Rep. Danny Nadeau

Maddy summaryHF 631 modifies Minnesota's property tax exclusion for veterans with service-connected disabilities. It increases the exclusion amount from $150,000 to $300,000 for veterans with a 100% permanent disability (certified by the VA), calculated as 1.5 times the statewide median homestead value. The bill also extends this $300,000 exclusion to a surviving spouse who owns the homestead, resides there permanently, and meets VA certification requirements after the veteran's death. To qualify, veterans or spouses must apply annually by December 31 and notify assessors of ownership or residency changes. This directly affects veterans with 100% disability, their surviving spouses, and primary family caregivers of eligible veterans.

Maddy summaryHF 314 appropriates $5 million from state bond proceeds to fund a wellhead treatment facility in Dayton, Minnesota. The bill directs the Public Facilities Authority to provide a grant to the city of Dayton for acquiring land, predesigning, designing, and constructing the facility. The project aims to reduce high levels of manganese and iron in the city's municipal drinking water supply. The state will issue up to $5 million in bonds to cover this funding, with the facility directly benefiting Dayton residents through improved water quality.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows property tax reductions for landowners who have conservation easements or restrictions recorded on their property, provided the land is used as intended for conservation. It directly affects property owners in non-metropolitan counties who hold qualifying conservation agreements. The key change amends tax law to permit assessors to lower property values for these lands, but excludes riparian buffers, certain county farmland programs, and properties in metropolitan counties. The rule takes effect for 2026 property tax assessments.

Maddy summaryHF 317 creates an automatic refund program for Minnesota individual taxpayers when the state has a budget surplus. It allows qualifying taxpayers (individuals or married couples who filed Minnesota income tax returns by June 30 in an odd year and had tax liability) to receive a refund equal to their prior year's tax liability multiplied by a percentage calculated from the state's unrestricted budget balance. The refund is paid automatically by the commissioner of revenue by January 31 each odd year, without requiring taxpayers to file new claims or amended returns. Funds for these refunds are appropriated annually from the general fund by December 31 of each odd year, with refunds effective for those due by December 31, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HF 139) increases annual cost-of-living adjustments for retirees in Minnesota's Public Employees Police and Fire Retirement Plan and State Patrol Retirement Plan. It raises the standard adjustment from 1% to up to 1.5% annually (based on federal Social Security COLA), and shortens the required waiting period from 36 months to 12 months for full benefits. Retirees receiving benefits for less than 12 months will now get a pro-rated increase based on months served. The changes take effect for adjustments starting January 1, 2026, and apply automatically unless retirees opt out in writing.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota law updates family court rules to ensure unmarried parents are treated the same as married couples when determining child custody and parenting time. The bill mandates that courts prioritize scheduling expedited hearings within 30 days if a parent is denied access to their child for 14 consecutive days or faces financial hardship during a legal dispute. It also establishes new rights and responsibilities regarding assisted reproduction and directs the state to modernize legal terminology used in family law statutes. These changes aim to support children's relationships with both parents while providing faster relief for urgent situations involving access or support.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Minnesota Cooperative Housing Act to create a specific legal framework for housing cooperatives serving seniors, low and moderate-income individuals, and designated members. It provides clear definitions for cooperative structures and outlines operational rules, including how membership interests are treated and how conflicts with existing landlord-tenant laws are resolved. The legislation also introduces modern voting methods, such as electronic or telephonic ballots, to facilitate member participation in cooperative governance. By codifying these provisions into a new chapter of state law, the bill aims to streamline the organization and management of these housing entities while ensuring they operate within established legal boundaries.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules governing the Hennepin Healthcare System to give the Hennepin County Board stronger oversight powers over the hospital's corporate board. Under the new provisions, the county board can dissolve the corporation, reorganize it, or remove the entire corporate board if it finds evidence of malfeasance, which includes actions like fraud, corruption, or serious ethical violations. Before taking such drastic steps, the county board must conduct a formal investigation that includes notifying the hospital and the state health commissioner, allowing the hospital to respond, and assessing how the action would impact patient care and financial obligations. Additionally, the bill clarifies that while the Hennepin County attorney serves as the system's legal counsel, the healthcare system retains the option to hire its own separate legal and government relations staff without needing county approval.