Rep. David Gottfried

Maddy summaryHF 3223 appropriates funds from the general state budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to provide weekend food assistance. The bill directs the commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families to issue a grant to the organization "Every Meal" to deliver nutritious, culturally appropriate food to children and families experiencing food insecurity. This funding specifically targets weekend meal access, addressing gaps in food support when school meals are unavailable. The bill directly affects low-income families and children in Minnesota facing food insecurity, with no specified dollar amounts in the text.

Maddy summaryHF 2761 updates Minnesota's pesticide regulations to include pesticides from treated seeds in the commissioner's management plans and monitoring. It requires new coordination between state agencies, local governments, and public health agencies for pesticide management, and adds monitoring for pesticides from treated seeds and their breakdown products in groundwater, surface water, and air. The bill establishes new labeling requirements for certain pesticide-treated seeds and defines "systemic pesticides" (like neonicotinoids) for a new regulatory program. These changes primarily affect farmers using treated seeds, state environmental agencies, and local communities managing water and air quality.

Maddy summaryHF 2764 requires Minnesota public schools (including charter schools participating in the National School Lunch Program) to offer at least one plant-based meal option daily starting with the 2026-2027 school year. A "plant-based meal" is defined as one without any animal products (meat, dairy, eggs, fish), and schools must provide this option within four weeks of a student's written request. Schools must also make the request process clear to students and parents, comply with federal nutrition standards, and report annually on implementation to the Department of Education. The bill applies to all public schools serving lunches through the National School Lunch Program.

Maddy summaryHF 3154 appropriates $200,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to provide grants to the Rural Policy and Development Center. The funds are allocated through the commissioner of agriculture under Minnesota Statutes section 116J.421. This bill directly affects the Rural Policy and Development Center by providing dedicated funding for its operations and grant programs in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 2340 appropriates $240 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to provide grants for replacing lead service lines. This funding, administered by the Public Facilities Authority, directly supports municipal water systems and homeowners with lead pipes. The one-time appropriation is available until June 30, 2033, to cover the costs of replacing these hazardous infrastructure components. The bill enables local governments to access state funds for this specific public health improvement project.

Maddy summaryHF 3116 extends the expiration date for two specific caregiver support program appropriations from June 30, 2027, to June 30, 2028. The bill modifies existing funding for $2 million in caregiver respite services (under Minn. Stat. § 256.9756) and $2.5 million for caregiver support programs (under Minn. Stat. § 256.9755), both originally set to expire in 2027. This extension gives programs more time to use these funds without requiring new legislative action. The change directly affects caregivers of aging or disabled adults and organizations delivering these services in Minnesota. It does not alter program eligibility or create new funding, only extends the deadline for existing appropriations.

Maddy summaryHF 3005 appropriates $497,500 for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund home-delivered meals for veterans through Metro Meals on Wheels, plus technical assistance for member programs. The bill requires Metro Meals on Wheels to submit detailed reports by September 1, 2026 and 2027, documenting how funds were used and the number of veterans/servicemembers served. This is a one-time funding appropriation, not a recurring budget item, directly supporting veterans' access to meal services in Minnesota. The bill affects veterans receiving meals and Metro Meals on Wheels as the grant recipient.

Maddy summaryHF 2621 appropriates $3 million from the general fund for community tree-planting grants administered by the Metropolitan Council. The funds are designated for fiscal year 2026 as a one-time allocation, available until June 30, 2028. This bill directly affects communities in the metropolitan area eligible to apply for these grants under Minnesota Statutes section 473.355, providing financial support for local tree-planting initiatives. The legislation establishes a specific funding mechanism without altering existing environmental policies.

Maddy summaryHF 3074 creates legal rights for transportation network company (TNC) drivers in Minnesota to form and join labor organizations for collective bargaining. It directly affects "active drivers" who completed at least the median number of rides in the most recent two quarters, as defined by the bill. The law establishes a certification process where drivers can designate an exclusive representative (like a union) through the Bureau of Mediation Services, while prohibiting TNCs from controlling or dominating driver representation groups ("company unions"). Drivers gain the right to negotiate terms and conditions of work, including grievance procedures, with TNCs, and the bill defines "lockout" to prevent TNCs from restricting driver access to the platform during disputes.

Maddy summaryHF 101 prohibits Minnesota schools from listing parent contact information (like home addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses) as "publicly available directory information." This directly affects parents, as schools can no longer automatically share their personal contact details with the public without explicit consent. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes §13.32 by removing parent contact information from the definition of directory information, requiring schools to treat it as private data instead. Exceptions exist only for temporary sharing with school referendum committees during election periods (90 days prior to voting), with strict limits on use and destruction after elections.