Rep. Kari Rehrauer

Maddy summaryHF 3356 requires sellers to remove all emergency vehicle identifying features - like sirens, lights, emblems, and antennas - from public safety vehicles (such as police or fire vehicles) before selling them to the public. This applies to private sales but excludes transfers to government entities, licensed ambulance services, or collector vehicles registered under specific statutes. Sellers must provide a certificate confirming the removal, and violations carry a $2,500 civil penalty, with funds directed to Minnesota’s victims of crime account. The bill aims to prevent misleading sales that could allow misuse of emergency vehicle markings.

Maddy summaryHF 3620 prohibits Minnesota state agencies and the commissioner from purchasing single-use plastic food service items (like plates, cups, cutlery, and clamshell containers) and plastic bottles under 21 fluid ounces. The law applies to all state procurement contracts and bid specifications issued after its effective date, which is the day after enactment. Exceptions allow purchases when prohibited items are unavailable, during emergencies, or when necessary for health, safety, or accessibility needs. This bill directly affects state purchasing decisions and aims to reduce plastic waste in government operations.

Maddy summaryHF 3477 creates a legal right for Minnesotans to sue state or local officials who violate their civil rights under the U.S. or Minnesota Constitution while acting in their official capacity. It allows victims to seek damages, injunctions, and attorney fees in court, with claims needing to be filed within six years. The bill also requires state and local law enforcement agencies to get written agreements from federal partners ensuring federal officers comply with both constitutions and can be held liable under this law during joint operations. These provisions apply to all cases filed on or after the law's effective date.

Maddy summaryHF 3409 prohibits Minnesota public schools from denying students access to free K-12 education based on the student's or their parent's immigration status or citizenship. It requires schools to stop collecting unnecessary immigration information, avoid threatening to share such details with law enforcement, and ensure no student or parent is excluded from school activities due to immigration status. The bill also creates a legal remedy, allowing students or parents who face such denial to file a civil lawsuit for redress.

Maddy summaryHF 3795 is a Minnesota legislative resolution condemning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) actions during Operation Metro Surge, which allegedly caused violence, unlawful detentions, and constitutional violations against Minnesotans. It specifically references two deaths (Renee Good and Alex Pretti), widespread harm including school disruptions, healthcare avoidance, and economic impacts on agriculture and businesses. The resolution calls for a federal investigation into these actions and demands accountability, directing copies to the President, DHS Secretary, and Minnesota’s congressional delegation. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses legislative stance without creating new law.

Maddy summaryHF 3695 establishes a task force to create a standardized identification system for Minnesota emergency responders (including police, firefighters, and EMTs). The task force, composed of state agency leaders and representative organizations, must design an ID card including a photo, name, role (e.g., peace officer or EMT), physical description, and certification details. It will also develop a plan for mandatory use of this ID by responders and their employers, and recommend whether the state or local governments should issue it. The bill appropriates funds for the task force’s work and requires a final report to the legislature by 2028. This is a procedural proposal to develop standards, not an immediate law.

Maddy summaryHF 3698 prohibits publishers from including certain restrictive terms in license agreements for libraries' electronic books and digital audiobooks. It directly affects Minnesota public libraries, school libraries, and the Minitex network by banning clauses that prevent libraries from lending digital materials - such as restrictions on interlibrary loans or limiting how materials can be shared. The law requires contracts to allow libraries to perform standard lending functions, including loaning materials via digital systems. It becomes effective 60 days after Minnesota’s secretary of state confirms other states with at least 7 million combined population have similar laws.

Maddy summaryHF 44 requires food manufacturers and brand owners to test packaged food products for ortho-phthalates and report detailed results to Minnesota's Commissioner of Agriculture. Specifically, companies must submit written notices within 30 days before selling or distributing products in Minnesota, including chemical names, quantities detected, testing methods, and laboratory details. This applies to most packaged foods (excluding retail-packaged bakery items, meat, and produce) and includes reporting requirements for each product's UPC barcode. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, with testing laboratories required to meet ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation standards.

Maddy summaryHF 2614 prohibits Minnesota counties and municipalities from requiring or incentivizing homeowners to join a homeowners association (HOA) as a condition for residential permits or development approvals. It also bans local governments from forcing HOAs to include terms in their governing documents (like declarations or bylaws) that aren't required by state law. The bill amends state statutes to specifically block counties from conditioning permits on HOA creation or requiring HOA-related features, and extends similar restrictions to municipalities for residential development permits. This directly affects homeowners in new residential developments and HOAs by limiting local government control over HOA formation and internal rules.

Maddy summaryHF 2740 requires Minnesota’s Housing Finance Agency commissioner to submit annual reports on affordable housing funding applications, awards, and housing units (including construction/renovation types), plus annual financial stability data broken down by region. It limits commitment terms for low-income tax credit programs to match federal compliance periods (Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code), directly affecting housing providers who must meet these requirements. The bill also mandates the commissioner to develop a policy framework for stabilizing affordable housing by identifying regulatory relief options and proposing improvements by January 2026, with $ appropriated from the Housing Development Fund for this work. These provisions primarily impact affordable housing providers, local governments receiving aid, and the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.