Rep. Walter Hudson

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of up to $2.79 million in state bonds to fund road improvements on Trunk Highway 24 in Wright County. The funds will be used to design and build two roundabouts at specific intersections near the city of Clearwater. Once the bonds are sold, the money will be placed in a dedicated fund to cover the eligible costs of the construction project. The legislation takes effect immediately upon final passage by the legislature.

Maddy summaryHF 793 establishes a voluntary certification program for commercial salt applicators (businesses that apply deicers for hire on private property) in Minnesota. To become certified, applicators must complete approved training on water-friendly snow/ice removal practices, pass an exam, and renew every decade. Certified applicators gain limited liability protection if they follow approved best practices and avoid gross negligence, but must maintain detailed records of deicer use and submit annual reports to the Pollution Control Agency. The program aims to reduce environmental harm from excessive salt runoff while providing a clear standard for commercial snow removal services.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-time property tax refund program for Minnesota property owners who paid eligible taxes in 2026, affecting residential, agricultural, and commercial property classifications. The program allocates $4 billion from the state general fund to provide refunds based on a percentage calculated by the Department of Revenue, with applications accepted between July 15 and September 15, 2026. Any unclaimed refund amounts will automatically be converted into property tax credits for 2027 on the properties where no refund was requested. The legislation defines specific property categories eligible for the refund and sets clear deadlines for application processing and payment distribution.

Maddy summaryHF 5 modifies Minnesota's tax structure by repealing the retail delivery fee and establishing an "unlimited Social Security subtraction," allowing taxpayers to subtract all their Social Security benefits from state taxable income. It redirects transportation funding by creating a "transportation advancement account" and requires specific distribution percentages: 36% to metropolitan counties, 28% to county highway funds, 23% to larger cities, 34% to small cities, 15% to town roads, and 1% to food delivery support. The bill also mandates tax analysis and reporting requirements for transportation funding impacts and modifies several tax statutes, including those governing Social Security benefit subtractions. These changes directly affect Minnesota taxpayers, local governments, and transportation agencies, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes previous restrictions that prohibited Minnesota public colleges, private nonprofit trade schools, and certain private liberal arts colleges from requiring faith statements or using race, creed, ethnicity, disability, gender, and sexual orientation in their admissions decisions. By amending state law, the legislation allows these eligible institutions to require faith statements from students and to consider a student's religious beliefs or affiliations when making admission choices. Additionally, the bill appropriates funds to cover legal fees and expenses awarded to the plaintiff in a specific lawsuit regarding these enrollment policies if a court order is issued.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota law to allow counties to adopt local ordinances permitting residents to keep up to 24 chickens on their property. The change adds a new provision to existing feedlot zoning regulations, giving local governments authority to approve small-scale backyard chicken keeping through their own ordinances. The bill does not require counties to allow chickens but enables those that choose to do so by updating state statutes. This policy change affects rural and suburban residents who may wish to raise chickens for personal use or small-scale production.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a constitutional amendment to Minnesota that would prohibit the state from requiring local governments to implement programs or services without providing full funding to cover the costs. The amendment would make any state law or rule unenforceable against local governments if it imposes financial obligations without appropriate legislative appropriations, except for specific exceptions like criminal laws, emergency measures, federal mandates, voter-approved local actions, and requirements costing less than one percent of a local budget. If voters approve the measure at the 2026 general election, the change would take effect on January 1, 2027, allowing local governments to seek legal relief if the state imposes unfunded mandates.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a temporary sales tax holiday for the entire month of July 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. It directly affects Minnesota retailers and consumers by exempting the sale of most tangible personal property from state sales tax during this period. The exemption applies to all retail sales from July 1 through July 31, 2026, but excludes alcohol, taxable cannabis products, and motor vehicles. The bill takes effect the day after it is finalized and signed into law.

Maddy summaryHF 3542 requires Minnesota's Human Services and Children, Youth, and Families agencies to disclose within 30 days of a request whether they have reduced, suspended, or withheld payments related to an investigation of possible overpayments to service providers or recipients. This applies specifically to decisions about payment actions, not the full investigative details. The bill mandates this disclosure unless the agency determines it would compromise the ongoing investigation. It directly affects service providers and recipients who may have payments withheld during agency investigations.

Maddy summaryHF 12 restricts participation on female-designated sports teams in Minnesota K-12 schools to students identified as female at birth, based on specific medical criteria. It requires students in disputes about sex to provide a physician's statement confirming their sex using three factors: reproductive anatomy, natural testosterone levels, and chromosome analysis. The bill directly affects public and private schools offering girls' sports teams and students seeking to join them. It amends Minnesota education law to take effect July 1, 2025.