Rep. Peggy Scott

Maddy summaryHF 1039 requires the State Board of Civil Legal Aid to submit an annual report to legislative committees by January 15 in odd-numbered years. The report must include data on cases and individuals served by each legal aid organization receiving state funds, broken down by organization and geographic region where possible. The bill mandates that this data be provided in aggregate form to protect the privacy of clients. This affects the State Board and all legal aid grant recipients funded under Minnesota Statutes section 480.242.

Maddy summaryHF 2959 modifies data protection rules for property tax disputes in Minnesota. It reclassifies specific property tax data - including detailed income figures, vacancy rates, lease information, and projected expenses - as "private or nonpublic" under state law. The bill requires Tax Court to issue protective orders before such data can be shared in legal proceedings, preventing its use for unrelated purposes or disclosure to outsiders. This directly affects property owners (who provide the data), tax authorities, and parties involved in property tax disputes. The key change ensures sensitive financial information used in tax appeals remains protected during legal processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Minnesota Partition Act" (Chapter 558A) to govern how co-owners of real property can legally divide shared ownership after August 1, 2025. It replaces Minnesota's current Chapter 558 for all partition cases starting that date, allowing courts to order property sales, physical divisions, or other equitable solutions when joint tenants, tenants-in-common, or remainder interest holders seek division. Key provisions include new notice requirements (like posting signs on properties for unlocated owners), preventing disputes between parties from blocking partition actions, and granting courts authority to adjust property liens between parcels. The law directly affects individuals or entities co-owning real estate who face disagreements about dividing property.

Maddy summaryHF 102 modifies Minnesota's child support law to clarify when the public authority must redirect payments to a caregiver when children live with them. It requires written notice to the obligee (support recipient), obligor (support payer), and caregiver, detailing the redirected amount, children affected, and date. The bill establishes a 30-day window for either party to contest the redirection based on limited grounds, such as the child no longer residing with the caregiver or the redirection not being in the child's best interests. If no contest occurs, payments redirect to the caregiver the first day of the following month; if contested, redirection pauses until a hearing concludes.

Maddy summaryHF 2875 extends Minnesota's existing crime statute for damaging telecommunications equipment to specifically include broadband and cable services. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes § 609.593 by adding "broadband services" and "cable services" to the list of protected infrastructure, which previously covered only traditional telecommunications. This means intentional damage to equipment like routers, cables, fiber lines, or poles used for broadband or cable services would now be punishable under the same criminal penalties. The change directly affects individuals who damage such infrastructure, making these acts subject to criminal prosecution.

Maddy summaryHF 2231 modifies Minnesota's requirements for publishing public notices. It allows local governments (political subdivisions) to post notices online via their website and the Minnesota Newspaper Association's statewide site when a qualified newspaper discontinues publication. The bill requires immediate online posting until a qualified newspaper can be identified, eliminating the need to wait for a new newspaper to become available. This change applies to all public notices mandated by law, rule, or ordinance, ensuring notices remain accessible to the public during newspaper disruptions.

Maddy summaryHF 2786 modifies requirements for education grants administered by the Minnesota Department of Education. It establishes specific conditions under which the commissioner must terminate grant agreements with nonprofit recipients, including failing to file required IRS forms (990/990-EZ), missing state reports, exceeding 25% administrative costs relative to revenue, paying employees more than 110% of the governor's salary, or being under fraud investigation. The bill explicitly excludes school districts, charter schools, and other political subdivisions from these requirements. These changes aim to ensure grant recipients meet financial and compliance standards before receiving or continuing funding.

Maddy summaryHF 2633 requires Minnesota electric utilities to obtain written consent before installing "smart meter gateway devices" at homes or businesses. These devices, defined as meters or components that communicate with or control home appliances, cannot be installed without the property owner's explicit opt-in. Utilities must provide a clear 12-point bold opt-in form explaining the device's function and confirming that service isn't affected by refusing consent. Property owners can also request removal of installed devices upon written request. The bill directly affects all residential and commercial electricity customers in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 2712 allocates $8.5 million from the state general fund for one-time improvements to the Capitol tunnel under Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and east of the State Capitol. The funds will cover designing, constructing, and equipping the tunnel to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, directly benefiting people with disabilities who use Capitol facilities. The bill specifies that the funding is available until the project is completed or abandoned, with no ongoing annual appropriations. This is a straightforward infrastructure funding measure focused on accessibility compliance, not a policy change affecting broader legislation.

Maddy summaryHF 2648 prohibits certain sex offenders convicted of crimes against minors under 18 from accessing social media platforms where users under 18 can interact. It requires these individuals on parole or probation to disclose all social media account details (including usernames and passwords) to their supervising agent and bans access to platforms allowing minor users. The law defines "social media platform" narrowly to exclude email, search engines, and business communication tools. The commissioner must annually publish a list of compliant platforms for probation agents to enforce these restrictions. This directly affects sex offenders sentenced under Minnesota statutes 609.342-609.3458 for offenses involving minors under 18.