Rep. Cheryl Youakim

Maddy summaryHF 1048 clarifies how Minnesota calculates general education funding for charter schools to align their payment method with traditional school districts. The bill adjusts the formula to include specific local aid allowances while consistently accounting for factors like declining enrollment revenue, which was previously excluded but now added back. Charter schools offering extended programs (such as extended day, week, or summer) will receive an additional 25% of the statewide average extended time revenue per student. Special education charter schools also gain extra funding for non-special education students based on their unreimbursed costs, as defined by existing law.

Maddy summaryHF 1352 modifies Minnesota's definition of "residential generator" for solid waste management billing. It clarifies that multi-unit properties like apartment buildings, condos, or manufactured home parks where residents aren't separately billed for waste services (and the owner/association pays directly) are explicitly included as residential generators. This directly affects property owners, associations, and waste service providers managing such properties. The change ensures consistent billing responsibility for waste services in these multi-residence settings, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 2459 appropriates $150,000 for the 2026 fiscal year and $150,000 for 2027 to the Metro Deaf School. The funding provides services specifically for young children with deafness, deafblindness, or hard-of-hearing disabilities who do not qualify for existing state funding under Minnesota Statutes §124E.11(h). This is a one-time appropriation, directly supporting the school's ability to serve this specific student population. The bill does not change eligibility rules but provides dedicated funding for an underserved group.

Maddy summaryHF 1171 modifies the mission of Minnesota's Math Corps program to focus on providing elementary and middle school students and teachers with data-driven, evidence-based instructional support for foundational math skills. It requires the program to evaluate and accelerate student learning to meet state math standards and workforce readiness goals. The bill appropriates $2 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1 million for 2027 to fund this program, with unused 2026 funds carrying over to 2027. The Department of Education must submit biennial reports to legislative education committees assessing the program's effectiveness. This directly affects K-8 students and teachers in Minnesota public schools receiving Math Corps support.

Maddy summaryHF 1401 expands Minnesota's definition of "endangered" for the missing and endangered persons program. The bill adds specific circumstances that classify a missing person as endangered, including needing urgent medical care, having cognitive impairments like dementia, or being lost in dangerous wilderness areas. This change allows law enforcement to activate immediate search and rescue resources when these new criteria are met. The bill directly affects local police departments and individuals who go missing under these expanded circumstances, ensuring faster response for vulnerable cases.

Maddy summaryHF 1168 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Revenue to create an online system for individuals to claim refunds on political contributions. It modifies the existing refund program to allow electronic data sharing between the Campaign Finance Board and the Department of Revenue, including contributor names, contribution amounts, and unique receipt validation numbers. All shared data is classified as nonpublic, protecting contributor privacy while enabling streamlined refund processing. This change affects political contributors seeking refunds, political parties/candidates issuing refund receipts, and the agencies managing campaign finance data, replacing paper-based processes with digital systems effective January 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 54 authorizes $375,000 annually for 2026 and 2027 to fund the Minnesota Youth Council's activities through the Minnesota Alliance With Youth. The bill appropriates these funds from the state general fund to support youth-led initiatives and programming. This funding directly affects the Minnesota Youth Council and its partner organization, enabling them to carry out their work with youth engagement. The bill creates no new policy requirements, only providing dedicated financial support for existing council operations.

Maddy summaryHF 775 requires Minnesota school districts to create written policies ensuring parents of children with disabilities can fully participate in their child's education. Specifically, districts must establish processes for providing free language assistance (like interpreters or translated documents) for non-English-speaking parents and reasonable accommodations (such as sign language interpreters or modified meeting formats) for parents with disabilities, without requiring health information disclosure. These policies must be posted in multiple languages on district websites, shared annually with parents, and kept confidential. The bill directly affects school districts and parents interacting with special education programs, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 745 modifies how Minnesota school districts calculate compensatory revenue eligibility for low-income students, requiring districts to count children eligible through both direct certification (like SNAP benefits) and education benefits (such as school meal programs) as of October 1 each year. It adjusts spending rules, requiring at least 80% of compensatory revenue to be spent at individual school sites (with a temporary 40% allowance for 2026-2027 if meal program data is incomplete) and mandates reporting for adjustments due to enrollment changes. The bill establishes a Compensatory Revenue Task Force, composed of education officials, school board representatives, and parent advocates, to analyze the funding formula and make recommendations. It appropriates funds for these changes and takes effect for fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 55 appropriates $1 million for each of the 2026 and 2027 fiscal years from the general fund to the Minnesota Alliance With Youth. This funding supports the "Promise Fellow" program, which partners with AmeriCorps, schools, and community organizations to provide attendance and academic engagement services for students. Key services include family outreach, academic support, mentoring, and connecting students to resources to help them return to and maintain consistent school attendance. The program directly affects students in Minnesota schools facing attendance challenges through these targeted interventions.