Rep. Joe McDonald

Maddy summaryHF 673 appropriates $50,000 from state bond proceeds to fund a veterans memorial in Howard Lake, Minnesota. The city of Howard Lake will receive a grant from the state veterans affairs office to construct, furnish, and equip the memorial. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $50,000 in bonds to cover this cost, following standard state bond procedures.

Maddy summaryHF 523 appropriates $330,000 from Minnesota's general fund for a one-time grant to the Clearwater-Clear Lake Food Shelf, a nonprofit organization. The funds are specifically designated for constructing a new building in Clearwater. This bill directly provides financial support to the food shelf to expand its facilities, with the appropriation available until the project is completed or abandoned. The legislation does not create new policy but allocates existing state funds for a defined capital project.

Maddy summaryHF 674 appropriates $3.5 million from state bond proceeds to fund water, sewer, and street infrastructure improvements in South Haven, Minnesota. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $3.5 million in bonds and directs the Public Facilities Authority to provide a grant to South Haven for designing, constructing, and equipping municipal water distribution systems, sanitary and storm sewer systems, and street reconstruction. This funding directly affects the city of South Haven by enabling critical upgrades to aging infrastructure. The bill establishes a concrete funding mechanism through state bond issuance rather than altering existing laws or creating new regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's definition of sustainable aviation fuel under state law. It specifies that qualifying fuel must be derived from biomass, gaseous carbon oxides from biomass or direct air capture, or green hydrogen - excluding palm fatty acid distillates - and must achieve at least a 50% reduction in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum-based fuels. The requirement uses either the Argonne National Laboratory's GREET model or the International Civil Aviation Organization's methodology for verification. This directly affects Minnesota taxpayers engaged in producing or blending sustainable aviation fuel. The change ensures state compliance with specific environmental standards for eligible fuel.

Maddy summaryHF 148 provides a refundable sales tax exemption for construction materials used in building an ice rink in Delano, Minnesota. Purchases made between November 30, 2023, and January 1, 2026, qualify for the exemption, meaning the tax is collected upfront but then refunded to the buyer after June 30, 2025. The state will cover these refunds using funds from the general revenue fund. This policy directly affects the Delano ice rink project and its contractors by reducing upfront construction costs.

Maddy summaryHF 288 requires the Minnesota legislature to approve any extension of a declared emergency beyond five days. It mandates that certain executive orders and rules must be enacted by the legislature to have legal effect, rather than taking effect automatically under current rules. The bill defines key terms like "public health emergency" and "bioterrorism" to clarify when emergency powers apply. Additionally, it repeals specific criminal penalties related to emergency management procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies state laws to strengthen awareness and support for library services available to blind and print-disabled individuals in Minnesota. It requires the Department of Education to actively promote these resources and encourages the creation of a fully accessible online website to share statewide information. The legislation also mandates that the Education Department consult with other state agencies, such as those handling employment and health, to better connect these individuals with necessary services. Additionally, the bill establishes an advisory committee composed of library users to guide long-term planning and ensure the library's services remain effective.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires businesses in Minnesota to accept United States currency, including Federal Reserve notes, as payment for goods and services. The rule applies to in-person transactions and allows sellers with multiple locations to comply by accepting cash at just one of their sites. However, banks, credit unions, and businesses that require security deposits or credit card numbers for potential damages are exempt from this requirement. Sellers who refuse cash payments face a civil penalty of up to $250 for each transaction or attempted transaction. The law will take effect on January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Bail Abatement Nonprofit Exclusion (BANE) Act to prohibit nonprofit organizations from using their funds to pay bail on behalf of individuals arrested. Under the new law, nonprofits are barred from organizing or registering specifically to make payments to courts to satisfy bail conditions. The measure directly affects charitable groups and other nonprofit entities by restricting their ability to engage in bail-related financial activities.