Rep. Zack Stephenson

Maddy summaryHF 1582 modifies Minnesota's Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) benefits for educators. It allows teachers with 30 years of service to retire at age 60 without reduced annuity payments (previously requiring 35 years), adjusts early retirement penalties, and increases postretirement cost-of-living adjustments. The bill also raises employer contribution rates for school districts (from 13.3% to 17.3% for basic members) and increases pension adjustment revenue rates for school districts starting in 2026. These changes directly affect current and future TRA members, school districts funding retirement costs, and the state's retirement system budget.

Maddy summaryHF 35 requires all health insurance plans in Minnesota to create a maternal mental health program by January 1, 2026. The program must ensure comprehensive care for pregnant and postpartum individuals by mandating screenings during the perinatal period, requiring fair reimbursement for providers who conduct screenings or provide treatment, and ensuring timely referrals to mental health specialists when needed. This directly affects health insurance plans covering these services and aims to improve access to mental health care for this population. The bill prohibits unreasonable delays in referrals for clinically indicated cases, such as positive mental health screenings or reports of suicidal thoughts.

Maddy summaryHF 953 requires all licensed Minnesota hospitals and birth centers to provide new parents with written materials before a baby's discharge. These materials, developed and approved by the state health commissioner, teach parents how to recognize signs of physical abuse in infants and how to report suspected abuse. The bill directly affects hospitals/birth centers (via mandatory education) and new parents (as recipients of the materials). It focuses on concrete policy changes: standardized, commissioner-approved resources for early intervention, not on outcomes or advocacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $238,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $238,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to support the Minnesota Helmets to Hardhats program. The funds will help Building Strong Communities connect National Guard members, military reservists, active duty personnel, and veterans to construction industry apprenticeships and career training through the Department of Labor and Industry. The program must not discriminate based on protected characteristics like race, religion, or gender. It directly affects military-connected individuals seeking careers in building and construction trades.

Maddy summaryHF 1762 proposes adding a new constitutional amendment to Minnesota's state constitution. If approved by voters, it would guarantee all persons equal rights under state law and prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, or sex - including protections for pregnancy decisions, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. The amendment would apply to all state actions and agencies, requiring any discriminatory state action to be the "least restrictive means" of achieving a "compelling governmental interest." The proposed amendment must be submitted to voters in the 2026 general election, with implementation starting January 1, 2027, if ratified.

Maddy summaryHF 1929 appropriates $7,084,000 from state bond proceeds to fund capital improvements at the Coon Rapids Dam on the Mississippi River. The Three Rivers Park District will use this funding to design, engineer, and build safety and operational upgrades to the dam structure. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to this amount to cover the costs, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law. This directly affects the dam's maintenance and public safety, benefiting residents and users of the Mississippi River corridor.

Maddy summaryHF 1842 authorizes sports betting and fantasy contests in Minnesota while establishing licensing requirements for operators and prohibiting local governments from banning these activities. The bill creates a tax system for sports betting and fantasy contests, requires operators to obtain state licenses, and includes specific rules for mobile betting applications and in-game wagers. It clarifies that standard fantasy sports contests (based on real athlete performance) are permitted, but esports events must meet additional criteria. The legislation also updates tax rates for pari-mutuel horse racing and requires reports on gambling revenue, affecting operators, tribal casinos, and residents aged 21+ who place bets.

Maddy summaryHF 1634 allows cities and counties in Minnesota that operate their own municipal cannabis stores to also hold a license for lower-potency hemp edible retailers. Previously, such municipalities were prohibited from holding both types of licenses under state law. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 342.32 and 342.43 to explicitly permit this dual licensing, removing a prior restriction. This change directly affects local governments managing public cannabis retail operations, enabling them to expand into hemp edibles without needing separate private business licenses. The policy change focuses on clarifying and expanding licensing options for municipal cannabis operations.

Maddy summaryHF 1605 limits rent increases for senior housing projects in Minnesota that receive federal low-income housing tax credits. It applies to units restricted to seniors under Minnesota law and receiving tax credits under federal Section 42. The bill restricts annual rent increases to the greater of: (1) the previous year's Social Security COLA minus 1%, or (2) zero percent. This directly affects low-income senior tenants in these specific federally subsidized housing projects by capping rent hikes. The law amends Minnesota Statutes section 462A.222 to add this rent limitation provision.

Maddy summaryHF 1651 directs $10 million from the general fund to Minnesota's active transportation account for a pedestrian bridge project. The funds are specifically allocated to the city of Anoka to cover design, engineering, environmental analysis, land acquisition, and construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Rum River Dam. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2029, and is tied directly to the Rum River Dam improvements in Anoka. The bill affects Anoka residents and local infrastructure planning by providing dedicated funding for this specific bridge project.