Rep. Kari Rehrauer

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Minnesota Business Recovery Loan Program to provide financial assistance to businesses that have suffered revenue losses exceeding 30% due to staffing shortages or disruptions caused by increased immigration enforcement activities. The program allocates $100 million in one-time funding, with $18 million designated for zero-interest loans to businesses in greater Minnesota and $82 million for zero-interest loans to businesses in the seven-county metropolitan area through nonprofit lenders. To qualify, businesses must be Minnesota-based, in good standing, and demonstrate that their revenue decline stems from immigration-related events between the bill's enactment and December 1, 2025. Loan amounts vary by business size and location, ranging from $25,000 to $200,000, and funds must be used exclusively for business operations within Minnesota rather than debt repayment or real estate investment.

Maddy summaryHF 3624 appropriates $5,392,000 from the general fund for Minnesota's food shelf programs in fiscal year 2027. The funding, added to the base allocation, supports existing food shelf operations under Minnesota Statutes section 142F.14, administered by the state agency for children, youth, and families. This bill directly affects community food shelves that provide emergency food assistance to Minnesotans in need, without changing program eligibility or creating new requirements. The measure focuses solely on providing dedicated state funding for current food shelf services.

Maddy summaryHF 3586 establishes a $10 million annual grant program for regional food banks and Minnesota Tribal governments in Minnesota, funded through the general fund for fiscal years 2027-2029. The program distributes funds based on poverty and unemployment data in each area, requiring grantees to use money for purchasing, transporting, and distributing food and hygiene products (like diapers) at no cost to recipients. Funds cannot cover staff salaries or other ineligible expenses, and grantees must report spending and maintain records for oversight. This bill directly supports food banks serving low-income individuals and families by expanding access to essential food and hygiene supplies.

Maddy summaryThis bill classifies domestic assault by strangulation as a violent crime under Minnesota law. It achieves this by adding a specific reference to strangulation statutes within the state's definition of violent crimes, which determines how certain offenses are categorized and potentially punished. The changes apply to cases involving crimes committed on or after August 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens penalties for violating domestic violence protection orders in Minnesota by categorizing repeat offenses and those involving weapons as more serious crimes. Under the new rules, a first violation is a misdemeanor with a minimum three-day jail sentence, while a second violation within ten years becomes a gross misdemeanor with a minimum ten-day sentence. A third violation within that same period or any violation involving a weapon or a prior felony conviction is classified as a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. The legislation also clarifies arrest procedures, requiring officers to hold violators for at least 36 hours and granting immunity from civil lawsuits to officers acting in good faith.

Maddy summaryHF 2904 requires certain Minnesota school employers - including school districts, charter schools, and vocational education centers - to join the state's public employees insurance program. It establishes an "educator group insurance program" specifically for school employees, mandating coverage tiers that match existing school employee pool options and including high-deductible plans. The bill creates a labor management committee with 12 members (including seven from Education Minnesota and representatives from unions and school administrators) to study program issues like cost efficiency. It also requires mutual agreement between the commissioner and the committee before changing cost-sharing plans. This bill directly affects school employees and their employers by integrating them into the state's insurance framework with specific administrative structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires homeowner's insurance policies in Minnesota to cover damage caused by peace officers using chemical irritants, smoke screens, or diversionary devices when the homeowner is entitled to compensation from the government. Effective January 1, 2027, insurers cannot exclude coverage for this specific type of damage and must allow homeowners to select their own mitigation contractors and industrial hygienists to address the harm. The law also permits insurers to require homeowners to transfer their right to claim compensation to the insurance company, while maintaining the government's obligation to pay just compensation for such incidents.

Maddy summaryHF 2490 establishes the Companion Animal Board in Minnesota to promote the welfare of cats, dogs, and other nonagricultural pets (including rabbits, guinea pigs, and small reptiles). The board, composed of 13 appointed members representing veterinarians, communities, animal shelters/rescues, breeders, and human welfare professionals, will administer policies related to companion animals while excluding agricultural animals, wildlife, and veterinary practice. The bill appropriates funding for the board's operations and requires it to issue reports, though it does not alter existing laws governing veterinary medicine or animal health. This is a procedural bill creating a new state board with defined scope and funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how disability benefits are reduced for Minnesota police, firefighter, and paramedic members who started receiving disability payments before July 1, 2023, when they return to work. It changes the calculation method for reducing disability benefits when these members earn income from other employment, ensuring the reduction applies consistently to those who began disability before the specified date. The legislation updates existing rules to clarify how much disability benefits decrease based on reemployment earnings, using a dollar-for-dollar reduction ratio for certain service levels and a tiered approach for others. This change affects only current disability recipients who started their benefits prior to the July 1, 2023 cutoff, while members who began receiving benefits on or after that date remain subject to previously established reduction rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale and use of paraquat dichloride, a pesticide, in Minnesota. Starting January 1, 2027, no one can sell or distribute this product, and by January 1, 2028, its use is also banned. The commissioner of agriculture must collect and dispose of any remaining stock of this pesticide and submit a report on its historical use and current supply chain status by January 1, 2028. The law directly affects pesticide sellers, distributors, and agricultural users who currently handle or apply this chemical.