Rep. Bidal Duran

Maddy summaryHF 3500 appropriates $800,000 from the state general fund for Bemidji State University to cover storm damage repair and campus reforestation costs. The one-time funding, designated for fiscal year 2027, will be transferred through the Minnesota State Board of Trustees to address specific weather-related expenses and environmental restoration. This bill directly provides financial relief to Bemidji State University for documented damage and replanting efforts on campus.

Maddy summaryHF 3502 appropriates $150,000 from the general fund for the National American Indian Veterans (NAIV) organization to provide specific services to American Indian veterans residing in Minnesota. The grant funds peer support outreach, staffing at veteran events, culturally informed mental health services, cultural resilience retreats, and transition support. NAIV must report to the commissioner of veterans affairs and legislative committees by January 15, 2027, detailing how the funds were used, including any administrative costs. This bill directly affects Minnesota's American Indian veterans by expanding access to culturally tailored support services through NAIV.

Maddy summaryHF 3503 limits the common law defense of judicial and quasi-judicial immunity for state officials, such as judges and court personnel, when they violate specific rules while acting in bad faith or with actual malice. The bill defines "bad faith" as intentionally misleading or deceiving and "actual malice" as acting with ill will or improper intent to cause harm. It removes immunity protection if an official violates a mandatory rule (like a ministerial duty) or the Code of Judicial Conduct and acts with bad faith or actual malice, shifting the burden to the plaintiff to prove those elements by clear and convincing evidence. The law takes effect on August 1, 2026, for cases arising after that date.

Maddy summaryHF 3492 authorizes Minnesota's commissioner of education to award school safety facility grants of up to $500,000 per school for security improvements like updated entry systems or safety equipment. It directly affects public, charter, tribal, and nonpublic schools statewide, with at least half the grants prioritized for schools outside the seven-county metro area. The bill appropriates $25 million from the general fund for these grants and cancels $25 million previously allocated to the Northern Lights Express rail project to fund this initiative. Grants require applications detailing other funding sources and cannot be disbursed until construction bids are secured.

Maddy summaryHF 3501 creates a refundable sales tax exemption for specific repair items and services purchased to fix property damage from declared natural disasters. It covers items like windows, roofing materials, generators, debris removal, and tree removal, but only applies when a federal or local official declares a disaster and purchases occur within two years of that declaration. Tax collected on these exempt purchases must be refunded through the state's standard process, as outlined in Minnesota Statutes. The exemption applies retroactively to purchases made after May 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 3505 prohibits cannabis businesses from operating within 1,000 feet of youth athletic facilities. This bill directly affects cannabis business operators by restricting where they can locate stores. The key provision defines "youth athletic facility" as an indoor space regularly used by minors for sports, competitions, or physical exercise. The law amends Minnesota Statutes to add this location restriction, creating a buffer zone around facilities serving young people.

Maddy summaryHF 3504 establishes a new crime for physically assaulting hospital or clinic security officers in Minnesota. The bill amends state law to specifically include security officers providing services at healthcare facilities under protections previously covering firefighters, medical personnel, and emergency department staff. Assaults on security officers will be a gross misdemeanor, but become a felony punishable by up to three years in prison or a $6,000 fine if bodily harm occurs. This law directly affects hospital/clinic security officers and anyone who physically attacks them, taking effect August 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 287 would amend Minnesota law to exclude children under 13 years old from being classified as "delinquent children" or "juvenile petty offenders" for most offenses. This means children under 13 who commit acts that would typically be handled in juvenile court (like minor property crimes or underage drinking) would no longer face those proceedings. The bill changes two key legal definitions in Minnesota Statutes to set 13 as the minimum age for such classifications, effective August 1, 2026. It directly affects children under 13 who would have been processed through the juvenile justice system for minor offenses.

Maddy summaryHF 15, the "Safe Haven In Every Local District (SHIELD) Act," requires all Minnesota public school districts and charter schools to include specific student and staff safety measures in their long-term facility plans by August 2025. The bill creates new grants to fund comprehensive security systems, including features like bullet-resistant doors, emergency alert systems, and staff training, with priority given to schools serving the most students. School districts must apply for these grants through the Minnesota School Safety Center, which will rank applicants and provide lists of approved vendors. The law appropriates funds from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to support these security upgrades and plan updates.

Maddy summaryHF 1052 modifies Minnesota's student discipline laws to protect younger students. It prohibits school dismissals (including suspensions) for preschool/pre-K programs and kindergarten through grade 3 students, limiting K-3 dismissals to no more than three school days. The bill requires schools to first use alternative disciplinary approaches and provide educational services before considering dismissal, and mandates districts to track student progress during any dismissal period. These changes apply to all Minnesota public schools and take effect July 1, 2025. The bill repeals outdated sections related to student discipline (121A.425 subd. 2 and 121A.611).