Rep. Zack Stephenson

Maddy summaryHF 1735 allows licensed liquor wholesalers in Minnesota to purchase and sell lower-potency hemp edibles, effective April 1, 2025. Wholesalers must register with the state office and follow strict rules for packaging, labeling, transportation, and record-keeping. They can buy from specific hemp manufacturers and sell to hemp retailers, cannabis microbusinesses with retail licenses, and other authorized sellers. The bill does not affect cannabis sales but expands product types liquor wholesalers may handle under existing licensing. This creates a new regulatory pathway for hemp edibles within the state’s current liquor and hemp framework.

Maddy summaryHF 504 requires Minnesota's commissioner of health to establish a school-based telehealth program providing mental and physical health care to students through remote visits. The program will be run by a single telehealth provider selected via competitive bidding, with participating school districts (public and charter schools) required to offer services free of charge to all enrolled students, including waiving costs for uninsured students. Funding includes up to $22 per student annually, one-time setup costs, and program evaluation, with school districts prohibited from using the service to replace existing school health staff like nurses or counselors. The program mandates annual reports on student access to health care, starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 1415 increases funding for Minnesota's school unemployment aid program, which provides financial support to hourly school employees who face unemployment between academic terms. The bill appropriates specific additional funds from the general fund to the Department of Education for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This directly affects hourly school workers, such as those in maintenance or summer programs, who qualify for unemployment aid under existing rules. The change simply adds more money to an existing account without altering eligibility or program structure.

Maddy summaryHF 48 prohibits social media platforms with over 1 million global users from using algorithms that target children under 18 in Minnesota with personalized content based on engagement metrics (like time spent or clicks). It requires these platforms to obtain verifiable parental consent before minors under 18 can create new accounts. The law exempts parental control tools, educational content from schools/universities, and government content. Violations could result in $1,000 penalties per incident (capped at $100,000 annually), and the bill takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 1310 adds the Office of Cannabis Management to Minnesota's list of state agencies required to establish government-to-government relationships with Tribal governments. This bill amends Minnesota Statutes to include the Office of Cannabis Management in the statutory definition of "agency" under section 10.65, meaning it must now formally consult with Minnesota's 11 federally recognized Tribal governments on policies affecting them. The key mechanism requires the Office to proactively engage Tribal governments through direct communication and consider their input as part of decision-making for cannabis-related matters. This change directly affects the Office of Cannabis Management and the Tribal governments listed in the bill (including Mille Lacs Band, Red Lake Nation, and others), ensuring cannabis regulation includes Tribal consultation. The bill does not change cannabis laws but mandates a specific process for Tribal engagement.

Maddy summaryHF 69 requires most Minnesota cities, towns, and school districts to hold general elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November during even-numbered years. Cities of the first class (like Minneapolis) may instead choose to hold elections in odd-numbered years, but must adopt a transition plan adjusting terms of office and provide 180 days' notice. The bill amends election statutes to mandate this standardized schedule, with cities of the first class needing to follow specific procedures including potential voter referendums. This directly affects local election timing for over 800 Minnesota municipalities and school districts.

Maddy summaryHF 30 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Revenue to create a free, electronic system allowing residents to file individual income tax returns directly online without cost. The system must be hosted on the Department of Revenue website, and any contracted software vendor cannot offer paid tax preparation services through it. By tax years starting after December 31, 2025, the system must support at least 70% of resident individual tax returns, and the state must coordinate it with federal filing systems where possible. This directly affects Minnesota taxpayers who currently file individual income taxes, providing a free filing option instead of relying on paid services.

Maddy summaryHF 342 appropriates $500,000 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 to the commissioner of administration. This funding is directed to "Haven for Heroes" as a grant to plan and design a museum focused on Anoka State Hospital's history and mental health care. It also covers preserving the historic auditorium on the Anoka State Hospital campus. The bill directly affects the organization receiving the grant and the preservation efforts at the Anoka site. The funds are specifically allocated for museum planning, design, and preservation work, with no other policy changes.

Maddy summaryHF 746 appropriates $11.95 million from state bond proceeds to fund capital improvements at the Rum River Dam in Anoka, directly affecting the city of Anoka. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to this amount to cover the costs, with funds designated for safety upgrades, hydroelectric power enhancements, river surfing facilities, and potential fish passage or lock modifications. Key provisions include requiring the commissioner of natural resources to provide a grant to Anoka for these specific capital projects. The funding covers both operational improvements and infrastructure changes to the dam.

Maddy summaryHF 270 appropriates $3 million from state bond proceeds to fund a noise barrier on the south side of U.S. Highway 10 in Anoka, specifically between Fairoak Avenue and the West Main Street/Greenhaven Road interchange. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $3 million in bonds under existing bond laws, with the proceeds deposited into the trunk highway fund to cover construction costs. This directly affects Anoka residents living near that highway segment by reducing traffic noise pollution. The key mechanism is using bond financing to pay for the physical barrier, with funds specifically designated for this location. The project requires no new taxes or fees, relying solely on bond proceeds already allocated to transportation infrastructure.