Rep. Peggy Scott

Maddy summaryHF 1040 requires manufacturers and importers of wind and solar energy equipment (like solar panels and wind turbine components) to fund recycling programs for their discarded products. It bans landfill disposal of wind and solar infrastructure, imposes a fee on retail sales to cover recycling costs, and mandates producers to submit detailed recycling plans by March 2026. The law directly affects companies selling wind and solar technology in Minnesota, shifting responsibility for end-of-life management from taxpayers to producers. Key provisions include creating a statewide recycling system, requiring annual reports to the state, and defining terms like "discarded infrastructure" and "producer" to clarify obligations. This focuses on concrete policy changes for waste management, not future environmental outcomes.

Maddy summaryHF 4 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Minnesota to return budget surplus funds to taxpayers. If approved, it would create a "Minnesota tax relief account" funded by revenue exceeding 105% of projected spending, using those funds to refund or reduce property and income taxes. Taxpayers would receive direct refunds or tax reductions, but only up to the amount they owe in taxes, with the account funded annually from the state's general fund surplus. The amendment must be voted on by voters in the 2026 general election.

Maddy summaryHF 2154 prohibits Minnesota law enforcement agencies from using traffic safety cameras (including speed and red-light cameras) for traffic enforcement. The bill cancels a $3.5 million appropriation for camera systems and repeals related statutes (Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 169.011, 169.06, 169.14, and 169.147) that previously allowed such camera use. This directly affects local police departments and municipalities that operated or planned to use traffic cameras for issuing citations. The bill takes effect after August 1, 2025, ending the use of these systems for enforcement purposes.

Maddy summaryHF 390 extends the existing penalties and enforcement mechanisms for violating Minnesota's Government Data Practices Act to violations of the Official Records Act. This means government entities that fail to comply with official records laws (like improperly withholding or destroying public documents) will now face the same remedies, procedures, and penalties outlined in statutes 13.08, 13.085, and 13.09. The bill directly affects state and local government offices responsible for maintaining public records, ensuring consistent consequences for record-keeping violations. It does not create new penalties but applies current enforcement tools to a broader scope of government record handling.

Maddy summaryHF 25 establishes a state grant program administered by Minnesota's Department of Health to fund nonprofit women's pregnancy centers and maternity homes. The program provides financial support for services like housing, medical care, parenting education, and mental health resources to help pregnant women and new mothers - particularly those facing homelessness or crisis - carry pregnancies to term and care for their children. Eligible organizations must be nonprofits offering free or low-cost services without promoting abortion, providing abortion care, or referring women to abortion providers. Grant funds cannot be used for abortion-related activities, and strict privacy rules require written consent before sharing personal information about clients. The bill appropriates state funds for this program while reducing other health-related appropriations.

Maddy summaryHF 24 amends Minnesota Statutes section 145.423 to require that infants born alive during an abortion be immediately recognized as human persons under the law and receive medical care. The bill mandates that medical personnel take "all reasonable measures consistent with good medical practice" to preserve the life and health of such infants, including compiling appropriate medical records. It directly affects healthcare providers performing abortions in Minnesota by establishing specific medical care obligations for infants born alive. The proposed changes would have taken effect the day after enactment, though the bill was not passed.

Maddy summaryHF 630 extends the expiration date of Minnesota's short-call substitute teacher pilot program from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2027. The bill directly affects school districts, charter schools, and substitute teachers who qualify under the program by requiring an associate's degree or specific paraprofessional experience. Key provisions include mandating background checks, requiring districts to provide substitute training, and guaranteeing substitute teachers receive at least $200 per day or their regular pay rate. The extension allows the program to continue operating under its existing rules without changes to eligibility or requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 2197 modifies Minnesota's individual income tax credits to better support families. It eliminates the "marriage penalty" by raising the income threshold at which the child credit phases out from $35,000 (married filing jointly) to $75,000, and from $29,500 to $37,500 for other filers. The bill also restricts the Working Family Credit to taxpayers with qualifying children and adjusts credit amounts based on earned income. These changes apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024, with inflation adjustments starting in 2025. The bill directly affects Minnesota taxpayers with children who qualify for these credits.

Maddy summaryHF 2313 prohibits installing smartphone software that secretly tracks another person's location, microphone, camera, or text messages without their consent. It requires such apps to be clearly visible on a device and mandates two-factor authentication at installation and monthly to prevent unauthorized use. The bill directly affects individuals whose smartphones might be monitored without permission, while allowing exceptions for parents tracking minors, employers with written notice for business purposes, and law enforcement with proper authorization. Key provisions include requiring conspicuous app displays, mandatory identity verification for monitoring apps, and banning unauthorized collection of geolocation or device data.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2.27 million from the state general fund to the City of Ham Lake for safety improvements at the intersection of Trunk Highway 65 and Anoka County Road 60. The funds are for one-time construction and realignment of the intersection and associated frontage roads, available until June 30, 2029. The city of Ham Lake directly receives the grant to implement these infrastructure upgrades. The bill does not alter state law or create new regulations - its sole purpose is to provide dedicated funding for specific local roadwork.