Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar

Maddy summaryHF 2634 limits the North Star Promise scholarship to students enrolled in programs aligned with Minnesota's high-demand industries and occupations. It requires the state education office to identify these fields using labor market data from the Department of Employment and Economic Development, focusing on the top 20 growing sectors or job openings, and to review this list every three years. Students in programs not meeting these criteria will no longer qualify for the scholarship, while existing eligibility conditions (like income limits and FAFSA completion) remain unchanged. The bill mandates annual reports tracking scholarship recipients, program enrollment, and graduation data for transparency. It takes effect for fall 2026 scholarship awards.

Maddy summaryHF 2127 classifies real property records of Minnesota judicial officials (such as judges) as private data, limiting public access. Judicial officials must submit written notification to the relevant government entity to activate this protection, which expires after five years unless renewed. The bill specifically covers real property records defined under Minnesota law (e.g., deeds, ownership records), excluding other types like tax liens or commercial filings. It takes effect January 1, 2026, and does not apply to records already publicly available or those maintained for specific legal purposes. This change directly affects judicial officials by giving them control over their property record privacy.

Maddy summaryHF 1897 modifies how child care providers in Minnesota can challenge correction orders issued by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The bill requires providers to submit written reconsideration requests within 20 days, including specific details about errors, explanations, and supporting documentation. It sets a 90-day deadline (45 days if expedited) for the department to respond in writing, clarifies that reconsideration doesn’t pause the order, and delays public posting of correction orders until after the reconsideration period ends or the department’s final decision is issued. This directly affects licensed child care centers and family child care providers who receive correction orders.

Maddy summaryHF 3030 provides additional unemployment benefits for workers laid off in the iron ore mining industry (or supporting industries) due to a 50% or greater workforce reduction between March 15 and June 15, 2025, with benefits capped at 26 weeks. Eligibility requires exhausting regular unemployment benefits from qualifying employers and meeting standard eligibility rules. The bill also establishes new requirements for the safe storage of reactive mine waste (defined as waste causing a sustained pH drop of 0.5+ in water) to prevent environmental harm. A procedural provision allows temporary sulfate water quality standard modifications during pending rulemaking, but does not detail implementation.

Maddy summaryHF 19 establishes education savings accounts (ESAs) for Minnesota students from low-income households, defined as families earning no more than four times the income threshold for free school meals. The bill allows parents to use state funds to pay for qualifying education expenses - including tuition at eligible nonpublic schools, tutoring, approved curriculum, and school supplies - at participating schools or providers. Participation is capped at 5% of public school enrollment in the first year, increasing by 3% annually, with priority given to kindergarten students and those who attended public school full-time the prior year. The program directly affects eligible students (ages 18 and under) and their families, with funds restricted to approved educational services and materials.

Maddy summaryHF 1419 modifies how Minnesota reimburses nursing facilities for elderly care services. It introduces a "known cost change factor" based on the average annual minimum wage increase for nursing home workers approved by the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board. This factor adjusts reimbursement rates by multiplying facility costs by the factor before calculating payments per resident day. The changes apply to facilities licensed as nursing homes or both nursing homes and boarding care homes, affecting their state reimbursement rates starting January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 2371 requires healthcare providers to obtain written, informed consent before performing pelvic, breast, urogenital, or rectal examinations on patients who are anesthetized or unconscious. This applies to most situations, with limited exceptions for emergencies, exams within a previously consented-to procedure, or court-ordered evidence collection. Violating this requirement is a gross misdemeanor and may lead to disciplinary action by the provider's licensing board. The law takes effect August 1, 2025, directly affecting patients under anesthesia/unconsciousness and healthcare professionals performing such exams.

Maddy summaryHF 2039 allocates $4,511,000 from the general fund for the Minnesota Youth Program during fiscal year 2026. This funding is available for either year of the biennium and is added to the program's base budget. The bill directly affects the Minnesota Youth Program by providing dedicated state funding for its operations. It is a straightforward funding measure with no policy changes or new requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 1916 requires Minnesota's commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families to create an electronic system for tracking child care enrollment records in the state's child care assistance program. This system replaces paper-based or outdated record-keeping methods, directly affecting child care providers and families receiving assistance. The bill mandates regular reports to lawmakers and appropriates funds to implement and maintain the new system. It amends existing statutes (13.461, 142A.03, 142E.17) to establish program integrity requirements and streamline enrollment management. The key change is shifting to digital record-keeping to improve accuracy and oversight of child care assistance funds.

Maddy summaryHF 1053 requires Minnesota school districts to notify families when a student is dropped from the school roll due to 15 or more consecutive absences during the regular school year. Schools must then contact families to encourage reenrollment and provide the student's contact information to the state Department of Education. The Department of Education must subsequently notify families about community resources, the student's right to return to their school, and other accessible educational options. This bill, effective July 1, 2025, directly affects school districts, families of unenrolled students, and the Department of Education.