Rep. Bidal Duran

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1,925,000 from Minnesota's general fund to support the operations of five public television stations in Greater Minnesota for fiscal year 2026. The funding is distributed as specific grants to Pioneer PBS, Lakeland PBS, KSMQ, PBS North, and Prairie Public television, with amounts ranging from $200,000 to $650,000 for each station. The legislation takes effect the day after it is officially enacted and directs the commissioner of administration to manage the distribution of these funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that funds provided by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to local law enforcement agencies are reimbursements rather than grants, which changes how these agencies must account for and report the money. It updates crime recording requirements to align with federal standards and establishes a new process for determining when certain criminal records cannot be sealed. The legislation also creates a witness and victim protection fund to help individuals involved in criminal prosecutions with relocation, housing, and other support services, while requiring courts to provide law enforcement access to protection orders. Local law enforcement officials will need to submit detailed reports on how they use these funds, including information about arrests, seized items, and expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota law to allow county commissioners to enter into agreements with other government units for services that those units are authorized to provide themselves, even if the county does not currently have the specific power to perform that service. The legislation also mandates that county sheriffs must sign agreements with federal agencies to carry out authorized federal functions without needing prior approval from the county board. By creating these exceptions to the usual requirement that all parties in an agreement must share common powers, the bill expands the ability of local governments to collaborate on service delivery and fulfill federal mandates.

Maddy summaryHF 1333 requires Minnesota to issue at least two moose hunting licenses annually through a public lottery and two through a public auction, with all applicants paying a $25 nonrefundable fee. The bill creates a "moose research account" funded by license fees and auction revenue, which must be used to study moose mortality, calf survival, disease, and habitat needs. It restricts lottery eligibility to Minnesota residents who haven't held a moose license since 1991, while auctions are open to all eligible applicants. The legislation amends existing statutes to implement these license distribution methods and direct funds toward specific moose conservation research goals. This directly affects residents seeking moose hunting permits and funds state wildlife management efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants a property tax exemption for real estate acquired by the United Way of Bemidji Area on August 1, 2025, and covers taxes due in 2026. To receive this benefit, the organization must submit an application to the county assessor by August 1, 2026. The state will pay the county for any taxes waived under this exemption, and the county will refund any taxes the United Way already paid for that year. This measure directly affects the United Way of Bemidji Area and the local taxing jurisdictions in Beltrami County.

Maddy summaryHF 482 establishes "Choose Life" special license plates for Minnesota motor vehicle owners. To obtain these plates, applicants must pay a $25 initial fee and $25 annual contribution to a dedicated "Choose Life account," in addition to standard registration fees. Funds collected are deposited into this account and distributed by Choose Life Minnesota, Inc., to non-profit agencies within each county that assist pregnant women making adoption plans - excluding any agencies involved in abortion services or charging fees for services. The bill also specifies plate design requirements (featuring the "Choose Life" logo and inscription) and limits administrative costs for the program to 15% of funds. The program becomes effective January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Minnesota School Safety Center to create and distribute evidence-based model safety plans for K-12 schools, requiring districts to adopt similar plans by May 2028. It establishes strict criteria for what counts as "evidence-based," mandating that safety strategies be backed by strong research or well-designed studies before they are implemented. The legislation also enables anonymous threat reporting systems in schools and requires the safety center to consult with licensed mental health professionals when developing these plans. Additionally, the bill modifies grant programs for school buildings and cybersecurity while increasing funding for safe schools initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act to strengthen protections for children of color in the child welfare system. It requires social services agencies to make "active efforts" rather than just "reasonable efforts" to keep African American and disproportionately represented children in their homes, reunify them with families, and involve families in all service decisions. The law mandates that agencies consider cultural and social values when providing services, ensures community members from communities of color serve as court advocates, and requires ombudspersons to monitor compliance with these new standards. Additionally, the bill expands placement options to include relatives and community members before removing children from their homes.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a previous requirement that assumed a $250 million reduction in special education funding for the 2027-2028 biennium and subsequent years. Under the new provisions, the state commissioner of management and budget will no longer be required to forecast this specific funding cut when preparing revenue and expenditure forecasts. The legislation also removes the mandate that the legislature must identify enacted provisions from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Special Education to offset the assumed funding reduction. If savings from those provisions fall short of $250 million, the commissioner of education would no longer be required to reduce the special education cross subsidy aid factor to make up the difference. The changes take effect the day following final enactment of the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota counties share costs for mental health and substance use services, specifically exempting economically distressed counties from certain financial responsibilities. A county qualifies as economically distressed if more than 15% of its population lives in poverty and over 70% of its land is exempt from property taxes. The legislation also allocates funding for opioid response efforts, including grants for antagonist distribution, traditional healing practices for American Indians, safe recovery sites, and child protection services affected by addiction. These provisions aim to adjust financial burdens on struggling counties while directing state resources toward specific public health initiatives.