Rep. Cheryl Youakim

Maddy summarySF 2691 establishes clear standards for rent, utility charges, and fees in Minnesota manufactured home parks. It requires uniform rent rates (except for lot size/location or special services), prohibits fees based on household size, guests, home size, or occupancy, and mandates itemized billing for utilities. The bill also requires park owners to address safety hazards like dangerous trees within 14 days of resident notice and gives residents 60 days' written notice before rent increases. These changes directly affect manufactured home park residents and owners by increasing transparency and limiting arbitrary charges.

Maddy summaryHF 2377 requires all Minnesota public, private, and charter school staff - including teachers, administrators, and support personnel - to have access to annual, evidence-based relationship-building and de-escalation training. The training focuses on fostering inclusive school cultures, preventing conflicts, and responding appropriately to escalated situations, with specific components covering positive student relationships, restorative discipline, and recognizing escalation stages. The bill appropriates $ for fiscal year 2026 to fund grants for school districts and charter schools implementing this training, prioritizing districts that meet state requirements. Schools adopting the training may receive priority for state professional development funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota school districts and charter schools to adopt evidence-based safety plans that are developed with input from students, parents, teachers, and law enforcement. It establishes a new anonymous threat reporting system and creates a School Safety Center at the Department of Public Safety to provide model plans and consulting services to schools. The legislation also modifies rules regarding when firearms are allowed on school property and provides additional funding for student support personnel.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands survivor benefits in Minnesota to include public safety officers who die from exposure-related cancers linked to their work. It defines specific cancers covered, such as lung, breast, and leukemia, and establishes criteria requiring exposure to occur during duty with a minimum five-year service period before diagnosis and a maximum 15-year window after leaving active service. The legislation creates a legal presumption that such deaths result from line-of-duty exposure unless medical evidence proves otherwise, while also defining carcinogens based on international research classifications. These changes directly affect public safety officers and their families by broadening eligibility for benefits under existing state statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a one-time $10 million fund to reimburse Minnesota cities for costs related to federal immigration enforcement activities occurring between December 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026. The money will be distributed to cities based on a pro-ratio of their verified expenses for public safety, emergency management, public works, and legal services during that period. Cities must submit detailed cost reports to the state auditor for review and certification before receiving their share of the aid. If a city receives federal reimbursement for the same expenses, it must return the lesser of the federal amount or the state aid received to the state treasury.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota school districts and charter schools receive funding for student support staff, such as counselors and nurses. It establishes a minimum funding floor, ensuring districts receive at least $40,000 per year while charter schools receive a minimum of $20,000, with amounts calculated based on the number of students. The legislation also sets specific dollar amounts for the per-student allowance for these positions, starting at $17.08 in 2025 and increasing to $34.32 in 2027 and later years. Additionally, the bill appropriates money from the state's general fund to provide extra aid for these personnel in fiscal year 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $500,000 from the workforce development fund to support a local news talent pipeline program in Minnesota. The funding will be distributed through the Minnesota News Media Institute to provide paid internships at newspapers, television and radio stations, and digital news platforms for individuals interested in journalism careers. The program aims to strengthen local news operations by giving participants hands-on experience in reporting, editing, and media design while requiring geographic and medium diversity in grant distribution. The bill also mandates consultation with local news organization associations and allows up to five percent of the funds for administrative expenses.

Maddy summaryHF 793 establishes a voluntary certification program for commercial salt applicators (businesses that apply deicers for hire on private property) in Minnesota. To become certified, applicators must complete approved training on water-friendly snow/ice removal practices, pass an exam, and renew every decade. Certified applicators gain limited liability protection if they follow approved best practices and avoid gross negligence, but must maintain detailed records of deicer use and submit annual reports to the Pollution Control Agency. The program aims to reduce environmental harm from excessive salt runoff while providing a clear standard for commercial snow removal services.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how the city of Edina can use money collected from its local sales tax. It updates the list of approved projects to include specific funding amounts for improvements to Fred Richards Park and Braemar Park, as well as new facilities for public safety, the Edina Art Center, the Edina Aquatic Center, and the Braemar Golf Course Clubhouse. The legislation allows the city to issue bonds to pay for these projects, with the costs for public safety, art center, aquatic center, and golf course improvements requiring voter approval at a future election. Additionally, the bill clarifies that these specific bond issuances do not count toward the city's overall debt limits and do not require a separate election to approve.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules for the Office of the Inspector General within the Minnesota Department of Education to strengthen its ability to detect and prevent fraud, theft, waste, and abuse in state-funded programs. The legislation grants the office confidential access to investigative data and provides immunity and confidentiality protections for individuals who report misconduct or participate in investigations. It also establishes a formal process for notifying parties, appealing decisions, and withholding payments when necessary. Additionally, the bill expands the legal definitions of fraud and abuse to include specific actions like submitting false information or engaging in behavior that a prudent person would consider unreasonable.