Rep. Erin Koegel

Maddy summaryHF 1630 specifies which activities highway funds cannot be used for in Minnesota. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to explicitly prohibit using highway user tax distribution funds or trunk highway funds for items like Bureau of Criminal Apprehension labs, Explore Minnesota tourism kiosks, driver education programs, electric vehicle infrastructure, and personnel costs for the governor's office. It creates a detailed list of prohibited expenditures, including specific programs and activities such as tourist information centers, parades, and soft body armor purchases. This bill directly affects state agencies and departments that manage highway funds by restricting their spending options.

Maddy summaryHF 2265 establishes new safety requirements for highway construction work zones and modifies provisional driver's license rules. It requires contractors working on "live traffic contracts" (where workers are near active lanes on trunk highways) to include specific bid items for flagging hours in their proposals. For provisional driver's licenses, the bill adds a mandatory 30-minute online work zone safety course covering safety practices, operator responsibilities, and penalties, which applicants must complete before receiving a license. These changes apply to highway construction contracts advertised after August 1, 2025, and new license applications submitted after August 1, 2026. The bill directly affects construction contractors and teen drivers seeking provisional licenses in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 1801 appropriates $2.7 million from the trunk highway fund for safety improvements along U.S. Highway 2 in Crookston, Minnesota. The funds cover predesign, design, land acquisition, preconstruction, and construction work to enhance safety on this specific highway corridor. This one-time appropriation directly affects Crookston residents and travelers using U.S. Highway 2 in the city. The money is available until the project is completed or abandoned, as specified in Minnesota law.

Maddy summaryHF 2093 allows Minnesota students to take driver's education using a mix of online, teleconference, and in-person classes from a single licensed provider. It requires the curriculum to be identical across all formats and mandates that the provider must be authorized by the commissioner to offer multiple instruction methods. The bill directly affects students seeking driver's education and licensed providers, effective August 1, 2025, for instruction starting on or after that date. This change provides flexibility in how driver's education is delivered while maintaining standardized curriculum requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 2254 adds a $400 "baby bonus" to Minnesota's existing child credit for each qualifying child born during the tax year. This directly affects Minnesota taxpayers with newborn children, increasing their state income tax credit. The bill modifies the child credit calculation by adding the $400 per newborn (without reducing the minimum credit amount) and allows for potential advance payments. It takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryHF 983 appropriates $15 million from bond proceeds and $11.5 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund Minnesota's Local Road Wetland Replacement Program. This program replaces wetlands drained during public road repairs, as required by state law (Minnesota Statutes §103G.222), and is administered by the Board of Water and Soil Resources. The bill authorizes the sale of $15 million in state bonds and allocates an additional $7.5 million annually from 2026-2027, plus $2 million yearly for program administration. It requires fair market value pricing for land/easement purchases and allows the Board to acquire wetland replacement credits through agreements with federal agencies or private entities.

Maddy summaryHF 1817 increases the annual surcharge for all-electric vehicles from $75 to $100 (effective August 1, 2025), while adding a new $25 surcharge for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Both surcharges are adjusted every three years based on changes to Minnesota’s gasoline excise tax, rounded to the nearest $5 increment. Revenue from these surcharges must be deposited into the Transportation Impact Assessment and Mitigation Account. Additionally, if the account balance exceeds 50% of annual deposits, 90% of the excess must be transferred to the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 1762 proposes adding a new constitutional amendment to Minnesota's state constitution. If approved by voters, it would guarantee all persons equal rights under state law and prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, or sex - including protections for pregnancy decisions, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. The amendment would apply to all state actions and agencies, requiring any discriminatory state action to be the "least restrictive means" of achieving a "compelling governmental interest." The proposed amendment must be submitted to voters in the 2026 general election, with implementation starting January 1, 2027, if ratified.

Maddy summaryHF 1798 modifies how Minnesota distributes sales tax revenue from vehicle repair and replacement parts. It increases the percentage of these tax proceeds allocated to the highway user tax distribution fund over time, starting at 43.5% in fiscal year 2024 and rising to 56.5% by fiscal year 2033. The remaining revenue after these allocations flows to the state's general fund. This bill directly affects state transportation funding priorities by shifting more resources toward highway maintenance and infrastructure projects. The change applies specifically to taxes on parts, tires, and fluids used in vehicle maintenance and repair.

Maddy summaryHF 1812 establishes a state-run Minnesota Health Plan to guarantee comprehensive, affordable health care for every Minnesota resident. The plan covers all necessary medical, dental, vision, mental health, and long-term care services without co-pays, with premiums based on income. It creates new state entities including the Minnesota Health Board, Health Fund, Office of Health Quality and Planning, a patient advocacy ombudsman, and an auditor for the plan. The bill also requests a federal waiver under the Affordable Care Act to modify certain health insurance requirements and appropriates funding for implementation.