Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar

Maddy summaryHF 1258 allows Minnesota school districts to form cooperation agreements to jointly operate and maintain ice arenas, sharing expenses across multiple districts. It amends state law to permit two or more districts to create formal agreements for apportioning costs and levies, requiring them to report these arrangements to the Department of Education. The bill also mandates that any district operating an ice arena must demonstrate equal access to ice time and team support for male and female athletes, particularly for girls' ice sports programs. This law takes effect for taxes payable in 2026 and later.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's remediation fund to allow reimbursement for PFAS contamination cleanup at emergency response training centers. It specifically covers costs incurred on or after January 1, 2023, for investigations, remediation, and related activities at centers that stopped using PFAS-containing firefighting foam by January 1, 2015. The bill appropriates $1 million in fiscal year 2026 for grants to qualifying state colleges or universities operating these centers. It directly affects emergency response training centers that used PFAS firefighting foam before 2015 and now seek cleanup funding. The policy change expands the fund's eligible uses to include PFAS remediation at these specific facilities.

Maddy summaryHF 819 establishes the Minnesota Sustainable Foraging Task Force to develop science-based recommendations for foraging regulations on state lands. The task force, composed of 16 diverse members including Indigenous knowledge holders, scientists, conservation representatives, and foraging advocates, must gather data on foraging impacts, review current rules, and create guidelines balancing public access with ecological protection. It is required to produce a report with specific, actionable recommendations - including a permitting model allowing volunteer options - by December 1, 2026. The bill directly affects Minnesotans who forage on public lands and aims to guide future regulations through data-driven, inclusive processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's renewable energy standards by expanding which hydroelectric projects count toward clean energy goals (including facilities over 100 megawatts if operating since 2023). It allows electric utilities to request delays in meeting renewable, solar, or carbon-free energy requirements if the commission determines it serves the public interest, considering factors like cost impacts and system reliability. The bill also expands sales tax exemptions for residential heating fuels and electricity, and prohibits demolition of fossil-fuel power plants under specific conditions. Additional provisions include supporting carbon capture technology and removing barriers to new nuclear power plants.

Maddy summaryHF 1780 establishes a new payment system for "other lakeshore land" owned by the state and administered by the commissioner or county. It defines this land as parcels of state-owned "other natural resources land" abutting lakes identified by the Department of Natural Resources. Counties with such land will receive annual payments equal to either $5.133 per acre or 0.75% of the land's appraised value (whichever is greater), starting in 2026. Funds are distributed with 40% going to county general funds for property tax reduction, and the remainder supporting resource development on the land. This directly affects counties holding state-owned lakeshore parcels.

Maddy summaryHF 1506 appropriates $1,000,000 from the general fund for a one-time grant to the Entrepreneur Fund in fiscal year 2026. This funding will capitalize the Entrepreneur Fund's revolving loan program to address unmet financing needs for for-profit business startups, expansions, and ownership transitions in northeast Minnesota. The bill directly affects small businesses in that region that struggle to secure traditional financing. The key mechanism is using the $1 million grant to expand the Fund's existing loan program, which repays and reuses funds for future business support.

Maddy summaryHF 1507 appropriates $1,058,200 from the general fund for capital improvements at the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth. The funding, provided as a one-time grant to the Lake Superior Center Authority, covers predesign, construction, and renovations including mechanical/electrical system replacements, utility upgrades, life-safety improvements, and exterior facility work. This bill directly affects the Great Lakes Aquarium's physical infrastructure and operations in Duluth. The appropriation is available until the project is completed or abandoned, effective immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a $5,000 annual income tax credit for Minnesota graduates of accredited aerospace or aviation educational programs during their first five years of full-time employment with qualifying employers. It also provides a tax credit for employers who reimburse tuition for these graduates during the same five-year period. The credit applies only to graduates with degrees, certificates, or FAA-recognized certifications from approved programs at eligible institutions. Both credits are limited to the taxpayer's annual income tax liability and expire after five years.

Maddy summaryHF 1563 allows Minnesota taxpayers to reduce their taxable income by up to $10,000 (for joint filers) or $5,000 (for others) for employer-provided dependent care assistance, based on federal tax rules. It also establishes a state tax credit for employers who pay for qualified child care expenses in Minnesota, matching the federal Section 45F credit but limited to expenses incurred within the state. The bill affects employers offering dependent care benefits and employees receiving them, directly changing how these costs are treated for state tax purposes. Both provisions take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryHF 1555 appropriates $1.5 million from state bond proceeds to fund accessibility and rehabilitation work on the Gitchi-Gami State Trail. The funds will directly support improvements between Gooseberry Falls State Park and Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, including the Flood Bay State Wayside. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $1.5 million to cover this appropriation, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law. This is a funding measure focused on physical trail upgrades, not new policy or regulations.