Rep. Wayne Johnson

Maddy summaryHF 3521 amends Minnesota's hospital construction moratorium to allow specific exceptions for new beds or facility expansions that would otherwise be restricted. It directly affects hospitals in targeted locations, including up to 35 new psychiatric beds in Rice County, 31 new beds in Beltrami County, and 20 new beds in Carver County, among other specified projects. Key provisions include exemptions for facilities meeting criteria like serving over 70% out-of-state patients (Rice County) or consolidating pediatric services without net bed increases. The bill also permits a new 300-bed hospital in Maple Grove if approved by the city council. These exceptions apply only to projects that meet all defined conditions without increasing overall state bed capacity.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 1943 prohibits pet shops (physical retail stores selling animals to the public) from selling or transferring ownership of cats and dogs, effective August 1, 2026. The bill allows pet shops to provide space for nonprofit animal shelters, humane societies, or 501(c)(3) rescue groups to offer animals for adoption, but pet shops cannot own the animals or charge fees for this space. It does not affect breeders, direct sales from breeders, or nonprofit adoption organizations themselves. The law aims to shift pet sales toward adoption-focused organizations while maintaining transparency requirements for pet dealers.

Maddy summaryHF 2627 prohibits pet shops (defined as physical retail stores selling animals to the public) from selling, offering to sell, or transferring ownership of cats or dogs. The bill directly affects retail pet shops operating in Minnesota, requiring them to stop selling these animals by August 1, 2026. However, pet shops may still host nonprofit animal rescues or shelters (501(c)(3) organizations) for adoption events, provided the shops don’t own the animals or charge fees for the space. The law does not restrict breeders, shelters, or adoption centers, only retail pet shops selling cats and dogs directly to customers.

Maddy summaryThis bill temporarily suspends the state motor fuels tax in Minnesota for a specific period in 2026, directly affecting drivers, fuel retailers, and businesses that purchase gasoline and diesel. Under the legislation, the tax rate is set to zero cents per gallon or per thousand cubic feet for all fuel types during the designated timeframe, which begins shortly after the bill is enacted and ends in early September 2026. To offset the lost revenue from this suspension, the state will transfer money from its general fund to the Department of Transportation to cover the costs that would have been collected from fuel taxes. The bill also allocates a one-time appropriation to the Department of Revenue to cover the administrative expenses required to implement this temporary tax pause.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens Minnesota's regulations on the handling of infectious or pathological waste by requiring immediate notification when such waste is mistakenly sent to unapproved facilities, mandating unannounced inspections of waste generators, and establishing significant financial penalties for violations. Facilities that receive infectious waste must report the incident to state officials with details about the waste and its source, while generators must conduct annual internal audits to ensure compliance with management plans. Penalties for unlawful transport start at $200,000 for a first offense and increase to up to $2 million for subsequent violations, with half of collected fines directed to the facility that received the waste. The legislation also allocates $50,000 to create training materials for proper waste management and disposal practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota statutes to update pension contribution rates and annuity calculation formulas for teachers in the state's retirement systems. It establishes specific employer contribution percentages for certain districts like Minneapolis and Duluth while adjusting the rates for other districts. Additionally, the legislation modifies how retirement annuities are computed based on years of service, distinguishing between different periods of employment and membership types. These changes directly affect teachers and school districts in Minnesota by altering the financial terms of their retirement benefits.

Maddy summaryHF 3586 establishes a $10 million annual grant program for regional food banks and Minnesota Tribal governments in Minnesota, funded through the general fund for fiscal years 2027-2029. The program distributes funds based on poverty and unemployment data in each area, requiring grantees to use money for purchasing, transporting, and distributing food and hygiene products (like diapers) at no cost to recipients. Funds cannot cover staff salaries or other ineligible expenses, and grantees must report spending and maintain records for oversight. This bill directly supports food banks serving low-income individuals and families by expanding access to essential food and hygiene supplies.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's nonprofit sales tax exemption to allow certain qualifying organizations to purchase prepared food without paying sales tax, provided they distribute it as part of their charitable, religious, or educational mission. Currently, prepared food purchases by nonprofits are taxable under the exemption rules, but this change specifically exempts food bought by groups already covered under the nonprofit sales tax exemption (such as food banks, shelters, or educational programs). The exemption applies only when the food is distributed during the organization's core mission activities, not for general use. It will take effect for purchases after June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 1196 appropriates $22.5 million from state bond proceeds to fund the realignment of County Road 19A and 100th Street South in Cottage Grove, Washington County. The bill authorizes the state to sell bonds up to this amount under Minnesota bonding laws to finance the road design and construction project. This funding directly affects Washington County residents and commuters who use these specific roads, improving infrastructure in the Cottage Grove area. The bill does not change existing laws but provides dedicated funding for a defined local infrastructure project.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the time limit for prosecuting certain theft and fraud crimes in Minnesota, particularly those involving public funds and medical assistance fraud. It directly affects prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, and individuals accused of these offenses by allowing more time to file charges. The key change increases the statute of limitations for theft of public money to ten years and adjusts timeframes for other financial crimes based on the amount stolen or number of victims. The bill also adds provisions that pause the clock if a defendant participates in pretrial diversion programs or if DNA evidence is being analyzed. These changes take effect on August 1, 2026, and apply to crimes committed on or after that date.