Rep. Kristin Bahner

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for impersonating a police officer in Minnesota. It upgrades the base offense to a felony (up to 2 years in jail or $4,000 fine) and creates a new crime for impersonating while carrying a firearm (up to 10 years in jail or $20,000 fine). The bill also requires anyone pretending to be a law enforcement officer to identify themselves when asked and imposes harsher penalties if they commit other crimes while impersonating an officer (e.g., a misdemeanor becomes a gross misdemeanor). It directly affects individuals who falsely pose as police officers, including those using fake uniforms, vehicle markings, or equipment to mimic law enforcement.

Maddy summaryHF 3629 updates Minnesota's state grant management rules. It centralizes oversight under the commissioner of administration, requiring standardized policies for all state agencies, a single point of contact for grant issues, and centralized tracking of grant opportunities. The bill also adds privacy protections for individuals reporting grant fraud or waste, and expands termination rules for grant recipients convicted of crimes related to grant agreements - now including key personnel like executives and board members. These changes directly affect all state agencies managing grants and the organizations receiving state grant funds.

Maddy summaryHF 3453 amends Minnesota Statutes section 152.027 to raise the legal age for possessing kratom from 18 to 21 years. It makes it a gross misdemeanor to sell kratom to anyone under 21 and a misdemeanor for anyone under 21 to possess it. The bill directly affects minors under 21 and businesses selling kratom, prohibiting sales to this age group and restricting their possession. The change applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2026. This is a substantive policy change altering age restrictions under Minnesota's controlled substances law.

Maddy summaryHF 1606 prohibits websites, apps, software, or programs from allowing users to access, download, or use technology that alters images or videos to reveal private body parts (defined as "nudification"). It directly affects platform operators who host such tools and individuals whose images are altered without consent. The bill creates civil lawsuits for victims, allowing them to seek triple damages, punitive penalties, and attorney fees, while imposing $500,000 civil penalties per violation on violators. It becomes effective August 1, 2025, targeting the unauthorized use of image-altering technology that could harm individuals' privacy.

Maddy summaryHF 2358 increases penalties for coercion crimes that cause serious injury or death, imposing a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison or a $30,000 fine for such cases. It replaces the previous penalty structure - which depended on monetary value (e.g., $300-$2,500 losses) - with this fixed felony penalty when coercion directly results in great bodily harm or death. The bill also mandates a public awareness campaign by the public safety and education commissioners to inform the public and students about the law change, to begin by September 15, 2025, and repeat biennially. This law takes effect on August 1, 2026, applying to crimes committed after that date.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota bill requires large social media platforms to implement specific protections for children under 18, including restrictions on addictive design features like infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, and personalized feeds. The law applies to platforms that earn at least $1 billion in annual advertising revenue and defines "addictive interface features" in detail, such as push notifications and metrics showing likes or follower counts. Parents of children under 15 must receive clear notifications about their child's online activity, and platforms must provide tools for parents to manage their child's account settings. The bill also establishes enforcement mechanisms and sets up a new chapter in Minnesota statutes to govern these requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 5149 restricts law enforcement from making civil immigration arrests at court facilities and surrounding areas to protect individuals attending legal proceedings. The bill defines 'civil arrest' as taking someone into custody for immigration violations and explicitly prohibits this action within courthouses, parking lots, and nearby sidewalks. It also establishes protections for court companions, such as family members and advocates, by extending these arrest restrictions to anyone accompanying a person to court. Additionally, the legislation modifies laws related to concealing identity and expands investigations into police use of force.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a price ceiling for specific prescription drugs in Minnesota that are subject to federal Medicare drug price negotiations. It requires drug manufacturers to stop accepting payments higher than the federal "maximum fair price" for these medications, while also ensuring pharmacies receive at least that amount or the national average cost, whichever is higher. To enforce these rules, the law prohibits manufacturers from removing drugs from the market to evade price limits unless they provide advance notice, and it mandates that health plans and pharmacy benefit managers share detailed financial data with the state's Prescription Drug Affordability Board. The provisions will take effect on January 1, 2027, impacting drug manufacturers, health insurance plans, pharmacy benefit managers, and pharmacies operating in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Metropolitan Council to sell transit-related merchandise, food, and beverages at retail locations, online, and within transit stations in seven specific Minnesota counties. The legislation allows the council to partner with private entities to help market and manage these sales. Any money earned from these sales must be used to fund improvements for the region's transportation capital projects.

Maddy summaryHF 1082 establishes the Minnesota Victims of Crime Account, funded by increased fees/penalties from criminal cases and additional general fund transfers. It appropriates specific funds for fiscal years 2026-2027 to provide grants to organizations that received crime victim service grants in 2024. These grants must support direct services for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and general crime - including client assistance, housing supports, culturally responsive programming, and prevention efforts like restorative justice. The bill requires services to prioritize underserved communities and reflect Minnesota’s diversity, with up to 10% of funds allowed for grant administration.