Rep. Kari Rehrauer

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits large food retail stores in Minnesota from using surveillance technology to set personalized prices for individual customers. It bans the use of electronic shelving labels and prevents stores from collecting data on shoppers under 17 years old or using protected class information like race or gender to determine pricing. The law applies to grocery stores over 10,000 square feet or larger stores with significant food sales, while excluding financial institutions and insurance companies from its requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 3408 bans retailers from setting personalized prices for goods based on consumer surveillance data like facial recognition, biometric scans, or location tracking. It directly affects stores selling physical items (including retail food stores) by prohibiting the use of electronic surveillance technology to create customized pricing for individual shoppers. The bill defines prohibited data broadly to include biometric information, browsing history, and other personal details collected through surveillance methods. Retailers must now use standard pricing approaches instead of surveillance-based price setting.

Maddy summaryHF 3794 prohibits businesses from using automated systems to set individualized prices or wages based on surveillance data about consumers or workers. It directly affects companies that collect and analyze personal data like browsing history, location, biometrics, or purchase habits to adjust pricing or pay. The bill defines key terms (e.g., "surveillance data" includes inferred behaviors and biometrics) and allows exceptions for cost-based pricing, publicly available group discounts (like for veterans or seniors), and insurance risk assessments. It creates new legal standards to prevent discrimination tied to personal data collection, without banning all personalized pricing.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the "Yes in God's Back Yard (YIGBY) Housing Act," restricts Minnesota municipalities from enforcing zoning laws that significantly hinder religious organizations from building affordable housing on land they have owned for at least one year. It requires local governments to temporarily pause enforcement of such regulations upon receiving a written notice from a religious institution and then conduct a legal review to ensure the rules are the least restrictive means of serving a compelling government interest. If a municipality determines its rules violate these standards, it must adjust or suspend their application, while the bill also grants religious institutions the right to sue for damages and attorney fees if their rights are infringed.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program to provide funding for student and staff safety improvements at schools. The Department of Public Safety's School Safety Center will distribute these grants to qualifying public, charter, and nonpublic schools. Each eligible school may receive up to $500,000 for authorized safety projects, provided they demonstrate additional funding sources. The legislation requires that at least half of the grants be awarded to schools located outside the seven-county metropolitan area. Funding is allocated from the state general fund for fiscal year 2027 and remains available until June 30, 2029.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota school boards to establish a formal process for including student representation when advising on board matters. The law mandates that students have a voice in school governance starting with the 2026-2027 school year. By changing the current language from "encouraged" to "must," the legislation ensures that student input becomes a mandatory part of the decision-making framework for school boards.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates state funding in fiscal year 2027 to the Pollution Control Agency to conduct a study on critical materials found in Minnesota's waste stream. The study will estimate the volume of products containing these materials, measure how much is currently recovered through recycling, and assess the total amount present in waste. The commissioner must complete the research and submit the findings to legislative committees by October 1, 2028. "Critical materials" are defined as specific resources listed by the U.S. Department of Energy that are essential for national security and economic stability.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of up to $25 million in state bonds to fund the second phase of the Avivo regional treatment, career, and employment center in Minneapolis. The funds will be used by Hennepin County for design, site preparation, environmental cleanup, renovation, new construction, and equipping the campus. The legislation is designed to support the expansion of this facility, which provides services for individuals with disabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits local elected officials in Minnesota from signing nondisclosure agreements related to potential data center projects within their jurisdictions. The law defines "local elected officials" to include city council members, mayors, county commissioners, and similar roles, while specifying that "data center" refers to the definition provided in existing state statutes. Any agreement violating this rule would be automatically considered void and unenforceable, though the rest of the contract would remain valid, and officials who sign such prohibited contracts must publicly disclose them. The restrictions apply only to agreements entered into on or after August 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies eviction rules for residents of manufactured home parks in Minnesota to provide more time for them to vacate and protect their financial interests. It extends the period during which a court order to remove a home is paused from seven to 90 days, allowing residents to arrange for the home's removal or an in-park sale, while also ensuring they can stay in the home for ten days after the order is issued. The legislation requires park owners to include a specific notice in eviction paperwork explaining that residents are entitled to any leftover money from a future sale of their home after debts are paid. Additionally, it mandates that if a park owner takes title to a home and sells it, any surplus funds must be returned to the former resident within 30 days once contact information is provided. These changes aim to clarify procedures and ensure fair treatment for residents facing eviction proceedings.