Rep. Elliott Engen

Maddy summaryHF 327 increases penalties for bringing contraband into Minnesota correctional facilities. The bill amends Minnesota law to set specific maximum sentences: introducing contraband (excluding weapons) becomes a felony punishable by up to two years in prison, while bringing dangerous weapons into facilities becomes a felony punishable by up to five years. This directly affects individuals who attempt to smuggle prohibited items into jails or prisons, as well as correctional facilities managing security. The law does not change what constitutes contraband but clarifies and raises the criminal penalties for violations.

Maddy summaryHF 138 requires Minnesota's state agency (the commissioner) to gather and compile annual data on human trafficking within the state, replacing the previous biennial requirement. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 299A.785 to mandate yearly publication of this data, making it publicly available. The published report must include details on trafficking extent and nature, as well as other relevant information identified by the commissioner. This change directly affects how state agencies collect and share trafficking data, increasing the frequency of public reporting.

Maddy summaryHF 331 exempts all school supplies from Minnesota's sales and use tax, effective July 1, 2025. It defines "school supplies" broadly to include items like notebooks, pencils, binders, calculators, and book bags priced at $60 or less, while excluding non-school items like stationery or hiking backpacks. This change directly affects students, families, and schools purchasing these items, removing a sales tax burden on essential educational materials. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 297A.67 to add this specific tax exemption.

Maddy summaryHF 137 amends Minnesota law to broaden the definition of a "prior qualified human trafficking-related offense." It expands the definition to include any past conviction or adjudication for human trafficking-related violations committed at any point in a person's lifetime (not just within 10 years), as well as similar offenses from other states. This change directly affects individuals convicted of human trafficking crimes, as prior out-of-state or older Minnesota convictions will now count toward enhanced penalties under Minnesota Statutes section 609.321. The amendment applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 717 allocates $6.75 million from state bond proceeds to Anoka County for a 1.75-mile segment of the Rice Creek Regional Trail in Circle Pines. The funds will cover construction of two pedestrian bridges, a boardwalk, solar lighting, and interpretive stations along the trail. The state will issue bonds up to $6.75 million to finance this project under Minnesota's bond authorization laws. This bill directly affects Anoka County's trail development and local residents who use the completed trail segment.

Maddy summaryHF 330 requires the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission to create and maintain a publicly accessible website with a searchable database of criminal sentencing information. The database must include details like case numbers, defendant names, offense types, sentence lengths (both executed and stayed), and whether sentences deviated from standard guidelines - without including non-public data. Users can search by multiple fields (e.g., location, date, crime type), sort results, and download data. This directly affects the public (who gains access to sentencing records) and the Commission (which must build and manage the system), while courts must transmit required sentencing data to the Commission. The bill does not change sentencing laws but makes existing sentencing data publicly available.

Maddy summaryHF 326 prohibits a person from entering or being found in a motor vehicle they know or have reason to believe was stolen, creating a new misdemeanor offense. It directly affects individuals who enter stolen vehicles, requiring them to have knowledge of the vehicle's stolen status to be charged. The bill establishes a two-tier penalty: a misdemeanor for first offenses and a gross misdemeanor for repeat violations after prior conviction for the same offense. The law takes effect on August 1, 2025, applying to crimes committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHF 131 requires individuals who receive a stay of adjudication (a delay in final conviction) for specific criminal sexual conduct offenses to register as predatory offenders. This affects people convicted of offenses listed in Minnesota law, including crimes under sections 609.342-609.3453, such as criminal sexual conduct or using minors in sexual performances. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 243.166 to add this registration requirement for those on a stay, unless a juvenile court waives it for good cause. It applies regardless of whether the individual later faces a full conviction for the same offense.

Maddy summaryHF 191 abolishes Minnesota's motor fuel taxes on gasoline and diesel, eliminating the tax collected at the pump. This directly affects distributors, special fuel dealers, and bulk purchasers who previously paid or handled these taxes under Minnesota Statutes. The bill updates related tax laws (like licensing requirements in sections 296A.03-296A.06) to remove references to the abolished tax and repeals specific tax statutes. It also transfers funds from the former tax revenue stream and appropriates money for transportation purposes. The changes take effect upon the bill's passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HF 139) increases annual cost-of-living adjustments for retirees in Minnesota's Public Employees Police and Fire Retirement Plan and State Patrol Retirement Plan. It raises the standard adjustment from 1% to up to 1.5% annually (based on federal Social Security COLA), and shortens the required waiting period from 36 months to 12 months for full benefits. Retirees receiving benefits for less than 12 months will now get a pro-rated increase based on months served. The changes take effect for adjustments starting January 1, 2026, and apply automatically unless retirees opt out in writing.