Rep. Larry Kraft

Maddy summaryHF 3294 is a non-binding resolution passed by the Minnesota House of Representatives. It urges the President and Congress to fully fund Medicaid and oppose federal funding cuts, directly affecting Minnesota's 1.2 million Medicaid beneficiaries - including children (41% covered), seniors, people with disabilities, and communities of color (covering 80-90% of Black and American Indian births). The resolution has no new funding mechanisms or state policy changes; it solely requests federal action. It does not impose new requirements or alter existing Medicaid programs.

Maddy summaryHF 3184 repeals Minnesota Statutes section 471.9998, which previously prohibited local governments (like cities and counties) from banning paper, plastic, or reusable bags. This bill removes a state-level barrier, allowing municipalities to implement their own bag ban policies if they choose. The repeal directly affects local governments, which can now pass ordinances restricting bag use, and merchants who may face new local requirements. It does not create new bag bans but enables local decision-making on the issue.

Maddy summaryHF 1950 amends Minnesota law to establish mandatory minimum fines for drivers who fail to stop for school buses. It sets fines at $500 for first violations, $700 for a repeat within ten years, and $950 for two or more prior violations. The bill also creates a gross misdemeanor for passing a school bus on the passenger side or when children are outside the bus on the street or sidewalk. This directly affects drivers who violate school bus stop arm laws, effective August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 3270 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish an Independent Redistricting Commission that would draw Minnesota's legislative and congressional district lines instead of the legislature. It also creates a panel to review commission applicants, sets guidelines for redistricting, and prohibits former legislators from lobbying for one year after leaving office. The bill amends session rules to limit regular legislative sessions to 120 days and sets specific convening requirements. These changes would directly affect Minnesota voters through district boundaries, legislators through the lobbying restriction, and the redistricting process itself. The proposal requires voter approval to take effect.

Maddy summaryHF 1278 establishes a one-time $30 million reproductive health equity grant fund to support abortion care access in Minnesota. The bill provides funding to abortion providers, government agencies, and nonprofits whose primary work involves abortion care, with grants designed to increase access, cover uncompensated care for low-income patients, secure facility infrastructure, and fund staff training in trauma-informed care. Eligible organizations must apply through the commissioner of health, who will prioritize applications based on local need, health equity impact, and applicant need. The fund becomes effective July 1, 2025, with grants to begin by January 1, 2026, and includes strict privacy protections requiring confidentiality of patient information.

Maddy summaryHF 185 establishes a resilient pavement program for Minnesota's trunk highway projects, appropriating $150 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2027. The program provides supplemental funding to modify pavement designs on eligible projects to achieve a minimum 50-year lifespan, requiring a cost-effectiveness ratio of at least 2.0 (comparing baseline project costs to modified project costs). It directly affects trunk highway projects already in state transportation plans with a proposed design life of 20 years or less. Projects must meet specific criteria, including pavement cost analysis and approval by the commissioner of transportation, with funds covering up to 110% of the cost difference between baseline and modified designs.

Maddy summaryHF 1653 appropriates $1 million from state bonds to fund electric bus charging stations for school buses statewide. The bill directs the commissioner of commerce to provide grants to eligible school districts or public transit agencies under Minnesota Statutes §216C.374, specifically for installing Level 2 and Level 3 charging infrastructure. Funding comes from bonds sold by the state under established procedures, with grants awarded through the existing electric school bus deployment program. This measure directly affects school transportation systems seeking to transition to electric fleets, effective upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 3160 would allow Minnesotans under 18 to vote in primary elections if they meet all other voting requirements (U.S. citizenship, 20 days residency in Minnesota) and will turn 18 by the time the general election occurs. It specifically permits voting only for candidates seeking nomination in the primary, not for ballot questions or propositions. This amendment to Minnesota Statutes section 201.014 creates a limited exception to the standard 18-year age requirement for primary elections. The bill directly affects eligible minors who will reach voting age before the general election.

Maddy summaryHF 3156 restricts local governments from blocking affordable housing developments by religious organizations on their own land. It requires cities to permit such projects as a "permitted use" in specific zones: up to three units on most residential lots, up to eight units outside single-family districts, and up to 12 units in mixed-use or commercial areas. The bill defines "affordable housing" as developments where 20-40% of units are for households earning ≤50-60% of area median income, and sets minimum density requirements (e.g., 1.25x existing density). This directly affects religious organizations seeking to build housing, cities with zoning codes that previously restricted such projects, and low-income residents in communities where these developments may be constructed.

Maddy summaryHF 2554 designates a specific bridge on Burnsville Parkway over Interstate Highway 35W in Burnsville, Minnesota, as the "Elmstrand * Finseth * Ruge Heroes Memorial Bridge." The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 161.14 to formally name the structure and requires the transportation commissioner to adopt appropriate signage for it. This is a commemorative measure naming a physical location, not a policy change affecting residents or creating new laws. The bridge itself is the direct subject of the designation, with no broader legislative impact beyond the memorial name and signage.