Rep. Roger Skraba

Maddy summaryHF 733 removes restrictions on handheld electronic devices used for bingo and pull-tab games in Minnesota. The bill amends state law to allow these devices, which must meet specific requirements like a $0.25 minimum ticket price, a limit of 36 bingo faces per game, and no slot machine-style features (e.g., spinning reels or bonus screens). It also requires devices to support visually impaired players and maintain transaction records. This change directly affects bingo and pull-tab operators by enabling new electronic gameplay options while maintaining key safeguards.

Maddy summaryHF 3205 appropriates $235,000 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund for the 2026 fiscal year to reinstall the Christopher Columbus statue on the State Capitol Mall. The funds are directed to the commissioner of administration, who must work with the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board to complete the reinstallation. This bill is procedural, allocating existing funds for a specific physical display without creating new laws or affecting citizens.

Maddy summaryHF 3217 appropriates $15 million from Minnesota's climate and economic development fund to make payments to specific bioindustrial facilities. It directly affects businesses that began private investments for land, infrastructure, buildings, or equipment before June 30, 2024, to produce advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, or biomass thermal energy. Payments will cover unpaid claims submitted under Minnesota Statutes §41A.16-41A.18 by April 30, 2025, and applications open August 1, 2026. The funds are a one-time allocation available until July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state aid program for local fire protection and emergency medical services (EMS) special taxing districts in Minnesota. It provides state funding equal to 50% of each district's certified annual levy for fire/EMS services, paid annually by July 20 starting in 2026. The aid is funded through an annual appropriation from the general fund, with payments calculated and certified by the commissioner of revenue before August 1 each year. This directly affects existing districts formed under specific Minnesota statutes (e.g., 144F.01, 1987 ch.402, 1993 ch.375, or 2009 ch.88).

Maddy summaryHF 1790 appropriates $3 million annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund to support the state's 12 regional library systems. The funding must be used to provide educational programs in Minnesota arts, history, literary arts, and cultural heritage, including promoting Minnesota authors from diverse backgrounds. Funds will be distributed using a specific formula based on Minnesota Statutes 134.355 (75%) plus an additional 25% distributed proportionally among all qualifying library entities. This bill directly affects regional library systems, public libraries, and community programs partnering with them to deliver these educational opportunities.

Maddy summaryHF 3154 appropriates $200,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to provide grants to the Rural Policy and Development Center. The funds are allocated through the commissioner of agriculture under Minnesota Statutes section 116J.421. This bill directly affects the Rural Policy and Development Center by providing dedicated funding for its operations and grant programs in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 2147 exempts hot tubs or whirlpools on houseboats and single-unit rental properties from most public pool safety requirements in Minnesota. It requires property owners to ensure water temperature stays below 106°F, test chlorine/bromine, pH, and alkalinity before each rental, and provide renters with a specific notice about the exemption. The bill mandates a posted warning: "NOTICE: This spa is exempt from certain state and local sanitary requirements... USE AT YOUR OWN RISK." It directly affects rental property owners, resorts, and renters of these properties, while prohibiting local governments from adding extra requirements for qualifying hot water pools.

Maddy summaryHF 3158 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds vote in both the Minnesota House and Senate to authorize public funding for the design, construction, or renovation of a professional sports facility. Currently, a simple majority vote suffices for such funding. The amendment must be submitted to voters in the 2026 general election, where they will decide whether to adopt the two-thirds requirement. If approved by voters, this change would become part of the Minnesota Constitution, affecting future legislative decisions on sports facility funding.

Maddy summaryHF 8 streamlines Minnesota's environmental permitting process to improve efficiency and transparency. It sets specific timeframes (90 days for simpler permits, 150 days for complex ones), requires the Pollution Control Agency to issue separate construction and operation permits for certain facilities, and mandates that petitioners for environmental assessments must live in affected or neighboring counties. The bill also eliminates preliminary environmental assessment steps for projects requiring full environmental impact statements and requires the agency to publish annual reports tracking permitting progress. These changes directly affect developers, landowners, and the Pollution Control Agency in processing environmental permits.

Maddy summaryHF 1633 allocates $12 million from bond proceeds for capital improvements to public water access points and boating facilities on Minnesota's public waters, and $17.8 million for capital upgrades to state fish hatcheries. The funds will be raised through state bonds sold by the commissioner of management and budget. Specifically, $3 million of the hatchery funding is designated for planning and building a new St. Paul hatchery replacement in the seven-county metro area, designed for research and education. The bill authorizes these appropriations and bond sales under existing state statutes and constitutional provisions.