Rep. Matt Norris

Maddy summaryHF 2069 creates new Minnesota license plates specifically for veterans of each U.S. military branch (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine). Eligible veterans who meet existing criteria (including having discharge papers) can apply for a free plate featuring "VETERAN" and their branch's emblem. The plates must be the same size as standard plates for the vehicle type (e.g., motorcycle) and can be transferred to another vehicle owned by the same veteran for a $5 fee. This bill, effective January 1, 2026, expands Minnesota’s existing veterans' plate program by adding branch-specific designs.

Maddy summaryHF 2071 modifies Minnesota's insurance premium tax specifically for health insurers and health plan companies. It adds new definitions for "direct business" and "health plan company," clarifies that the tax rate applies to "one .... percent" of gross premiums (though the exact percentage is missing in the text), and adjusts how insurers can offset guaranty association assessments against their tax liability. The changes affect health maintenance organizations, nonprofit health service corporations, and community integrated service networks operating in Minnesota. The bill takes effect for premiums received after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 2142 modifies Minnesota's historic structure rehabilitation tax credit program to allow a second assignment of credit certificates. Previously, credit certificates could only be assigned once to another taxpayer; this bill permits the initial recipient or first assignee to transfer the credit to a second assignee. The bill requires any assignment (including the second) to be reported to the state commissioner within 30 days. This change directly affects developers and taxpayers involved in historic rehabilitation projects who use the credit for financing, making it easier to secure project funding through multiple credit transfers.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's HF 1384 expands the state's dependent care credit and creates a new "Great Start child care credit" for families with young children. It directly affects Minnesota taxpayers with children under age six who pay for child care, including parents using family day care homes or not enrolled in employer-dependent care plans. The bill increases the credit amount for one qualifying child to a maximum of $600 and for two or more children to $1,200, with phaseouts for higher-income households. These changes apply to 2025 tax returns and reduce the tax liability for eligible families based on their child care expenses.

Maddy summaryHF 2114 creates a $3.15 million grant program to train real-time stenographic writers (court reporters and closed captioners) in Minnesota. It awards two annual $300,000 grants - one to an institution in the seven-county metro area and one outside it - to fund training programs and job placement. Recipients must report annually on program effectiveness and best practices, and scholarship recipients must agree to work as stenographic writers for six months per semester received. The funds, appropriated for fiscal year 2026, cannot be used for AI transcription and expire June 2029. This directly affects Minnesota higher education institutions and aspiring stenographic writers seeking training.

Maddy summaryHF 1166 creates a $500,000 annual grant program (for fiscal years 2026-2030) to expand access to assistive technology and remote support services for Minnesotans with disabilities. The grant is awarded to nonprofit organizations meeting specific criteria, requiring them to fund training for service providers, schools, and individuals with disabilities; support advocacy groups; and develop accessible resources. Recipients must submit annual reports by June 30 detailing training participants, impacts on quality of life and safety, and final evaluations after the grant period ends. This bill directly affects disability service providers, advocacy organizations, and people with disabilities by improving technology access and community participation.

Maddy summaryHF 1932 appropriates $1 million from the general fund for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund two specific grant programs. The funds support taxpayer assistance grants under Minnesota Statutes §270C.21, subd. 3, and tax credit outreach grants under §270C.21, subd. 4. These grants help Minnesota residents access tax assistance services and learn about available tax credits. The commissioner of revenue will distribute the funds to eligible organizations providing these services. The bill does not change eligibility rules or create new programs - it only allocates existing funding.

Maddy summaryHF 2006 extends the deadline for using unobligated tax increment financing (TIF) funds from 2022 to 2027 and clarifies how these funds can be used. It allows local development authorities to transfer unobligated TIF funds to support private development projects that create or retain jobs (with construction starting before December 31, 2025) or to make equity investments to make such projects financially feasible. Authorities must create a spending plan approved by the municipality after a public hearing, and all transferred funds must be spent or committed by December 31, 2027. The bill directly affects municipalities and development authorities managing TIF districts in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 2000 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Revenue to follow and comply with interpretations of state tax laws issued by the Minnesota Tax Court. This means the commissioner must adhere to the Tax Court's rulings on tax law until the Supreme Court overturns them. The bill directly affects the Commissioner's office and taxpayers who rely on consistent tax law interpretations. It changes the administrative process by making Tax Court decisions binding on the commissioner, rather than advisory. The provision takes effect for Tax Court judgments issued after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryHF 1988 increases the property value thresholds used to calculate school district funding under Minnesota's education finance system. It raises the first-tier threshold from $567,000 to $1,500,000 and the second-tier threshold from $290,000 to $870,000 per student, meaning more school districts will receive full state equalization payments. The bill also appropriates funding for these changes, effective for fiscal year 2027 and later. This directly affects Minnesota public school districts that rely on local referendum levies to supplement state education aid. The policy change simplifies how districts qualify for state funding based on their local property wealth.