Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar

Maddy summaryHF 135 requires that certain assaults committed by inmates in Minnesota facilities be punished with consecutive sentences, meaning the new sentence starts only after the prior sentence ends. It specifically applies to: 1) State prison inmates convicted of assaults (under MN Statutes 609.221-609.224) while confined, and 2) County jail inmates who assault a county sheriff or deputy while confined. In both cases, offenders cannot count time already served toward the new sentence, and the assault sentence must be served in a correctional facility regardless of whether the assault was a misdemeanor. The law takes effect August 1, 2025, for crimes committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHF 2407 requires Minnesota long-term care facilities to allow residents to have one designated support person (chosen by the resident) physically present while they are at the facility. This applies to both nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Facilities may restrict this right only during medical procedures (like surgeries), or if the support person is violent or threatening, and must follow written grievance procedures if a resident's request is denied. The bill directly affects residents in these facilities by expanding their right to personal support during care.

Maddy summaryHF 130 establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences for individuals convicted of sex trafficking minors in Minnesota. It requires a minimum 10-year prison term (120 months) for first-degree sex trafficking involving victims under 18, and a 12-year term (144 months) when aggravating factors are present. These factors include prior trafficking offenses, victim bodily harm, extended debt bondage (over 180 days), or trafficking multiple victims. The bill directly affects offenders convicted under these specific sex trafficking provisions, replacing judicial discretion with fixed sentencing ranges for these crimes. It takes effect August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1723 modifies St. Louis County's unclassified civil service rules by adding specific positions - like a legislative lobbyist/grant coordinator, county administrator deputies, and certain administrative staff - to the unclassified service list. It also repeals outdated provisions, including a $2,500 annual county appropriation for historical work (Minnesota Statutes 383C.74) and a rule about board members' three-year terms (383C.07). The bill directly affects St. Louis County government operations, removing obsolete funding for historical societies and clarifying which county roles are unclassified. This is a procedural update to county staffing and budget rules, with no new funding or major policy shifts.

Maddy summaryHF 750 expands automatic driver's license suspensions to apply whenever a peace officer believes someone committed criminal vehicular homicide (vehicular manslaughter) or criminal vehicular operation (dangerous driving causing injury). It requires all peace officers to report such cases to the commissioner of public safety, rather than just certain types of cases under current law. The bill amends Minnesota statutes to trigger suspension based on an officer's probable cause determination, not just after a conviction. This change takes effect August 1, 2025, directly affecting drivers in these specific criminal cases.

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 97 modifies coverage for chiropractic services under MinnesotaCare and medical assistance programs. It specifies that covered services - including spinal manipulation, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercises for spinal conditions - must be provided by a licensed professional using accepted standards. The bill limits non-x-ray services to one annual evaluation and 24 visits per year, requiring prior authorization for more visits. It also restricts x-ray coverage to full spine or specific spinal area exams necessary for diagnosing subluxation. The bill repeals the previous coverage description in Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256L.03, subdivision 3b.

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 3108 provides additional unemployment benefits to workers laid off from the iron ore mining industry or supporting businesses (like suppliers) due to lack of work after May 19, 2025. To qualify, workers must have exhausted regular unemployment benefits, have 50%+ wage credits from qualifying employers, and meet standard eligibility requirements. The bill offers up to 26 weeks of benefits at the same weekly rate as regular unemployment benefits, ending May 30, 2026. These benefits are funded from Minnesota’s unemployment trust fund and do not affect future employer tax rates, except for mining employers themselves.

Maddy summaryHF 3102 appropriates $40,000 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund the planning of a veterans memorial park in Lake County. The grant is specifically for creating a park that honors veterans and recognizes Minnesota history. This bill directly affects Lake County, providing funds to develop the memorial park through the commissioner of veterans affairs. The legislation focuses solely on funding the planning phase, not construction or ongoing maintenance.