Rep. Kari Rehrauer

Maddy summaryHF 2709 modifies access rules for census workers and political candidates in apartment buildings (multiple unit dwellings). It requires buildings to permit access between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily for both groups, mandates 24-hour prior notice for entry, and encourages owners to notify residents when census workers or candidates plan visits. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 2.92 (census access) and 211B.20 (candidate access), updating existing provisions without changing who may enter or the core access hours. It directly affects apartment building managers, census workers, and political candidates seeking voter contact. The changes focus on standardizing notice requirements and operating hours, not altering eligibility for entry.

Maddy summaryHF 51 authorizes Minnesota school districts to use state education funds for roof repairs and replacements costing $100,000 or more per site as part of the long-term facilities maintenance program. School districts must develop a ten-year facility plan that includes a roof maintenance schedule, health and safety measures (like indoor air quality management), and provisions for gender-neutral restrooms at each school. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to explicitly include roof projects in eligible uses of the funding, effective for fiscal year 2027 and later. This legislation expands the types of maintenance projects that can be funded under the existing education finance program without changing the overall funding formula.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $20 million ($10 million for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027) to create regional food bank grants. It directs the commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families to distribute funds to regional food banks and federally recognized Minnesota tribes to purchase, transport, and distribute food through federal programs, with optional use for hygiene products like diapers. Recipients must comply with federal food assistance guidelines and report spending to the commissioner. The program aims to increase food availability for individuals and families in need across Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 3120 requires Minnesota's commissioner of education to amend the state's "North Star" accountability plan, directly affecting school districts and students who opt out of standardized testing. The bill mandates that districts no longer report scores for students who opt out of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments, and excludes these students from all group data used to calculate district or school achievement rates. This change applies starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The legislation modifies how student assessment data is reported under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act framework.

Maddy summaryHF 3193 allows Minnesota municipalities to halt tax increment financing (TIF) payments to developers, contractors, or subcontractors who violate state or local labor laws. The bill requires municipalities to hold a public hearing with prior notice before stopping payments, including specific details about the alleged violation. Developers or contractors affected can challenge the decision in court within 30 days, with courts required to rule in their favor if proper procedures weren't followed or no violation occurred. This policy directly affects development projects using TIF funding and aims to enforce labor law compliance through financial consequences.

Maddy summaryHF 2228 establishes a 13-member task force to address insurance affordability issues affecting homeowners, renters in multifamily housing, common interest communities, cooperatives, and small businesses. The task force will review topics like risk mitigation, liability laws, reinsurance markets, and climate-related claim costs, then submit recommendations by February 2026. The bill appropriates $200,000 from the general fund to cover the task force’s operational costs through June 2026. It does not make immediate policy changes but requires a final report with findings and draft legislation to strengthen Minnesota’s property insurance system.

Maddy summaryHF 3156 restricts local governments from blocking affordable housing developments by religious organizations on their own land. It requires cities to permit such projects as a "permitted use" in specific zones: up to three units on most residential lots, up to eight units outside single-family districts, and up to 12 units in mixed-use or commercial areas. The bill defines "affordable housing" as developments where 20-40% of units are for households earning ≤50-60% of area median income, and sets minimum density requirements (e.g., 1.25x existing density). This directly affects religious organizations seeking to build housing, cities with zoning codes that previously restricted such projects, and low-income residents in communities where these developments may be constructed.

Maddy summaryHF 3147 appropriates $20 million from state bond proceeds to fund new habitats for lions, tigers, cougars, snow leopards, and wolves at St. Paul's Como Zoo. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $20 million in bonds to cover these construction costs, with funds directed through the Metropolitan Council to the City of St. Paul. The habitats must include space for animal care, training, enrichment, and veterinary services beyond basic exhibit areas. This legislation directly affects Como Zoo operations and the specific animal species listed, using state financing to modernize their facilities.

Maddy summaryHF 2554 designates a specific bridge on Burnsville Parkway over Interstate Highway 35W in Burnsville, Minnesota, as the "Elmstrand * Finseth * Ruge Heroes Memorial Bridge." The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 161.14 to formally name the structure and requires the transportation commissioner to adopt appropriate signage for it. This is a commemorative measure naming a physical location, not a policy change affecting residents or creating new laws. The bridge itself is the direct subject of the designation, with no broader legislative impact beyond the memorial name and signage.

Maddy summaryHF 3164 establishes a Minnesota state program providing $10,000 relocation grants to veterans who were involuntarily terminated from federal jobs on or after January 20, 2025, and establish Minnesota residency before January 1, 2027, while beginning at least 20 hours/week of work in the state before that date. The program, funded by a $6 million appropriation from the workforce development fund for fiscal year 2026 (including $50,000 for outreach), requires applicants to apply through the commissioner of employment and economic development. The commissioner must report on the program’s implementation to legislative committees by March 1, 2027. This policy directly supports eligible veterans transitioning to Minnesota employment and aims to strengthen the state’s workforce.