Rep. Elliott Engen

Maddy summaryHF 100 would amend Minnesota tax law to allow taxpayers to subtract the full amount of their Social Security benefits from their state taxable income, removing previous limits. Currently, Minnesota caps this subtraction at $5,840 for joint filers, $4,560 for singles, and lower amounts for separate filers. The bill eliminates these maximums, meaning eligible taxpayers could deduct all their Social Security benefits without reduction. It directly affects Minnesota residents receiving Social Security income who file state tax returns. The change takes effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new crime called disruption of worship services in Minnesota, targeting individuals who enter religious buildings with the intent to disrupt scheduled services by committing a crime. The law defines a religious establishment as a building used for worship that is clearly marked with a sign or other identifier. First-time offenders face gross misdemeanor charges, while repeat offenders could be charged with a felony punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of $10,000 or both. The provisions take effect on August 1, 2026, and apply only to crimes committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHF 7 modifies multiple public safety laws in Minnesota. It requires law enforcement agencies to make bail/bond information public and mandates county attorneys to publicly report reasons for dismissing charges. The bill establishes mandatory minimum sentences for certain sex trafficking offenses and requires individuals subject to stays in sexual conduct cases to register as predatory offenders. It also increases penalties for assaulting police officers, obstructing highway/airport traffic, and expands law enforcement's use of tracking devices on fleeing vehicles. These changes apply directly to law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and individuals involved in criminal cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's "Read Act" to require literacy instruction based on "science of reading" research, emphasizing evidence-based methods like phonics and decoding while explicitly excluding the three-cueing system. It establishes a new Office of Achievement and Innovation within the Department of Education to support literacy implementation and creates a statewide school performance reporting system. The bill also allows school boards to opt out of complying with certain recently enacted state education laws or rules and authorizes fund transfers for education programs through fiscal year 2029. These changes directly affect all Minnesota public school districts, educators, and students by reshaping literacy instruction requirements and school accountability systems.

Maddy summaryHF 3758 prohibits state and local registrars from issuing replacement birth records that change the sex designation for minors under 18 years old, unless the original record contained an error. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 144.218 and 144.2181 to require that sex changes on birth records for minors can only occur to correct an error in the original recording. This directly affects minors under 18 and their families seeking to update birth records, as registrars must deny requests to change the sex marker except in documented error cases. The law focuses on maintaining the sex designation from the original birth record for minors, with no exceptions for gender identity changes.

Maddy summaryHF 3759 prohibits most changes to the sex designation on birth records in Minnesota, requiring that replacement records match the sex originally recorded. It specifically prevents registrars from issuing new birth records showing a different sex unless the original record contained an error that needs correction. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to clarify that sex changes are only permitted when the original entry was incorrect, not to align with a person's gender identity. This affects individuals seeking to update their birth records and state/local registrars responsible for processing such requests.

Maddy summaryHF 21 would require a three-fifths supermajority vote in both the Minnesota House and Senate to extend a peacetime emergency declaration beyond 14 days. Currently, such extensions beyond 14 days could be approved by the Executive Council, but this bill would shift that authority to the legislature. The bill directly affects governors seeking to prolong emergency powers and the legislative process for reviewing those requests. It does not change the initial 14-day emergency declaration period or the governor's authority to declare emergencies under existing criteria. Note: This bill was introduced but not passed during the 2025 legislative session.

Maddy summaryHF 2687 restricts corporate ownership of single-family homes in Minnesota by prohibiting corporate owners (including real estate investment trusts and corporations managing pooled investor funds) from owning 50 or more such homes. It increases the deed tax rate to 0.5% on transfers of single-family homes to corporate owners (up from the standard 0.0033%) and dedicates the state portion of this revenue to workforce and affordable homeownership programs. The bill also creates a statewide landlord database to track rental properties. These changes directly affect large corporate landlords and aim to increase housing affordability through targeted tax revenue.

Maddy summaryHF 2016 modifies Minnesota's general education funding to include safe schools aid for charter schools. The bill adds $36 per adjusted pupil unit for charter schools, calculated annually, to be reserved exclusively for school safety purposes defined in state law (section 126C.44, subdivision 4). This funding is integrated into the existing general education revenue calculation for charter schools, which previously received funding as though they were school districts. The change directly affects all public charter schools operating in Minnesota by providing dedicated safety funding aligned with district-level practices. It does not alter overall funding formulas but specifies a new, targeted use for a portion of existing revenue.

Maddy summaryHF 3535 establishes a ten-year property tax exemption for primary residences in Minnesota, effective for assessment year 2027. It applies to homeowners who have owned and lived in the same property as their primary residence for at least 10 continuous years prior to applying, with no outstanding property tax delinquencies. Homeowners must apply to their county assessor with proof of ownership, occupancy, and tax compliance, and the exemption automatically ends if the property is sold, transferred, or no longer used as a primary residence. This bill directly affects qualifying homeowners by reducing their annual property tax burden for a decade, subject to specific eligibility and notification requirements.