Rep. Matt Norris

Maddy summaryHF 381 modifies how Minnesota calculates rates for home and community-based waiver services and increases room and board rates for individuals receiving these services. It requires service providers to submit detailed data (like staffing hours, ratios, and transportation miles) to a central rates management system, with lead agencies required to approve rates within 30 business days or pay a 10% late penalty. The bill also creates an exception process for individuals with "exceptional needs" that cannot be met under standard rate formulas, allowing for alternative payment rates. These changes directly affect service providers, lead agencies (like county human services departments), and individuals receiving home and community-based care, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 683 allows Minnesota cities and counties to adopt ranked choice voting (RCV) for local elections, such as mayoral or city council races. It establishes rules for how RCV would work, including counting votes by voter preferences and reallocating votes when candidates are eliminated. The bill permits local jurisdictions to use electronic voting systems that automatically handle vote reallocation, and it appropriates funds for implementation. This bill directly affects local governments choosing to implement RCV and voters in those jurisdictions participating in local elections. It does not change state or federal election rules.

Maddy summaryHF 1007 appropriates $5 million from Minnesota's general fund for the World Junior Hockey Championships hosted in Minnesota during December 2025 and January 2026. The funds, available until June 2027, are directed to Minnesota Sports and Events through Explore Minnesota to cover event-related costs. This bill provides specific financial support for the tournament's operational expenses. It directly affects the state's tourism organization and the event organizer, Minnesota Sports and Events. The legislation is a straightforward funding measure with no additional policy provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2,000,000 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. The funds will be granted to the event organizers to celebrate Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage during the Games, including designing and building a Special Olympics Cauldron. The bill directly affects the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games organizers by providing dedicated funding for cultural programming. The appropriation is specific to fiscal year 2026 and requires no new policy changes beyond the funding allocation.

Maddy summaryHF 1901 requires Minnesota school districts and charter schools to provide annual violence prevention training to middle and high school students, focusing on identifying warning signs of potential violence, taking threats seriously, and using anonymous reporting systems. It mandates that schools report active shooter incidents and threats to the Minnesota Fusion Center with specific details - including how threats were communicated (e.g., social media), actions taken by school staff, and law enforcement involvement - while protecting identities. The bill appropriates funds to support anonymous threat reporting systems for schools and requires the state to maintain a publicly updated list of evidence-based violence prevention trainings for schools to adopt. These changes aim to improve school safety through education and standardized incident reporting.

Maddy summaryHF 679 increases funding for Minnesota's Innovative Service-Learning Grants program. The bill raises the maximum grant award amounts for partnerships between schools (including districts, charter schools, and tribal schools) and community organizations. These grants support K-12 student-led projects that connect classroom learning to community needs, such as addressing local issues or exploring career paths. The legislation appropriates additional state funds to expand this existing program without changing eligibility rules or application requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3.5 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to the commissioner of public safety. The funds will be provided as grants to the Fencing Consortium, which will distribute them to local government facilities in Minnesota that are members of the consortium. The money is specifically for purchasing anti-scale fencing, pedestrian doors, and vehicle gates to improve safety at these facilities. This is a one-time funding allocation with no new regulations or requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 2625 defines specific conditions under which a missing person is considered "endangered" (such as abduction risk, medical needs, cognitive impairments, or dangerous circumstances), directly affecting law enforcement agencies that determine when to issue public alerts. The bill requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Public Safety to develop policies and protocols for issuing public alerts about missing and endangered persons, including criteria for alerts, shared information, and geographic scope. It establishes the Public and Local Alert Advisory Board, composed of diverse stakeholders like law enforcement, health officials, and advocacy groups (e.g., Alzheimer's Association, Autism Society), to advise on alert protocols. These changes aim to standardize alert systems across the state while ensuring alerts are issued based on clear, evidence-based criteria.

Maddy summaryHF 1756 increases property tax exclusions for Minnesota veterans with service-connected disabilities and modifies benefits for surviving spouses. Veterans with a 70% or higher disability rating receive a $150,000 exclusion (doubling to $300,000 for 100% disability), with the base amount adjusted annually for inflation using a federal economic index. Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans or service members who died in active duty can continue the full $300,000 exclusion until they remarry or sell the home. The bill directly affects veterans, their spouses, and primary family caregivers who qualify under the existing program.

Maddy summaryHF 2723 modifies Minnesota's Small Business Income Tax Investment Credit program to extend its availability and adjust eligibility rules. It requires qualifying businesses to pay employees 175% of the federal poverty guideline for a family of four (with adjustments for part-time work), maintain at least 51% of employees and payroll in Minnesota, and avoid certain industries like real estate or retail. The bill extends the credit allocation period and updates certification procedures, directly affecting small Minnesota businesses in high-tech, agriculture, or manufacturing sectors that meet these new wage and location requirements.