Rep. Lucy Rehm

Maddy summaryHF 2339 increases Minnesota's income threshold for the child tax credit, allowing more families to qualify for the full benefit before credits begin phasing out. The bill raises the phaseout threshold from $35,000 to $45,490 for married couples filing jointly and from $29,500 to $38,340 for other filers. This change directly affects Minnesota taxpayers with children who file individual income tax returns, as it prevents the credit from decreasing at lower income levels. The bill also requires future annual inflation adjustments to these thresholds starting in 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 1913 creates a new limited medical license for graduates of foreign medical schools who meet specific criteria, including 60 months of practice outside the U.S. in the past decade, working in a collaborative agreement within a rural or underserved area, and providing evidence of a job offer. It requires employers of these limited license holders to carry medical malpractice insurance and pay at least the equivalent of a medical resident's salary, while prohibiting retaliation for reporting violations. Limited license holders must submit periodic certification to the medical board confirming their employment and good standing every six months. The bill also establishes a pathway to full licensure after two years of practice (1,692 hours annually), passing all USMLE/COMLEX-USA steps, and obtaining a recommendation letter.

Maddy summaryHF 2228 establishes a 13-member task force to address insurance affordability issues affecting homeowners, renters in multifamily housing, common interest communities, cooperatives, and small businesses. The task force will review topics like risk mitigation, liability laws, reinsurance markets, and climate-related claim costs, then submit recommendations by February 2026. The bill appropriates $200,000 from the general fund to cover the task force’s operational costs through June 2026. It does not make immediate policy changes but requires a final report with findings and draft legislation to strengthen Minnesota’s property insurance system.

Maddy summaryHF 3201 creates a state grant program for Minnesota counties to fund jail diversion initiatives for individuals with mental illnesses or substance use disorders. The bill appropriates funds for fiscal years 2026-2028 to help counties establish programs that provide reentry services like transportation, medical assistance applications, mental health referrals, and coordination with community providers. Counties receiving grants must use funds for specific services outlined in the bill, including discharge planning for people leaving jail and hiring staff. Grantees are required to report data on program outcomes annually, with results made publicly available. This directly affects counties implementing diversion programs and impacts individuals released from county jails with mental health or substance use needs.

Maddy summaryHF 2905 requires Minnesota's Department of Education to create a statewide computer science framework by July 2026 for K-12 schools, defining skills by grade level and including equity strategies to increase participation by female and minority students. It establishes a dedicated computer science education supervisor to support school districts in implementing the framework and provides for grants to advance computer science programs. The bill encourages school districts to adopt standards aligned with the new framework and mandates data collection to track access and participation in computer science courses. This directly affects Minnesota public schools, students, and educators by setting new standards for computer science education with a focus on equitable access.

Maddy summaryHF 2764 requires Minnesota public schools (including charter schools participating in the National School Lunch Program) to offer at least one plant-based meal option daily starting with the 2026-2027 school year. A "plant-based meal" is defined as one without any animal products (meat, dairy, eggs, fish), and schools must provide this option within four weeks of a student's written request. Schools must also make the request process clear to students and parents, comply with federal nutrition standards, and report annually on implementation to the Department of Education. The bill applies to all public schools serving lunches through the National School Lunch Program.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $22 million from state bonds to fund the design, construction, and equipment of the Chanhassen Bluffs Sports Complex in Chanhassen, Minnesota. The facility will include two indoor ice sheets, a walking track, indoor turf, playground, meeting spaces, and must incorporate rainwater recapture and solar energy systems. The city of Chanhassen must establish discounted admission fees for local residents and acquire necessary land. The funds will be provided through state bond sales authorized under Minnesota law.

Maddy summaryHF 2489 modifies Minnesota school policies for epinephrine access, directly affecting students with severe allergies and school staff. The bill requires annual written authorization from parents and prescribing doctors for students to possess epinephrine auto-injectors or for schools to store them for immediate use. It mandates individualized health plans developed by parents, school staff, and medical professionals at the start of each school year, specifying whether a student can carry the device or needs it kept nearby during the instructional day. Schools must also keep additional epinephrine in first aid kits and define "instructional day" for implementation, while providing liability protection for good-faith actions.

Maddy summaryHF 2171 is a symbolic resolution, not a law. It asks Congress to recognize Minnesota's historical ratification of the Child Labor Amendment (ratified by Minnesota in 1933), which would authorize federal regulation of child labor for those under 18. The resolution has no legal effect, as the amendment remains unratified nationally (requiring 38 states, but only 27 have ratified) and federal child labor laws are already in place following the 1941 Supreme Court case *United States v. Darby Lumber Co.*

Maddy summaryHF 3183 clarifies how Minnesota public school districts can manage costs for school food service programs. It allows districts to charge certain operational costs (like meal preparation, kitchen services, and technology for meal tracking) to the school food service fund instead of the general fund, while keeping administrative costs (such as lunchroom supervision and furniture) in the general fund. The bill also sets rules for handling deficits (requiring transfers from the general fund if not resolved within three years) and surpluses (permitting districts to shift some administrative costs to the food service fund when surpluses exist for three consecutive years). These changes apply to fiscal year 2026 and later.