Maddy summaryThis bill is a resolution from the Minnesota Legislature that formally asks Congress to overturn the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC. It requests that Congress propose a constitutional amendment to clarify that only natural persons, not corporations or other artificial entities, possess rights under the Constitution. The proposed amendment would also state that spending money to influence elections is not protected speech and would allow governments to regulate or limit campaign contributions to ensure equal political access. Additionally, the bill mandates that all permissible campaign spending must be publicly disclosed. Ultimately, the resolution directs state officials to send copies of the text to federal leaders and Minnesota's congressional representatives.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill makes it illegal to advertise a price for goods or services while hiding mandatory fees that consumers must pay. It defines these hidden fees as charges that are unavoidable or that a reasonable person would expect to be included in the total cost, though it excludes government taxes. Businesses must clearly show any additional flat fees or percentages before a customer selects items and again on a subtotal page before checkout. The law includes specific exemptions for motor vehicle dealers, utilities regulated by the state, and certain real estate settlement costs.
Maddy summaryHF 5242 is a conference committee report that finalizes funding and policy changes for Minnesota's transportation, labor, and housing sectors. The bill directs specific budget allocations to the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, and the Metropolitan Council for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, with particular attention to active transportation projects like the Mississippi Skyway Trail Bridge. It also updates regulations covering driver testing, greenhouse gas emissions, electric-assisted bicycles, and various labor and housing programs. Additionally, the legislation establishes new advisory committees and task forces while modifying existing state statutes and rules related to these industries.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum pay standards for teachers and certain unlicensed school staff in Minnesota, setting a salary floor of $60,000 for most full-time teachers and $80,000 for those with a master's degree and over a decade of experience. It also mandates that covered unlicensed staff members, such as paraprofessionals and aides, earn at least $25 per hour, with all these rates scheduled to be adjusted every four years based on inflation. To help school districts meet these new financial obligations, the legislation creates state aid programs that cover the cost of raising teacher salaries and unlicensed staff wages from their 2024 levels to the new minimums. The law applies to public school districts, charter schools, and other educational entities, while explicitly stating that these minimums do not interfere with existing collective bargaining agreements.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state agencies, public universities, charter schools, and local municipalities from banning or removing rainbow flags and other rainbow displays from their property. While it protects these symbols, it includes an exception for public meeting rooms or spaces where general rules already restrict the display of any banners or posters. The law applies immediately upon enactment and ensures that government entities cannot enforce policies that specifically target rainbow imagery.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Equal Access to Broadband Act in Minnesota and updates existing laws to clarify definitions and rules for broadband services and infrastructure. It defines specific terms like "underserved areas" and "last-mile infrastructure" to help identify regions lacking high-speed internet and to distinguish between different parts of the network. The legislation also grants local governments the authority to require broadband providers to obtain a franchise or municipal authorization before placing infrastructure in public rights-of-way. Under this new framework, cities and counties can charge fees to broadband providers to cover costs associated with occupying public space or to generate revenue. Additionally, the bill ensures that various utility companies, including those providing broadband, can continue to use public roads for construction and maintenance without interfering with public safety.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's unemployment insurance rules to clarify eligibility for workers who stop working due to a labor dispute at their workplace. It states that applicants involved in such disputes are not considered to have quit or been fired, nor are they on leave, which preserves their potential claim for benefits. The law specifies that eligibility depends on whether the worker is directly participating in the dispute or if the dispute involves a conflict between different labor organizations. Additionally, the bill clarifies that quitting or being fired while a dispute is active does not end the worker's participation in the dispute for benefit purposes.