to create these programs and use the funds to reimburse costs. The bill also mandates a report to legislative committees on how the funds were used and recommendations for improving the program as a pathway to teacher licensure, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1865 amends Minnesota law to exclude loans meeting the federal "qualified mortgage" points and fees threshold from being classified as "conventional loans." This change directly affects Minnesota mortgage lenders and borrowers by removing certain federally compliant loans from the state's conventional loan definition. The bill modifies Minnesota Statutes § 47.20 by adding a new exclusion (subdivision 2, paragraph 3(b)) that removes loans where borrower points and fees do not exceed the federal threshold under 12 C.F.R. § 1026.43(e)(3). As a result, these specific loans will no longer be subject to Minnesota's conventional loan regulations and requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 4 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Minnesota to return budget surplus funds to taxpayers. If approved, it would create a "Minnesota tax relief account" funded by revenue exceeding 105% of projected spending, using those funds to refund or reduce property and income taxes. Taxpayers would receive direct refunds or tax reductions, but only up to the amount they owe in taxes, with the account funded annually from the state's general fund surplus. The amendment must be voted on by voters in the 2026 general election.

Maddy summaryHF 23 amends Minnesota Statutes section 181.932 to strengthen whistleblower protections for public employees. It expands the list of protected disclosures to include reporting gross mismanagement or waste of public funds (subsection 7), clarifies protections for health care quality concerns (subsection 4), and adds specific scenarios like reporting truthful scientific studies (subsection 5) or classified service communications about state services (subsection 6). These changes directly affect state and local government employees who report violations of law, safety risks, or financial misconduct. The bill modifies existing anti-retaliation language to explicitly cover these new disclosure types while maintaining that protected disclosures cannot override other legal data protections.

Maddy summaryHF 2168 increases penalties for motor vehicle theft under Minnesota Statutes § 609.52. The bill amends the statute to explicitly include "motor vehicle" as a circumstance triggering a higher penalty tier (up to 10 years in prison or $20,000 fine), previously not specifically listed under this level. This directly affects individuals convicted of stealing vehicles, moving such offenses to a more severe sentencing category. The change applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025, and modifies the existing penalty structure without changing other theft categories.

Maddy summaryHF 2154 prohibits Minnesota law enforcement agencies from using traffic safety cameras (including speed and red-light cameras) for traffic enforcement. The bill cancels a $3.5 million appropriation for camera systems and repeals related statutes (Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 169.011, 169.06, 169.14, and 169.147) that previously allowed such camera use. This directly affects local police departments and municipalities that operated or planned to use traffic cameras for issuing citations. The bill takes effect after August 1, 2025, ending the use of these systems for enforcement purposes.

Maddy summaryHF 25 establishes a state grant program administered by Minnesota's Department of Health to fund nonprofit women's pregnancy centers and maternity homes. The program provides financial support for services like housing, medical care, parenting education, and mental health resources to help pregnant women and new mothers - particularly those facing homelessness or crisis - carry pregnancies to term and care for their children. Eligible organizations must be nonprofits offering free or low-cost services without promoting abortion, providing abortion care, or referring women to abortion providers. Grant funds cannot be used for abortion-related activities, and strict privacy rules require written consent before sharing personal information about clients. The bill appropriates state funds for this program while reducing other health-related appropriations.

Maddy summaryHF 24 amends Minnesota Statutes section 145.423 to require that infants born alive during an abortion be immediately recognized as human persons under the law and receive medical care. The bill mandates that medical personnel take "all reasonable measures consistent with good medical practice" to preserve the life and health of such infants, including compiling appropriate medical records. It directly affects healthcare providers performing abortions in Minnesota by establishing specific medical care obligations for infants born alive. The proposed changes would have taken effect the day after enactment, though the bill was not passed.

Maddy summaryHF 2223 extends the deadline for using $42 million in existing funds allocated for reconstructing U.S. Highway 8 in Chisago County. The bill modifies the availability period for bond proceeds, allowing them to be used until December 31, 2029, instead of the standard expiration under Minnesota Statutes § 16A.642. This adjustment directly affects the ongoing highway project, which covers reconstruction from Chisago City to I-35, including pedestrian/bike trails and potential lane expansions. The bill does not create new funding or alter project scope - it only extends the timeframe for utilizing the existing appropriation.

Maddy summaryHF 2167 requires Minnesota judges to state publicly the reasons for releasing or detaining individuals arrested for domestic violence, stalking, or violating protection orders. Judges must document findings on whether the person poses a safety threat to victims or family members, or is likely to skip court. This applies to all pretrial release decisions for these offenses starting August 1, 2025. The bill focuses on transparency in judicial decisions without altering existing release conditions.