Rep. Larry Kraft

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's Strengthen Minnesota Homes program to expand how grant funds can be used and to prioritize assistance for lower-income homeowners. It allows grant money to be combined with repairs from wind or hail damage, requires projects to be completed within six months, and mandates that recipients receive insurance premium discounts or rate reductions. The legislation also directs the state to give preference to applicants earning at or below 115 percent of the area median income and appropriates $35 million for the program in fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits operating motorized watercraft in uncultivated wild rice beds in Minnesota, directly affecting boaters and watercraft operators in affected waterways. The law requires that any watercraft entering these areas must be propelled by hand, such as a canoe or skiff, and bans operating at speeds greater than slow-no-wake within 150 feet of uncultivated wild rice beds. These restrictions aim to protect wild rice habitats from damage caused by boat motors and wake. The bill amends existing Minnesota statutes to add these specific protections for uncultivated wild rice beds.

Maddy summaryHF 3169 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Transportation to study and develop suicide prevention methods for new bridge construction, focusing on barriers like nets or physical structures. The bill mandates a study completed by January 2026 to identify high-risk bridges, evaluate prevention methods, assess costs, and involve health, public safety, and nonprofit groups. Starting January 2026, the commissioner must incorporate these methods into major bridge projects and report annually on implementation. The bill appropriates $750,000 for the study and planning, with funds available through June 2028.

Maddy summaryHF 309 amends Minnesota Statutes §84.523 to tighten mining restrictions in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) and Rainy River headwaters. The bill requires the commissioner of natural resources to determine that proposed mining (for taconite, sand, gravel, or granite) in the Rainy River headwaters would not harm the BWCA before any permits are issued. This modifies existing law by adding this specific assessment step, directly affecting mining operations seeking approval in these areas. The change maintains the general prohibition on mining without legislative approval but adds a new administrative requirement for the commissioner to evaluate environmental impacts. The bill focuses on protecting the BWCA's wilderness character through stricter permitting conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new misdemeanor offense for entering specific locations like schools, places of worship, or hospitals for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement without a warrant. It directly affects immigration officers and other individuals who might attempt to conduct civil immigration checks in these designated "sensitive spaces." The law requires a warrant signed by a judicial officer and a reasonable belief that the target is present before such entry is permitted. If someone violates this rule, they could be charged with a misdemeanor. The legislation aims to protect these communities by restricting unauthorized civil immigration actions within their boundaries.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota individual income tax returns to include an option for taxpayers and their spouses to make an anatomical gift, such as donating organs for transplantation. By checking this box on the tax form, a person's decision to donate becomes legally effective immediately, and the state will share their contact details with the designated organ procurement organization. The legislation also mandates that the Department of Revenue's website provide information about organ donation laws and benefits, while ensuring that any personal data collected remains private. These changes are designed to simplify the process of registering as an organ donor and will take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires insurance companies in Minnesota to accept an individual taxpayer identification number instead of a Social Security number when processing new coverage applications. The law mandates that insurers must explicitly state on their application forms that they accept these alternative numbers if they ask for identification. This change takes effect on January 1, 2026, and applies to any insurance policies offered, issued, or renewed on or after that date. The primary impact is on consumers who may prefer or need to use an individual taxpayer identification number rather than a Social Security number for their insurance records.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the "Yes in God's Back Yard (YIGBY) Housing Act," restricts Minnesota municipalities from enforcing zoning laws that significantly hinder religious organizations from building affordable housing on land they have owned for at least one year. It requires local governments to temporarily pause enforcement of such regulations upon receiving a written notice from a religious institution and then conduct a legal review to ensure the rules are the least restrictive means of serving a compelling government interest. If a municipality determines its rules violate these standards, it must adjust or suspend their application, while the bill also grants religious institutions the right to sue for damages and attorney fees if their rights are infringed.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program to provide funding for student and staff safety improvements at schools. The Department of Public Safety's School Safety Center will distribute these grants to qualifying public, charter, and nonpublic schools. Each eligible school may receive up to $500,000 for authorized safety projects, provided they demonstrate additional funding sources. The legislation requires that at least half of the grants be awarded to schools located outside the seven-county metropolitan area. Funding is allocated from the state general fund for fiscal year 2027 and remains available until June 30, 2029.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota school boards to establish a formal process for including student representation when advising on board matters. The law mandates that students have a voice in school governance starting with the 2026-2027 school year. By changing the current language from "encouraged" to "must," the legislation ensures that student input becomes a mandatory part of the decision-making framework for school boards.