Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar

Maddy summaryHF 1344 allows volunteer firefighters, emergency medical responders, and ambulance crews in Minnesota to use approved red or red-and-white flashing warning lights on their personal vehicles while responding to emergency calls. The bill amends Minnesota law to explicitly permit these lights under existing permit rules (Minnesota Statutes 169.58), requiring lights to be no larger than 3 inches and only activated during emergency responses. It clarifies that these volunteers' vehicles qualify as "authorized emergency vehicles" under traffic law (Minnesota Statutes 169.64), ensuring consistent enforcement. The change directly affects volunteer first responders who use personal vehicles for emergency duties, making their use of warning lights legally clear and consistent with state regulations.

Maddy summaryHF 1577 appropriates $200,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to create a statewide education campaign. The campaign directly targets Minnesota employers, aiming to inform them about the benefits of hiring people with conviction records (second-chance hiring) and available state/federal incentives. Key mechanisms include developing an informational website and staffing a hotline service. This is a one-time funding allocation, not a permanent program, to support employer education on inclusive hiring practices.

Maddy summaryHF 1216 appropriates $400,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $400,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to fund a statewide apprenticeship readiness program. The grant supports Building Strong Communities, Inc. to prepare women, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and veterans for careers in the building and construction industries. This one-time funding creates a targeted initiative to increase workforce diversity in skilled trades through program access and training. The bill directly affects the specified demographic groups and the organization administering the program.

Maddy summaryHF 710 establishes a three-year pilot program (starting January 2026) to create a web-based single administrative system for nonemergency medical transportation under MinnesotaCare and medical assistance. The program, implemented by the human services commissioner with transportation commissioner coordination, will operate in at least two non-metropolitan counties and requires a system enabling real-time scheduling, eligibility checks, faster payments to providers, and patient feedback collection. The bill mandates annual reports to legislative committees on the pilot's progress and outcomes. This directly affects transportation providers serving MinnesotaCare and medical assistance beneficiaries by streamlining administrative processes.

Maddy summaryHF 1342 amends Minnesota child care licensing law to exempt unrelated individuals providing nonresidential care to two separate families (where each family is internally related) from needing a state license. This change adds a specific exemption to existing rules that already cover related caregivers. The bill directly affects informal caregivers - such as neighbors or friends - providing structured care for two distinct families without formal licensing. It does not alter requirements for care provided to unrelated individuals or for residential settings. The policy change simplifies licensing for this specific scenario under current statutory language.

Maddy summaryHF 2388 replaces Minnesota's three-tier local optional aid system (with rates of $100, $300, and $424 per adjusted pupil unit) with a single, higher basic supplemental revenue amount for school districts. It affects all public school districts and charter schools by changing how supplemental education funding is calculated and distributed. The bill increases the basic supplemental aid level while adjusting local levy formulas based on property values, using new thresholds for fiscal years 2026 and beyond. This simplifies the previous structure but maintains the requirement for districts to fund supplemental revenue through local property taxes.

Maddy summaryHF 1096 allocates $2 million for fiscal year 2026 and $2 million for fiscal year 2027 from Minnesota's workforce development fund to Summit Academy OIC. The funding directly supports Summit Academy OIC in expanding student enrollment, employment placement, GED preparation, STEM programming, and launching a dental assistant training program in the Twin Cities and across Minnesota. It requires the organization to collaborate with employers to place students after they complete the dental assistant program. This bill provides concrete financial support for specific workforce development initiatives at Summit Academy OIC.

Maddy summaryHF 837 requires Minnesota's commissioner of commerce to apply to the federal government by December 31, 2026, for a waiver continuation under federal law (42 U.S.C. § 18052). This waiver is needed to keep Minnesota's premium security health insurance plan operating after 2027, as its future depends on federal approval. The bill also directs a one-time transfer of $413 million from the state general fund to the premium security plan account in fiscal year 2026. This funding supports the state's health insurance program for qualifying residents. The bill directly affects Minnesota's health insurance program and state budget management.

Maddy summaryHF 2420 establishes the Commission on Government Efficiency and Ethics to investigate allegations of fraud in state-funded programs and undisclosed legislative conflicts of interest. The commission will maintain an anonymous hotline and website for reporting, offer up to $5,000 rewards for reports leading to convictions or expulsions, and conduct investigations or forensic audits of state agencies. It requires public officials and entities handling public funds to cooperate with investigations and must report credible fraud evidence to law enforcement or legislative committees. The commission also submits annual reports with recommendations to prevent fraud and conflicts of interest. This bill directly affects state program administrators, legislators, and any individuals reporting misconduct.

Maddy summaryHF 1120 establishes Minnesota's "Keep it Clean" program to prevent water pollution from garbage and human waste left on ice during winter activities on state waters. The bill directly affects local governments and nonprofit organizations by creating a grant program to fund projects like installing winter-ready waste stations, providing seasonal waste disposal services, increasing winter patrols, and running education campaigns. Key provisions include funding for infrastructure (e.g., dumping stations), enforcement support, and community outreach to promote responsible winter use. The bill appropriates state funds for the program's administration and grants, with at least a portion dedicated to local projects.