Rep. Matt Norris

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $1.5 million from the state's general fund to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system for fiscal year 2027. The money is designated for purchasing and maintaining automated identity verification software to detect and prevent enrollment fraud. This funding will support the acquisition, implementation, ongoing support, and maintenance of systems that verify student identities during the enrollment process. The legislation directly affects the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees and the institutions within the system.

Maddy summaryHF 3419 removes the ability of most Minnesota entities - including businesses, nonprofits, cooperatives, and foreign entities operating in Minnesota - to spend money on elections or ballot measures. The bill retracts this power for all entities except registered political committees that exist solely for political activity and claim no entity benefits (like limited liability). It also voids any organizational documents allowing political spending. This change does not affect regular business operations or charitable work, only political activity.

Maddy summaryHF 3809 modifies Minnesota's expedited eviction process for specific situations, directly affecting residential tenants and landlords in cases involving safety threats or property damage. The bill requires landlords to file an affidavit with specific facts proving why an expedited hearing is needed (e.g., tenant endangering others or damaging property), sets strict hearing timelines (5-7 days after summons), and imposes a $500 civil penalty for misuse of the process. It also restricts courts from combining expedited hearings with other claims like nonpayment of rent. This bill applies only to the specified emergency eviction scenarios, not standard eviction cases.

Maddy summaryHF 2703 extends Minnesota's prohibition on drug manufacturers interfering with access to 340B drugs by removing the law's previous expiration date of July 1, 2027. This means the restriction on manufacturers - preventing them from taking actions that limit access to discounted drugs - will remain in effect indefinitely. The law directly affects drug manufacturers by restricting certain business practices and benefits healthcare providers like hospitals and clinics that participate in the federal 340B program. These providers use 340B discounts to purchase drugs at lower prices for patients, particularly those with low incomes.

Maddy summaryHF 1203 modifies Minnesota's sales and use tax exemption for secure firearm storage units and adds a new exemption for firearm safety devices. The bill defines "firearm safety devices" as products that prevent unauthorized operation (like trigger locks) and "secure firearm storage units" as locked containers specifically designed for firearm storage. It also prohibits sellers from collecting or sharing personal data about purchasers of these exempt items, treating such information as private data under existing law. The changes take effect for sales after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state of Minnesota to use a lease-purchase agreement and the sale of certificates of participation to fund improvements or replacement of its MAXIS system. Under this plan, the state would lease the project from a vendor or financing source and pay for it in installments over a period of up to ten years. The legislation establishes specific rules for how the state must manage the funds, including requirements for insurance, liability, and financial reporting within a dedicated project fund. It also allows the state to transfer money from its general fund to cover expected costs before the financing proceeds are received.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows online students in Minnesota to keep their free public school enrollment even if they temporarily leave the state, provided they meet specific conditions such as maintaining at least one parent's Minnesota residency and planning to return. The legislation requires that students have been enrolled for at least one year, agree on a course of study with their school district, and be physically absent for no more than 60 consecutive school days. Additionally, the bill appropriates state funds to support the education costs for these students and takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Minnesota Business Recovery Loan Program to help businesses that have suffered financial losses due to increased immigration enforcement activities in the state. It appropriates $100 million in fiscal year 2026, with $18 million designated for zero-interest loans to businesses in greater Minnesota and $82 million for zero-interest loans to businesses in the seven-county metropolitan area through nonprofit lenders. To qualify, businesses must be located in Minnesota, owned by state residents, demonstrate a revenue loss of more than 30 percent between enactment and December 1, 2025, and show that losses resulted from staffing shortages, reduced customer access, or other immigration enforcement-related factors. The program provides loans ranging from $25,000 to $200,000 depending on business size and location, which must be used exclusively for business operations in Minnesota and cannot be used to repay prior debt or for real estate speculation.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts how members, officers, and employees of the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives can use legislative email addresses, telephone numbers, and office space. It prohibits giving out official legislative contact information to anyone who is not a legislator, staff member, or authorized employee, and limits member phone lines to exclusive use by the member and their assigned staff. The law also requires written notification to caucus leaders before allowing non-legislators to occupy assigned office space. Enforcement and penalties for violations are handled through rules adopted by the Senate and House, with courts barred from intervening in disputes over these provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Education Center within Minnesota's Department of Health to address workforce shortages in mental health care. The center will analyze provider availability, create career exposure programs for students, develop a licensure guide website, and operate a job board for treatment providers. It also plans to track graduate numbers, identify licensure barriers, expand loan forgiveness programs, and train primary care professionals in mental health integration. The bill requires annual reports to the legislature starting in 2027 and appropriates unspecified funding from the general fund to support these initiatives.