Rep. Marion Rarick

Maddy summaryHF 3237 bans the addition of fluoride (including sodium fluoride, hydrofluoric acid, sodium fluorosilicate, and hydrofluorosilicic acid) to public drinking water systems in Minnesota. It directly affects all public water systems serving at least 15 connections or 25 people annually, requiring them to stop adding fluoride by August 1, 2025. The bill repeals Minnesota Statutes section 144.145, which previously allowed and regulated fluoride addition for public health. The commissioner of health will enforce this prohibition, with violations subject to daily fines. This changes existing law by eliminating the requirement for fluoridation in municipal water systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the governor's authority when filling vacancies on the University of Minnesota Board of Regents by requiring the governor to appoint only candidates previously recommended by the joint legislative committee. It directly affects the state's higher education governance structure by limiting executive discretion in board appointments. The key provision adds a new requirement to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 137.0246, specifying that if the legislature does not elect a candidate after the joint legislative committee makes a recommendation, the governor must choose from that specific list. This change ensures that board appointments follow the legislative committee's recommendations rather than allowing the governor to select candidates independently.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota calculates family responsibility amounts for state grant awards, directly affecting students and their families receiving financial aid. It establishes a new rule where any negative parental or student contribution is treated as zero rather than the previous threshold of negative $1,500, while also adjusting percentage calculations for dependent and independent students. The legislation applies to state grant awards beginning in the summer 2026 academic term and includes provisions for adjusting living expense allowances when grant funds exceed projected demand.

Maddy summaryHF 3436 requires drivers approaching a stopped school bus displaying flashing red lights to stop at least 20 feet away. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 169.444 to mandate this stop until the bus retracts its stop arm and turns off the red lights. It also adds a new provision requiring drivers to prepare to stop within 20 feet when a bus shows prewarning amber lights, signaling red lights are about to activate. This law directly affects all drivers operating vehicles near school buses in Minnesota, aiming to improve safety for children boarding or exiting buses. The bill takes effect the day after final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 3219, the "mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act," designates all mRNA-based medical products - including vaccines like those for COVID-19 - as "weapons of mass destruction" under Minnesota law. The bill prohibits possession, distribution, or manufacturing of these products, with criminal penalties for violations, and requires state/local officials to enforce the ban. It broadly defines "mRNA injections and products" to include any mRNA therapy, gene-altering agents, or nanoparticles, excluding only naturally occurring mRNA. The law takes effect August 1, 2025, and would directly affect individuals receiving mRNA-based medical treatments in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 1323 prohibits undocumented noncitizens (students without legal U.S. immigration status) from receiving state-funded financial aid for higher education in Minnesota. The bill amends state law to explicitly state that undocumented students cannot receive any state tax revenue-funded aid, including grants, scholarships, tuition waivers, or other financial assistance from public colleges or the state. This applies to all state financial aid programs, excluding federal aid or private scholarships. The policy takes effect for fall 2025-2026 academic year aid awards.

Maddy summaryHF 485 amends Minnesota law to allow the Public Utilities Commission to issue certificates of need for new nuclear power plants with a maximum capacity of 300 megawatts. This change permits the construction of smaller-scale nuclear facilities, which were previously prohibited under existing statute. The bill specifically modifies Minnesota Statutes section 216B.243 to add this exception while maintaining the ban on larger nuclear projects. It directly affects nuclear developers seeking to build these smaller plants and the commission responsible for reviewing such applications.

Maddy summaryHF 391 requires courts to automatically prohibit abusive parties from possessing firearms when issuing certain domestic abuse protection orders. Specifically, if a court order restrains harassment/stalking and finds the abuser poses a credible threat to a child's safety, it must bar firearm possession for the order's duration. The bill mandates that abusive parties transfer all firearms within three business days to a licensed dealer, law enforcement, or a legally permitted third party. This applies to orders issued after a hearing where the abuser received notice and had a chance to participate. The law aims to enforce existing court orders by creating a clear, time-bound process for firearm removal.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's correctional industries program to increase transparency and fairness when private businesses contract with inmate labor. It requires the Minnesota Correctional Industries (MINNCOR) to separately track wages paid under the federal Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program and non-certified wages, while prohibiting the use of blended wage rates to calculate contract profitability. The legislation also mandates that MINNCOR cannot subsidize private businesses using inmate confinement costs, must charge fair market value for using Department of Corrections facilities, and must verify that contracts do not displace existing private sector workers in the region. Additionally, MINNCOR must post regional PIECP wage rates on its website and include detailed financial reports on how confinement costs affect its operations.

Maddy summaryHF 845 modifies Minnesota's net metering rules for small-scale renewable energy systems. It allows customers with systems under 40 kilowatts to choose between receiving compensation based on the utility's avoided costs or the average retail electricity rate. The bill clarifies key terms like "designated meter" and "contiguous property" to streamline billing for these systems. This directly affects residential and small business customers with solar panels or similar renewable installations who generate excess electricity for the grid.