Rep. Josiah Hill

Maddy summaryHF 2516 requires Minnesota public school districts and charter schools to adopt cell phone use policies by March 2025, prohibiting phones and smartwatches for K-8 students and restricting them to classrooms for grades 9-12 starting in 2026-2027, with exceptions for medical needs or disability accommodations. The bill appropriates funds for a statewide awareness campaign about screen overuse (2026-2027) and provides one-time grants to schools for implementing the policy, covering only one-time expenses like equipment, not staff salaries. It directly affects all Minnesota K-12 public schools and students, aiming to address concerns about cell phone impacts on behavior and academic performance. The funding mechanisms include specific annual appropriations for campaign costs and school implementation grants.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies a state appropriation for the city of Oak Park Heights to fund redevelopment of the Allen S. King power plant site. It authorizes a $2,190,000 grant for the city to acquire property and design public infrastructure including water systems, sewer systems, roads, trails, and sidewalks. The legislation extends the deadline for using bond sale proceeds and appropriations from the original timeframe to December 31, 2029. This change affects the city's ability to access state funding for infrastructure planning at the specified site.

Maddy summaryHF 3635 establishes Minnesota's participation in an interstate compact to simplify teacher licensure across state lines. The bill creates a framework allowing teachers from member states to more easily obtain licensure in Minnesota, directly affecting educators seeking to relocate and military spouses needing to move with service members. Key provisions include sharing licensure and disciplinary information between states, removing barriers to employment, and maintaining state-specific licensing authority. This compact does not change Minnesota's current licensure rules but provides a standardized process for out-of-state teachers to gain authorization to teach in Minnesota public schools.

Maddy summaryHF 3638 modifies educator licensing rules by shifting authority for paraprofessional credential standards from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to the Commissioner of Education. It requires new data sharing agreements between the Board, the Department of Education, and school administrators to share non-educational staff data for program improvement and funding management. The bill also updates professional development requirements for mental health training and extends an existing appropriation for education programs. These changes directly impact school districts, educators, paraprofessionals, and state education agencies in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 3637 appropriates $1.6 million from state bond proceeds to fund the design and engineering of water infrastructure improvements in Oak Park Heights specifically to remove PFAS chemicals from the city's drinking water supply. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $1.6 million to cover this cost, with funds directed through the Public Facilities Authority to the city. This legislation directly affects Oak Park Heights residents by targeting PFAS treatment in their municipal water system. The funding is for the design phase only, not for construction, and becomes effective upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 3668 establishes an Office of Gun Violence Prevention within Minnesota's Department of Health. The office will coordinate prevention efforts, collect and report statewide data on gun incidents/deaths, conduct research, create public health campaigns, and support victims - working with agencies like Public Safety. It requires an annual report to legislative committees by February 15 each year. The bill appropriates unspecified funding from the general fund for the office's operations in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 3460 appropriates $4 million from state bonds to fund a regional facility in Washington County for processing wood waste and trees affected by disease into sustainable products. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds to cover this cost and directs the funds toward acquiring land, designing, constructing, and equipping the facility. This directly affects Washington County residents and local businesses by creating a dedicated processing site for waste materials. The key mechanism is the bond-backed appropriation, with the facility intended to convert waste into reusable resources rather than sending it to landfills.

Maddy summaryHF 3636 appropriates $22.5 million from state bond proceeds to fund Washington County's County Road 19A (Innovation Road) realignment project in Cottage Grove, specifically from U.S. Highway 61 to Jamaica Avenue South. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to this amount to cover the project costs, which includes designing and constructing road improvements. This funding directly supports Washington County's infrastructure work to realign a specific road segment serving local residents and traffic in Cottage Grove.

Maddy summaryHF 3473 authorizes the city of Oak Park Heights to impose a 0.5% local sales and use tax, subject to voter approval, to fund water infrastructure projects totaling $41 million plus associated bond costs. The tax revenue must cover both the costs of collecting the tax and financing the water infrastructure, with bonds issued to cover the project costs. The tax expires after 20 years or once the required funds are collected, whichever comes first, and cannot be used for general city expenses. This bill directly affects Oak Park Heights residents through the new tax and the city's water infrastructure funding.

Maddy summaryHF 3471 appropriates $350,000 from the general fund for a one-time grant to the Stillwater Veterans Memorial. The funds are designated to expand the veterans' memorial located in Stillwater Veterans Memorial Park in Stillwater, Minnesota. This appropriation is specifically for fiscal year 2027 and is intended to support the physical expansion of the memorial site. The bill directly affects the Stillwater Veterans Memorial organization and the park's development.