Rep. Nolan West

Maddy summaryHF 2426 increases the maximum plant canopy area allowed for medical cannabis combination businesses in Minnesota from 60,000 to 90,000 square feet when growing cannabis for medical flower or medical cannabinoid products. This change directly affects licensed medical cannabis businesses that cultivate and process cannabis for patient use. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 342.515, subdivision 2, to update the cultivation limit without altering adult-use cannabis rules. The adjustment aims to accommodate business growth within existing regulatory frameworks for medical cannabis.

Maddy summaryHF 3039 exempts restaurants, hotels, bars, food concessions, grocery stores, and catering services from requiring mandatory fee disclosures in menus or advertisements. Specifically, it removes the requirement for these food and beverage establishments to clearly display the percentage of automatic gratuities or other mandatory fees in their pricing information. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 325D.44 to create this exemption, applying only to direct consumer sales (e.g., dine-in, takeout, or catering) rather than delivery platforms or other services. This change simplifies disclosure rules for these businesses by allowing total pricing to include fees without separate, conspicuous display of the fee amount.

Maddy summaryHF 1271 modifies Minnesota's rules for selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products. It allows businesses currently registered to sell edible cannabinoid products to convert their registration to a comparable hemp license. The bill adds labeling requirements for hemp-derived topical products (including manufacturer details, lab test results, CBD content per serving, and a statement that the product isn't approved for medical use) and maintains a 0.3% THC limit. It directly affects businesses selling these products and prohibits sales to anyone under 21.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for the state's Housing Challenge Program to include charter schools, contract alternative schools, and Tribal contract schools as recipients of small grants (under $100,000) for housing projects. It modifies existing law to allow these school types - previously limited to school districts - to access funds for constructing owner-occupied homes. Schools using the grant for home construction must require future occupants to complete homeownership education and counseling under separate law. The change directly affects these specific school entities by broadening their access to housing program funding. The bill does not alter the maximum grant amount or the requirement for homeownership education.

Maddy summaryHF 1916 requires Minnesota's commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families to create an electronic system for tracking child care enrollment records in the state's child care assistance program. This system replaces paper-based or outdated record-keeping methods, directly affecting child care providers and families receiving assistance. The bill mandates regular reports to lawmakers and appropriates funds to implement and maintain the new system. It amends existing statutes (13.461, 142A.03, 142E.17) to establish program integrity requirements and streamline enrollment management. The key change is shifting to digital record-keeping to improve accuracy and oversight of child care assistance funds.

Maddy summaryHF 470 appropriates $96.565 million from the general fund for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund Minnesota's early learning scholarships program under Minnesota Statutes section 142D.25. This funding directly supports families with young children by providing financial assistance for early learning services. The bill establishes a specific, dedicated funding stream for the program, adding it to the base budget. It does not change eligibility criteria or program rules, only providing the necessary state funding to operate the existing scholarship program.

Maddy summaryHF 2929 clarifies the eligibility requirements for Minnesota's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), directly affecting low-income households applying for food assistance benefits. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to require county and Tribal agencies to verify that SNAP households have gross income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines for their household size. This change standardizes the income verification process for agencies administering SNAP, ensuring consistent application of existing eligibility rules. The policy update affects both applicants seeking food assistance and the agencies responsible for processing their applications.

Maddy summaryHF 2226 modifies Minnesota's background check process for child care providers. It requires the commissioner to submit requests every six months to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) seeking information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Law Enforcement Services Portal regarding background study subjects. This new information can now be used to disqualify providers from direct contact roles, and the commissioner may not disclose the specific reason for disqualification if it comes from this source. The bill directly affects licensed child care centers, family child care providers, and certified license-exempt centers by changing how background check results are reviewed and applied.

Maddy summaryHF 2645 provides $5 million in state funds to help small businesses affected by Trunk Highway 65 construction in Blaine, Minnesota. It establishes grants for "qualified businesses" (those with up to 40 employees experiencing impaired access, parking, or visibility for at least one month during the project) to cover payroll, operating, or facility costs. Grants are prioritized based on revenue decline, construction duration, and traffic disruption severity, with the commissioner required to submit annual reports listing all recipients and award amounts. The program is effective July 2025 and funds are available until June 2029.

Maddy summaryHF 2618 requires Minnesota condo associations and homeowners associations (HOAs) to provide plain-language explanations of governing laws to unit owners upon request. The bill mandates that board members review these explanations when elected and share them with owners seeking help understanding their rights or responsibilities. It appropriates funding to create a statewide guide explaining laws governing common interest communities, including key provisions in Minnesota Statutes sections 515B.4-102, 515B.4-1021, and 515B.4-107. The requirements become effective August 1, 2026.