Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar

Maddy summaryHF 1284 allows Minnesota school districts to delay compliance with certain state mandates that lack funding until the required financial resources are appropriated. Specifically, districts are not required to follow mandates affecting daily operations, local policy authority, curriculum changes, or spending priorities until funding is secured. Exceptions apply for mandates with minimal budget impact or those directly related to student safety, health, or financial audits. The law takes effect for mandates active after June 30, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1281 appropriates $750,000 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund a lake sturgeon project at the Great Lakes Aquarium. The funds will support rearing and stocking lake sturgeon, along with public education about their historical, cultural, and biological significance in the St. Louis River. This project is implemented in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The bill directly affects these organizations by providing dedicated funding for conservation and educational activities focused on lake sturgeon recovery.

Maddy summaryHF 190 requires the Metropolitan Council to publish monthly ridership data for all transit routes (including original funding projections) and quarterly crime statistics broken down by transit mode and crime type. The bill mandates that these reports be posted on the Council's website within 60 days of each month and quarter, with each report remaining accessible for at least five years. This directly affects the Council's reporting obligations and provides the public with transparent, regularly updated information on transit usage and safety. The law does not change transit operations or funding but standardizes data disclosure for accountability.

Maddy summaryHF 517 modifies Minnesota's student bullying policy requirements by clarifying when electronic bullying using school-issued devices off-campus becomes subject to school policies. The bill adds a new provision (subsection 1.13-1.15) stating that bullying via school-issued devices off school premises is covered if it substantially disrupts learning or the school environment. This directly affects public school students and those participating in school activities, as it extends policy coverage to certain off-campus digital conduct using school equipment. The bill does not apply to home schools or nonpublic schools under specific statutes, though it encourages nonpublic schools to share their anti-bullying policies with the state commissioner.

Maddy summaryHF 410 creates a refund program for Minnesota homestead property owners based on annual revenue forecasts. It directs leftover funds from the state's November budget forecast (after other priorities like school aid and reserves) to be distributed as equal payments to qualifying homeowners. The refund amount equals the available surplus divided by the total number of certified homesteads, but no payment is made if the surplus is below $170 million. Payments must be issued by June 30 each year to owners of primary residences meeting homestead eligibility, excluding properties occupied by relatives. This applies starting January 1, 2026, using funds appropriated from the general fund.

Maddy summaryHF 65 repeals the state's authority to adopt statewide health education standards for Minnesota public schools and cancels related funding. This bill directly affects public schools, as it removes the requirement for them to implement new statewide health standards (previously planned for implementation), allowing them to continue using locally developed health curricula instead. Key provisions include amending education statutes to clarify that "locally developed academic standards in health apply" without needing state adoption. The bill does not change standards for other subjects like math, science, or language arts, which remain subject to statewide requirements. The effective date for these changes is July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 655 amends Minnesota's child care licensing rules to allow family child care providers to exclude up to two of their own children when calculating licensed capacity. This directly affects home-based child care providers who operate from their residences. The bill requires the Commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families to update Minnesota Rules (part 9502.0365) to exclude the provider's own children from the capacity count. The change simplifies capacity calculations for these providers without requiring new licensing standards.

Maddy summaryHF 105 appropriates $42,000 from Minnesota's workforce development fund for Aspirus Lake View Hospital to train up to 12 new certified nursing assistants (CNAs) for local employers. The grant covers training costs, certification testing, and retention bonuses for trainees. Funds are available through June 30, 2027, for fiscal year 2026. This direct funding supports the hospital's workforce development program to address CNA staffing needs in the community.

Maddy summaryHF 1103 modifies Minnesota's medication repository program to improve how unused drugs and medical supplies are accepted, stored, and distributed. It sets specific eligibility rules for donations, requiring drugs to have at least six months remaining until expiration, be unopened in original packaging, and not be controlled substances. The bill also mandates that repositories verify donor information, inspect all donations with a pharmacist, and maintain detailed electronic inventories of accepted items. Additionally, repositories may now purchase drugs from licensed wholesalers when donations are insufficient to fill patient prescriptions. This directly affects medication repositories, donors (like pharmacies and manufacturers), and patients receiving donated medications.

Maddy summaryHF 1152 amends Minnesota Statutes to clarify and update the mission and operations of Explore Minnesota, the state tourism office. The bill modifies sections defining Explore Minnesota's purpose to explicitly include promoting "livability" and "workforce and economic opportunity" alongside tourism, and updates the director's duties to emphasize partnerships, efficiency, and data collection. It revises how the office manages promotional contracts, requiring the director to coordinate marketing strategies with other state agencies and expand international tourism programs. The changes directly affect Explore Minnesota's director, its divisions (Tourism, Business, Film), and local communities that partner with the office on marketing efforts. The bill focuses on streamlining operations and aligning promotional activities with broader economic development goals.