Rep. Kari Rehrauer

Maddy summaryThis bill requires drivers to stop at least 20 feet away from a school bus displaying flashing red lights while children are boarding or exiting. It directly affects all drivers approaching school buses on Minnesota roads, mandating they remain stopped until the red lights cease flashing. The bill also adds a new provision warning drivers that amber lights indicate red lights will soon activate, requiring them to prepare to stop. These changes aim to improve safety for children near school bus stops. The bill is currently pending passage after committee approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires wage remediation for individual healthcare providers in Minnesota if a retroactive rate increase is approved by the federal government after a delay. It ensures that providers covered by the collective bargaining agreement with SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa receive back pay for the period between the original effective date and the actual federal approval date. The commissioner of human services must issue instructions to implement these wage adjustments as soon as federal approval is received, and the law takes effect the day after it is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a task force to study pain associated with specific medical procedures for women, including cesarean sections, biopsies, and intrauterine device insertions. The task force will consist of medical professionals, pain management experts, and women who have experienced these procedures, with members serving without pay but receiving expense reimbursement. Its main duties include collecting data on these procedures, gathering input from patients and providers, and exploring ways to reduce the need for these procedures or find alternatives. The group must meet at least quarterly and submit a final report to state legislators by January 1, 2028, after which the task force will disband.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals previous sales tax exemptions for preferred seating and amenities at athletic facilities, meaning these items will now be subject to sales tax when purchased with event tickets. It also provides funding for safe harbor shelter and housing grants to support homeless assistance programs. The legislation defines various retail sales for tax purposes, including bundled transactions and promotional items, while appropriating money for the housing grants.

Maddy summaryHF 2149, the Consumer Grocery Pricing Fairness Act, prohibits large grocery suppliers from offering different terms of sale (like price, discounts, or payment terms) to retailers purchasing the same volume of covered goods. It applies specifically to suppliers with over $6 billion in annual sales to retailers and dominant retailers with over $18 billion in annual sales across 20+ states. The law targets grocery items (excluding gasoline, prescription drugs, tobacco, and alcohol) and requires suppliers to offer identical per-unit terms to all comparable retailers. Violations could result in civil penalties, aiming to ensure fair pricing practices in Minnesota's grocery market.

Maddy summaryHF 3117 imposes a tiered excise tax on social media businesses that collect consumer data from Minnesota residents. It directly affects for-profit social media platforms with over 100,000 Minnesota users monthly, requiring them to pay tax based on user volume: no tax for under 100,000 users, $0.10 per user for 100,001-500,000 users, and escalating rates for larger user bases. The tax is calculated using Minnesota residents' data, defined as individuals with a Minnesota address, mailing address, or IP location tied to Minnesota. Businesses must report and pay the tax quarterly to Minnesota’s revenue commissioner, with revenues deposited into the state general fund.

Maddy summaryHF 2729 appropriates $10 million from Minnesota's general fund for fiscal year 2026 to expand the state's corporate tax compliance program. The funding supports efforts to identify and collect unpaid taxes from corporations that underreport income or fail to pay all owed taxes, with priority given to businesses reporting $25 million or more in Minnesota sales or receipts annually. The initiative, managed by the commissioner of revenue, must supplement existing enforcement resources and remains active until July 1, 2029. This bill directly affects large Minnesota-based corporations with significant revenue, aiming to improve tax collection accuracy.

Maddy summaryHF 2817 amends Minnesota law to extend service line of duty death benefits to part-time, paid on-call, and volunteer firefighters. The bill updates the definition of "public safety officer" to include these firefighters when performing specific duties like firefighting, emergency medical services, or hazardous material response. This change ensures that the families of these firefighters who die while on duty receive the same death benefits previously available only to full-time firefighters. The policy applies to firefighters working for local government fire departments or independent nonprofit firefighting organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new safe storage standards for firearms in Minnesota and creates criminal penalties for failing to meet those standards. It requires firearm owners to store guns either unloaded with a locking device or locked in a secure storage unit or locked gun room, except when the firearm is under direct physical control. The law defines specific terms like "firearm storage unit" and "gun room" and sets up escalating penalties ranging from petty misdemeanors to felonies depending on whether a child or prohibited person accesses the firearm. The bill includes several exceptions for situations like hunting, shooting sports, and law enforcement duties, and it will take effect on August 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts access to Minnesota public libraries by federal, state, or local officials conducting immigration enforcement activities. It requires library staff to deny entry unless the official presents a valid judicial warrant, and mandates that staff request identification and limit access only to areas specified in the warrant. Additionally, the bill requires library employees to immediately notify their city mayor, county board representative, or regional system board when granting such entry, while allowing officials to enter for educational or library program administration. The law applies to all public libraries in the state and takes effect immediately upon final enactment.