Rep. Patti Anderson

Maddy summaryHF 3642 prohibits the placement or operation of virtual currency kiosks in Minnesota, directly affecting businesses that provide physical kiosks for exchanging virtual currency (like Bitcoin) for cash or vice versa. The bill's key provision bans these kiosks outright, replacing prior regulations that had defined terms like "new customer" and set transaction limits. It repeals all existing statutes (53B.69 to 53B.75) that previously governed virtual currency kiosk operations, removing the legal framework that allowed such kiosks to function under specific conditions. As a result, no virtual currency kiosks may legally operate within the state under this law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new 100% tax on money obtained through fraud by individuals or organizations, regardless of whether they have already paid fines or restitution. It applies to those convicted by a court, those identified by the state revenue commissioner as having committed fraud, and anyone paid to help facilitate such fraudulent activities. The revenue collected from this tax must be used exclusively to provide relief for state income or property taxes. The law takes effect retroactively for fraud cases determined after December 31, 2019.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of up to $5.5 million in state bonds to fund road improvements at the intersection of U.S. Highway 61 and Washington County State-Aid Highway 32 in Forest Lake. The allocated money will be used for preliminary and final design, engineering, land acquisition, and construction of a roundabout and related traffic safety enhancements. Once approved, the state will sell these bonds to generate the necessary funds, which must be deposited into a specific highway fund account before being spent on the project. The legislation takes effect immediately upon final passage by the legislature.

Maddy summaryHF 5000 modifies a previous appropriation to allocate $250,000 in bond proceeds to the City of Forest Lake for constructing a veterans memorial at Lakeside Memorial Park. This bill directly affects the Forest Lake Veterans Memorial Committee by authorizing the funding needed to build the memorial honoring U.S. armed forces veterans. The legislation amends existing state law to confirm this specific grant and becomes effective immediately upon final passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Minnesota School Safety Center to create and distribute evidence-based model safety plans for K-12 schools, requiring districts to adopt similar plans by May 2028. It establishes strict criteria for what counts as "evidence-based," mandating that safety strategies be backed by strong research or well-designed studies before they are implemented. The legislation also enables anonymous threat reporting systems in schools and requires the safety center to consult with licensed mental health professionals when developing these plans. Additionally, the bill modifies grant programs for school buildings and cybersecurity while increasing funding for safe schools initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act to strengthen protections for children of color in the child welfare system. It requires social services agencies to make "active efforts" rather than just "reasonable efforts" to keep African American and disproportionately represented children in their homes, reunify them with families, and involve families in all service decisions. The law mandates that agencies consider cultural and social values when providing services, ensures community members from communities of color serve as court advocates, and requires ombudspersons to monitor compliance with these new standards. Additionally, the bill expands placement options to include relatives and community members before removing children from their homes.

Maddy summaryHF 3373 appropriates funds from state bond proceeds to design a new interchange at the intersection of Trunk Highway 10/61 and 70th Street (Washington County State-Aid Highway 22) in St. Paul Park. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds to cover these costs, with the funds designated specifically for preliminary and final design work by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. This project directly affects St. Paul Park residents and commuters using this transportation corridor. The bill focuses solely on funding the design phase, not construction, and would require legislative approval to issue the bonds.

Maddy summaryHF 3513 defines key terms for autonomous vehicles in Minnesota Statutes, establishing a regulatory foundation for future rules. It adds definitions for terms like "automated driving system" (level 4/5 vehicles), "dynamic driving task," "minimal risk condition," and "on-demand autonomous vehicle network" to clarify operational standards. The bill does not impose new restrictions or requirements but creates the terminology needed for future legislation governing autonomous vehicle safety and operation. This procedural update prepares Minnesota’s legal framework for regulating self-driving technology as it develops.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax in Minnesota that targets individuals and organizations convicted of fraud or those identified by the state revenue commissioner as having obtained money through deceitful means. The tax requires anyone who has successfully defrauded state programs to pay back 100 percent of the stolen amount, regardless of any existing fines or restitution already ordered by courts. The state revenue commissioner is tasked with investigating suspected fraud, setting up a system to collect these payments, and ensuring the recovered funds are used specifically for income and property tax relief. The law applies retroactively to fraud cases determined after December 31, 2019, and also covers people who were paid to help commit the fraud.

Maddy summaryHF 3395, the "Fraud Isn't Free Act," requires Minnesota state agencies administering public programs (like healthcare or education funding) to take specific actions when fraud occurs. If fraud is suspected, agencies must submit a corrective plan to lawmakers within 30 days, including steps to prevent future fraud, recover stolen funds, and fire employees directly responsible for the fraud. The bill also mandates suspending new enrollments in affected programs, reducing agency budgets, and reporting fraud totals to the budget office and legislative auditors. These provisions apply to all state programs using public funds, with definitions covering intentional deception like false claims or theft.