Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar

Maddy summaryHF 2136 appropriates $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to provide grants for forensic interview training scholarships. The funds will support nationally recognized organizations that offer scholarships to law enforcement, child protection workers, prosecutors, health professionals treating child maltreatment cases, and forensic interviewers at children's advocacy centers. These scholarships cover basic, advanced, and specialized forensic interview training. The bill directly affects Minnesota professionals working with child abuse cases by expanding access to specialized training through state-funded scholarships.

Maddy summaryHF 1434 requires commercial websites sharing material harmful to minors (defined as content with sexual depictions lacking artistic value for minors) to verify users are 18+ if 25% or more of the site’s pages contain such material. It mandates age verification using approved methods like commercial databases, prohibits retaining user identifying information, and creates a private right of action for parents to sue violators. The Minnesota Attorney General can enforce the law through civil actions, and commercial entities face $25,000 penalties per violation. This bill directly affects websites meeting the 25% harmful content threshold and targets operators of commercial platforms accessible to Minnesota residents.

Maddy summaryHF 2685 requires Minnesota schools to designate interscholastic, intramural, or club athletic teams as "males," "females," or "coed" based solely on students' biological sex at birth. The bill specifically mandates that teams designated for "females" must only include participants who were biologically female at birth. This amendment to Minnesota Statutes section 123B.49 directly affects all public and private school athletic programs in the state. The policy change replaces existing team designation practices with a requirement tied to sex assigned at birth, impacting transgender and intersex student-athletes seeking to participate on teams matching their gender identity.

Maddy summaryHF 1233 creates a specific exemption in Minnesota's Human Rights Act allowing athletic programs to restrict participation to females based on biological sex at birth, excluding trans-identifying athletes. It directly affects schools, sports organizations, and athletic associations by permitting them to enforce gender-based participation rules without facing legal challenges under the Human Rights Act. The bill defines "sex" as biological factors (like chromosomes and genetics at birth), separate from gender identity, and prohibits government agencies from pursuing complaints against such policies. This exemption applies to all female athletic teams and competitions, while still allowing males to train with such teams if it doesn't deprive females of opportunities.

Maddy summaryHF 2113 exempts small Minnesota employers with 50 or fewer employees from the state's paid leave requirement. This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 268B.01, to explicitly exclude such employers from the paid leave mandate. Small businesses that currently meet the 50-employee threshold will no longer be required to provide paid leave under this law. Employers with 50 or fewer employees may still choose to opt into the paid leave program if they wish. The bill directly affects small business owners and their employees in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires drivers to stop at least 20 feet away from a school bus displaying flashing red lights while children are boarding or exiting. It directly affects all drivers approaching school buses on Minnesota roads, mandating they remain stopped until the red lights cease flashing. The bill also adds a new provision warning drivers that amber lights indicate red lights will soon activate, requiring them to prepare to stop. These changes aim to improve safety for children near school bus stops. The bill is currently pending passage after committee approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill temporarily suspends the hospital surcharge that Minnesota hospitals must pay to the state's medical assistance account. It amends existing state law to prohibit the 1.4 percent to 1.56 percent fee starting July 1, 2026, through July 1, 2027. The surcharge applies to most Minnesota hospitals but excludes federal Indian Health Service facilities and regional treatment centers. The change is set to take effect immediately upon final enactment of the legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the sale and issuance of up to $10 million in state bonds to fund the Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Grant Program. The funds will be distributed by the commissioner of employment and economic development to provide grants for public infrastructure projects in Greater Minnesota. The legislation enables the state to raise capital through bond sales to support economic development initiatives in rural areas, with the money coming from the bond proceeds fund. The bill becomes effective the day after it is passed by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Minnesota's state tax code to align with recent federal changes regarding dependent care assistance programs. It directly affects Minnesota taxpayers who receive employer-provided dependent care benefits by ensuring their state tax treatment matches federal rules. The key provision amends the state's definition of the Internal Revenue Code to include new federal exclusions for dependent care assistance, with changes applying retroactively to when the federal law took effect. This adjustment ensures Minnesota residents do not pay state tax on dependent care assistance that is already excluded from federal taxable income.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the standard four-year statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims related to gender-affirming care received by minors in Minnesota. It defines gender-affirming care as medical or surgical interventions such as hormone therapy, puberty blockers, or gender reassignment surgery intended to affirm an individual's perceived gender identity that differs from their biological sex. The change allows patients or former patients to file lawsuits against healthcare providers for alleged errors or failures in such care without being restricted by the usual time limit. The amendment applies specifically to cases involving minor children and does not alter the statute of limitations for other types of medical malpractice claims.