Rep. Josiah Hill

Maddy summaryHF 3472 appropriates $350,000 from the arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2027 to expand the Stillwater Veterans Memorial. The funds will be provided as a grant to the Stillwater Veterans Memorial to enhance its space honoring U.S. armed forces veterans. This bill directly affects the Stillwater memorial project and the veterans it commemorates. It makes a specific, concrete funding allocation without altering broader policies or creating new requirements. The bill's sole mechanism is the targeted appropriation for this memorial expansion.

Maddy summaryHF 1766 appropriates $800,000 annually to the Minnesota Council on Economic Education to fund teacher training and classroom resources focused on economic and financial literacy. The bill directly supports K-12 teachers (especially those teaching grades 9-12 personal finance) by providing professional development, curricular materials, and direct student programs. It requires the Council to report annually on training participation, program content, and research results to the state education commissioner. This policy change aims to strengthen financial education standards across Minnesota public schools through targeted teacher support and measurable program evaluation.

Maddy summaryHF 2130 modifies several driver's license and ignition interlock requirements for individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI). It extends the required use period for ignition interlock devices after license reinstatement and adds criminal penalties for drivers who operate vehicles without these devices. The bill also adjusts procedures for license revocations, judicial review of extensions, temporary license issuance, and the process for reissuing impounded license plates. These changes primarily affect drivers with DUI convictions who are required to use ignition interlocks or face license restrictions.

Maddy summaryHF 3339 reinstates a citizen advisory board for Minnesota's Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), which was eliminated by the legislature in 2015. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to require the governor to appoint eight citizen members who must reflect the state's racial, gender, and geographic diversity, including at least one Tribal Nation member, three members from environmental justice communities, one small farmer, and one labor union member. This board will review specific agency decisions - such as permits, environmental impact statements, and rule changes - and provide public input on environmental policies. The change directly affects how the MPCA makes decisions, adding a layer of public oversight previously removed.

Maddy summarySF 3196 is a one-time funding bill addressing budget deficiencies for Minnesota's Department of Corrections. It allocates specific amounts for immediate needs, including $12.6 million to cover 2023 financial obligations, $1 million for body-worn cameras for correctional staff, $1.5 million for radio system upgrades, and $500,000 for Prison Rape Elimination Act compliance. The bill also funds health services ($2.75 million), educational programming ($5.6 million first year), family support ($480,000 annually), and reentry initiatives ($375,000 first year for Native American programs). These appropriations directly support correctional facility operations, staff equipment, inmate services, and safety programs within the Department of Corrections.

Maddy summaryHF 1163 clarifies how grant funds for Minnesota's hometown heroes assistance program must be used to support firefighters. The bill directs the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative to provide monetary support for firefighters diagnosed with critical illnesses (like cancer) after August 1, 2021, and to develop a mental health program offering up to five annual therapy sessions with peer support. It also requires annual training for all firefighters on occupational health risks (including cancer, heart disease, and emotional trauma), evidence-based suicide prevention, and wellness strategies. The program directly affects all Minnesota firefighters through these health support services and training.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota public schools to include overdose prevention education in health classes for students in grades 6 through 12. It adds specific content about recognizing, preventing, and responding to overdoses to existing health education standards. The mandate applies to all school districts statewide and is integrated into the current curriculum framework under Minnesota Statutes section 120B.215. This change directly affects school curricula and students in those grade levels, without altering funding or creating new programs.

Maddy summaryHF 3006 provides $12.6 million in one-time funding to cover budget shortfalls for Minnesota's Department of Corrections in fiscal year 2023. The bill allocates specific amounts for existing operational needs, including $1 million for body-worn cameras for correctional staff, $1.5 million to upgrade radio systems, $500,000 for Prison Rape Elimination Act compliance, and $2.75 million for health care services. These funds directly support the Department of Corrections' current operations, including inmate services, safety measures, and reentry programs. The bill does not create new policies but addresses immediate budget gaps within the department's existing framework.

Maddy summaryHF 2289 requires Minnesota hospitals to maintain registered nurse staffing levels consistent with nationally accepted standards, ensuring adequate care for patients. Hospitals must create and implement staffing plans specifying maximum patient-to-nurse ratios for each unit, developed with input from direct-care registered nurses, and report these levels to the state. The bill prohibits retaliation against nurses who raise staffing concerns and imposes civil penalties for noncompliance. It directly affects all licensed Minnesota hospitals, their nursing staff, and patients by mandating safer staffing practices. The law appropriates funding to support implementation of these requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 1653 appropriates $1 million from state bonds to fund electric bus charging stations for school buses statewide. The bill directs the commissioner of commerce to provide grants to eligible school districts or public transit agencies under Minnesota Statutes §216C.374, specifically for installing Level 2 and Level 3 charging infrastructure. Funding comes from bonds sold by the state under established procedures, with grants awarded through the existing electric school bus deployment program. This measure directly affects school transportation systems seeking to transition to electric fleets, effective upon final enactment.