Rep. Paul Novotny

Maddy summaryHF 2220 prohibits Minnesota state agencies from charging parking fees to state employees at facilities owned or operated by the state. It directly affects all state employees who park on state property, whether working or with manager approval for personal use. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes (sections 16B.04 and 16B.58) to require free parking, removing all fees, fines, or penalties for eligible employees. This change applies to all state parking lots managed under the Department of Administration, ensuring employees receive a free parking permit.

Maddy summaryHF 1814 provides $2 million in fiscal year 2026 and $2 million in fiscal year 2027 to fund grants for local governments, tribal entities, and state agencies using Minnesota's statewide public safety radio system (ARMER). The grants cover purchasing or upgrading portable/mobile radios and compatible equipment that work with the ARMER system. Local governments can receive only one grant, must provide a 5% non-state match, and funds expire June 30, 2028. This one-time appropriation aims to improve emergency communication interoperability across participating public safety agencies.

Maddy summaryHF 1962 removes a requirement that school districts receiving American Indian education aid must obtain concurrence from an American Indian Parent Advisory Committee before carrying forward unspent funds to the next fiscal year. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 124D.81, subdivision 2b, eliminating the need for committee approval (as specified in lines 1.14-1.16 of the bill text) for districts to retain up to half of unused funds. This change affects school districts and Tribal contract schools that receive American Indian education aid under state funding. The policy shift simplifies administrative processes but does not alter the amount of aid or eligibility for recipients.

Maddy summaryHF 1221 exempts reported tip income from Minnesota's individual income tax and employer tax withholding requirements. The bill adds a new definition to state tax law specifying that "tips" include amounts workers report to employers under federal tax rules (IRC 6053(a)) or to the IRS as taxable wages (IRC 3121(q)). This means tipped workers, such as restaurant servers, will no longer have their reported tips counted toward their taxable income for Minnesota state taxes, and employers will not need to withhold state income tax on those amounts. The change takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryHF 2017 appropriates $125,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $125,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Minnesota County Attorneys Association. The funds are designated for prosecutorial and law enforcement training programs, including trial school sessions and train-the-trainer courses. Starting in fiscal year 2028, $125,000 will be added annually to the base funding for this purpose. The bill directly affects county prosecutors and law enforcement agencies by providing dedicated state funding for their professional development training.

Maddy summaryHF 1463 appropriates $25 million annually (fiscal years 2026-2027) from the general fund for Minnesota town roads and $10 million annually for town bridges. The funds will be distributed under existing rules in Minnesota Statutes section 162.081 to support local road and bridge maintenance programs. This bill directly affects Minnesota's town road and bridge systems by providing dedicated state funding for upkeep. It does not create new policies or alter current distribution methods, only allocating existing budget resources.

Maddy summaryHF 1033 creates tax and fee exemptions for surviving spouses of veterans who died while serving honorably in active duty (defined as "Gold Star spouses"). It eliminates registration taxes, license plate fees, title fees, driver's license/ID card fees, and motor vehicle sales taxes for these spouses on up to two vehicles. The bill amends Minnesota statutes to include this exemption in vehicle registration (section 168.012), driver's license processing (section 171.06), and sales tax provisions (section 297B.03). Exemptions exclude personalized plate fees and special plate donations, and the law takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 1893 shortens the period during which criminal investigations remain active from 30 years to 20 years after a crime is committed, meaning investigative data collected by law enforcement will become public sooner for cases not closed earlier. This change applies only when investigations aren’t closed sooner by a decision not to pursue charges or by the expiration of the time limit for filing charges. The bill preserves existing rules requiring data to stay confidential during active investigations and allowing courts to order disclosure if public benefit outweighs potential harm. It also maintains the current requirement that offensive images or recordings in inactive files remain nonpublic (though their existence must be disclosed to requesters).

Maddy summaryHF 924 amends Minnesota law to allow retired peace officers to possess firearms in the Capitol complex, directly affecting retired law enforcement personnel who previously may have faced restrictions. The bill updates Section 609.66 of Minnesota Statutes by adding retired peace officers to an existing exception (under federal law § 926C) for firearm possession in Capitol Area buildings, alongside active officers and others with specific permissions. This change applies to all state buildings within the Capitol Area described in Chapter 15B, excluding the National Guard Armory, and takes effect August 1, 2025. The policy modifies existing felony prohibitions without altering general firearm laws or creating new permit requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 1523 exempts certain agricultural workers from Minnesota's Paid Leave Law. Specifically, it excludes workers employed by a farmer, family farm, or family farm corporation who either work for a farm with five or fewer total employees, or work on the farm for 28 days or fewer each year. This amendment to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 268B.01, directly affects small-scale farm workers who meet these criteria. The bill clarifies that these workers are not covered by the state's paid leave requirements, while other agricultural workers remain subject to the law.