Rep. Patti Anderson

Maddy summaryHF 180 establishes "Donate Life" special license plates in Minnesota. Vehicle owners who pay an additional fee (as set for special plates), registration taxes, and a minimum $10 annual contribution to the Donate Life account can obtain these plates. The plates may be transferred between vehicles owned by the same person for a $5 fee. All funds collected from the $10 contributions are deposited into a special account, with money first covering administrative costs and the rest funding Donate Life Minnesota’s mission to promote organ and tissue donation. The program takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 514 amends Minnesota Statutes section 121A.425 to modify dismissal limitations for kindergarten through grade 3 students. The current law prohibits disciplinary dismissals for these students, with exceptions for short-term dismissals (less than one school day) for students receiving special education services and for expulsions only after exhausting other resources in cases of serious safety threats. This bill adjusts those limitations, but the specific policy changes are not detailed in the provided bill text. The amendment directly affects public school students in grades K-3 and their schools, altering how disciplinary actions may be applied.

Maddy summaryHF 1406 clarifies procedures for insurers and salvage vehicle auctions in Minnesota. It allows insurers to apply for a vehicle title (salvage or standard) if they pay for damages but the owner fails to provide the title within 15 days, after first sending certified notice to the owner and lienholders. The bill also requires insurers to notify auction companies if they won’t take ownership of a salvage vehicle, and mandates auction companies to send two 14-day-apart notices to the owner/lienholders, giving 30 days to reclaim the vehicle (paying any fees) before it’s deemed abandoned. If unreclaimed, auction companies can obtain a lien-free title from the state. This directly affects insurers, vehicle owners, lienholders, and salvage auction businesses.

Maddy summaryHF 540 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Administration to submit a report by February 15, 2026, detailing all state-owned or leased office space and identifying substantially vacant properties. The report must assess the feasibility of converting vacant space into housing, estimate conversion costs, and analyze potential revenue from renting or selling repurposed properties. This report will be provided to specific legislative committees overseeing the Department of Administration's budget. The bill does not change existing laws but mandates a study to evaluate underutilized state assets. (HF 540, Section 1)

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding for school districts' pupil transportation costs by adjusting how transportation aid is calculated. It requires districts to receive additional funds equal to 35-70% of the difference between their actual transportation costs and previous funding formulas, starting in fiscal year 2026. Charter schools receive similar adjustments based on district per-pupil funding. The bill appropriates specific funding for 2026 and 2027 to support these changes. It directly affects all Minnesota public school districts and charter schools that provide student transportation.

Maddy summaryHF 1407 appropriates $275,000 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund for a veterans memorial in Forest Lake. The funds will be provided to the Forest Lake Veterans Memorial Committee to construct the memorial at Lakeside Memorial Park. This bill directly affects the Forest Lake community and the memorial committee by providing specific funding for a physical memorial honoring U.S. military veterans. It is a straightforward funding measure with no broader policy changes or legislative procedures beyond the appropriation.

Maddy summaryHF 2 requires state agency employees to immediately report suspected fraud to law enforcement and legislative committee leaders when they have reason to believe fraud exists in agency programs. It mandates that all state agencies post current organizational charts online with contact details for leadership and division heads. The bill strengthens grant management by requiring agencies to conduct unannounced monitoring visits before final payments for grants over $50,000 (and annually for grants over $250,000), perform financial reconciliations prior to disbursement, and withhold funds from grantees failing to submit required progress reports. Violating these grant management requirements constitutes a misdemeanor under the bill.

Maddy summaryHF 1156 modifies Minnesota's 2024-2025 passenger rail funding by reducing the appropriation from $197.5 million to $4.2 million. This bill amends the 2023 transportation law to adjust the budget allocation for passenger rail activities under Minnesota Statutes sections 174.632-174.636. The change directly affects state-funded rail services, including Amtrak operations and infrastructure projects. The reduced 2025 appropriation reflects a significant shift from the previous year's funding level for these programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.6 million from state bond proceeds to fund specific wastewater infrastructure improvements in Scandia, Minnesota. The funds will support the purchase/installation of nitrate pretreatment equipment at the Bliss wastewater plant expansion and repair/rehabilitation of a primary lift station. The money is provided through state bonds authorized under Minnesota law, directly benefiting Scandia's public works projects without changing broader environmental or regulatory policy.

Maddy summaryHF 790 allocates $7.2 million for fiscal year 2025, and $2.9 million each for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the general fund to cover staff and equipment costs for additional Minnesota State Patrol troopers. The funds specifically support new trooper staffing and necessary equipment, but cannot be used for permanent capitol security troopers or nonsworn officers. This bill directly affects the State Patrol by providing dedicated funding to expand operational capacity. The appropriation is effective upon final enactment, with no additional policy changes beyond the specified funding.