Rep. Peter Fischer

Maddy summaryHF 1756 increases property tax exclusions for Minnesota veterans with service-connected disabilities and modifies benefits for surviving spouses. Veterans with a 70% or higher disability rating receive a $150,000 exclusion (doubling to $300,000 for 100% disability), with the base amount adjusted annually for inflation using a federal economic index. Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans or service members who died in active duty can continue the full $300,000 exclusion until they remarry or sell the home. The bill directly affects veterans, their spouses, and primary family caregivers who qualify under the existing program.

Maddy summaryHF 2734 clarifies the court process for changing sex on Minnesota vital records. It requires applicants seeking a sex designation change to provide a physician's letter confirming they have received or are receiving gender transition treatment. The bill directs courts to order the Department of Health to amend birth records upon approval, streamlining the process for transgender individuals updating their legal sex designation. This applies directly to Minnesotans seeking to correct their sex marker on official documents like birth certificates.

Maddy summaryHF 2549 authorizes the issuance of $44.66 million in housing infrastructure bonds specifically for the St. Paul Port Authority’s The Heights housing development project. The funds must be used for affordable housing meeting income limits set in Minnesota law (section 462A.33, subdivision 5). The bill adds a new provision to Minnesota Statutes allowing this bond authorization and requires annual transfers from the general fund to support debt service on these bonds. This bill directly affects the St. Paul Port Authority and residents of The Heights development, which is intended to provide housing for low-to-moderate-income households.

Maddy summaryHF 2598 appropriates $1,936,000 from the health care access fund to the Commissioner of Human Services for one-time grants to navigator organizations. These are organizations with active MNsure grant services contracts that helped enroll people in medical assistance or MinnesotaCare during Q2 2025. The grant amount for each organization is based on the number of successful enrollments they assisted during that period. Funds are available until June 30, 2027, and are specifically for organizations currently serving as MNsure navigators.

Maddy summaryHF 2455 allocates $6.5 million in state bond funding to Ramsey County for renovating Aldrich Arena into a regional and statewide event center. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to this amount, with funds covering planning, design, and construction of facility improvements. The money will be distributed as a grant to Ramsey County through the commissioner of employment and economic development. This legislation directly affects Ramsey County residents and event users by upgrading a public venue.

Maddy summaryHF 2040 directs Minnesota's Commissioner of Human Services to provide regular updates and seek federal approval for children's mental health programs. It funds gaps in children's residential facilities, establishes crisis stabilization facilities, and creates a legislative task force to address issues in residential care. The bill also requires licensing for facilities serving youth with sexual behavior concerns and mandates a financial study on residential facility funding. These changes aim to improve access to mental health services for children, particularly those in foster care, juvenile justice, or under protective services, with specific funding appropriations included.

Maddy summaryHF 2591 establishes a new fifth tax bracket for Minnesota individual income tax, targeting high earners to replace revenue lost from federal Medicaid funding changes. The bill amends tax law to create a top income bracket (applying to income over $1.667 million for married couples filing jointly) with a rate set by the commissioner of revenue. This rate must be calculated to generate revenue equal to the amount of federal Medicaid funds Minnesota lost, as certified by the commissioner of management and budget. The new tax rate applies to taxable years 2026 and 2027, affecting only taxpayers in the highest income bracket.

Maddy summaryHF 1854 prohibits landlords from refusing to renew leases for tenants in residential rental units when the landlord received government funds (federal, state, or local) to renovate the unit to accommodate the tenant's health, safety, or disability. The bill requires landlords to allow tenants to continue residing in the unit after such renovations, making any lease nonrenewal in violation void. Landlords who violate this section are liable for tenant costs, including attorney fees, incurred due to the violation. This law directly affects tenants in units with renovation funding and applies to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 504B.

Maddy summaryHF 1361 appropriates $8 million from state bond proceeds to fund improvements at CHS Field in St. Paul. The city of St. Paul will receive the grant to cover predesign, construction, and equipment for upgrades meeting Major League Baseball standards, including a new locker room, enhanced visitor amenities, and environmental remediation of contaminated soil. The state will issue bonds up to $8 million to fund this appropriation, following Minnesota's bond sale procedures. This bill directly affects CHS Field's operations and the city's ability to modernize the stadium.

Maddy summaryHF 2068 allocates $89 million for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the state general fund to provide grants under Minnesota Statutes section 256K.45, subdivision 1. The bill directly provides funding to organizations serving homeless youth in Minnesota, supporting existing programs rather than creating new policies. This appropriation enables the commissioner of human services to distribute funds for services like shelter, counseling, and transitional housing. The bill focuses solely on funding, with no new eligibility rules or program requirements specified.