Rep. Kristin Robbins

Maddy summaryHF 1434 requires commercial websites sharing material harmful to minors (defined as content with sexual depictions lacking artistic value for minors) to verify users are 18+ if 25% or more of the site’s pages contain such material. It mandates age verification using approved methods like commercial databases, prohibits retaining user identifying information, and creates a private right of action for parents to sue violators. The Minnesota Attorney General can enforce the law through civil actions, and commercial entities face $25,000 penalties per violation. This bill directly affects websites meeting the 25% harmful content threshold and targets operators of commercial platforms accessible to Minnesota residents.

Maddy summaryHF 2685 requires Minnesota schools to designate interscholastic, intramural, or club athletic teams as "males," "females," or "coed" based solely on students' biological sex at birth. The bill specifically mandates that teams designated for "females" must only include participants who were biologically female at birth. This amendment to Minnesota Statutes section 123B.49 directly affects all public and private school athletic programs in the state. The policy change replaces existing team designation practices with a requirement tied to sex assigned at birth, impacting transgender and intersex student-athletes seeking to participate on teams matching their gender identity.

Maddy summaryHF 3127 modifies Minnesota's pass-through entity tax election process, allowing certain businesses (like partnerships and S corporations) to file a single tax return instead of requiring each owner to file individually. It specifies that qualifying entities must meet ownership thresholds (over 50% of qualifying owners) to elect this tax, and the election is irrevocable for the tax year. The bill clarifies that the tax amount equals each qualifying owner's income multiplied by Minnesota's highest individual tax rate, without allowing standard deductions. This directly affects pass-through business owners and entities filing under Minnesota Statutes 289A.08 and 290.06. The changes streamline tax filing for these entities while maintaining the tax calculation method.

Maddy summaryHF 2113 exempts small Minnesota employers with 50 or fewer employees from the state's paid leave requirement. This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 268B.01, to explicitly exclude such employers from the paid leave mandate. Small businesses that currently meet the 50-employee threshold will no longer be required to provide paid leave under this law. Employers with 50 or fewer employees may still choose to opt into the paid leave program if they wish. The bill directly affects small business owners and their employees in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires drivers to stop at least 20 feet away from a school bus displaying flashing red lights while children are boarding or exiting. It directly affects all drivers approaching school buses on Minnesota roads, mandating they remain stopped until the red lights cease flashing. The bill also adds a new provision warning drivers that amber lights indicate red lights will soon activate, requiring them to prepare to stop. These changes aim to improve safety for children near school bus stops. The bill is currently pending passage after committee approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $5.4 million in state funding to help the city of Greenfield upgrade its wastewater treatment facility. The money will be used to design, build, and equip repairs for aging infrastructure that poses safety risks and threatens ongoing operations. To cover the cost, the state will issue up to $5.4 million in bonds that will be repaid through future bond proceeds. The funding is intended solely for capital improvements at the Greenfield facility and takes effect immediately upon final passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a sales tax exemption for construction materials purchased by contractors working on public projects funded by state money. It directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and builders who supply materials for eligible capital projects financed by the state of Minnesota or local governments. The key mechanism requires the state to collect the sales tax initially and then refund it after June 30, 2026, using funds from the general state budget. The exemption applies only to projects receiving direct appropriations or grants from bills enacted in 2026, and the tax refund process must follow existing procedures for similar public projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of the Ombudsperson for Anti-Asian, Anti-Asian Indian, and Anti-Religious Hate Prevention in Minnesota to address gaps in identifying and investigating hate incidents and crimes targeting Asian and Asian Indian individuals. The ombudsperson will receive complaints, help people navigate reporting processes, identify systemic issues, and coordinate with law enforcement and community organizations to improve response efforts. The office will also develop bias-aware training for state agencies, law enforcement, and schools, and maintain a statewide system for collecting detailed hate incident data. The position is appointed by the Legislative Coordinating Commission and operates independently while collaborating with the Council of Asian-Pacific Minnesotans.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Minnesota to implement federal Workforce Pell Grants by creating a state-level approval process for eligible workforce training programs. It requires the Governor's Workforce Development Board to establish application procedures, coordinate with other workforce programs, and mandate that approved programs report data on completion rates, job placement, and earnings. The bill specifically targets programs that prepare students for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations, ensuring alignment with federal requirements while giving the state authority to manage the program.

Maddy summaryHF 3507 cancels unused funds from the Blue Line light rail extension project and redirects them to fund a bus rapid transit line in the same corridor. The bill reallocates unspent money from a 2023-2024 transit appropriation to the Metropolitan Council for developing an arterial bus rapid transit line, with funds available until June 2029. This one-time reallocation affects the Metropolitan Council (which manages regional transit) and residents in the corridor where the canceled rail project was planned. The policy change shifts existing transit funding from rail to bus improvements without creating new taxes or spending.