Rep. Alex Falconer

Maddy summaryHF 2994 appropriates $1 million from the workforce development fund to create a child care pilot program for Hennepin County law enforcement and first responders. The funding, available until June 2027, will help the Sheriff's Office partner with WomenVenture to recruit child care providers who can accommodate irregular work shifts, covering costs like business planning, training, and family scholarships. The program aims to improve retention by addressing a key challenge for these workers. By December 2027, the Sheriff's Office must submit a report detailing how the funds were used and recommending future child care solutions for public safety staff.

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 summaryHF 2509, the Youth Civic Engagement Act, establishes a state grant program to support civic activities for Minnesota youth aged 14-24. The bill directs the Secretary of State to award grants to eligible organizations (like schools, nonprofits, and community centers) for specific initiatives including civic education curricula, youth-led projects, mentorship programs, and events such as designated "Youth Civic Engagement Day" (the third Friday in October). Grant funds may cover costs like program materials, participant stipends, and outreach to underserved communities. The bill appropriates unspecified funds for fiscal years 2026-2027 to support these activities, aiming to increase youth participation in voting, community service, and public decision-making.

Maddy summaryHF 788 establishes Minnesota's "Keep it Clean" program to prevent water pollution from garbage and human waste left on ice during winter activities. It adds a $10 surcharge to resident and non-resident licenses for fish houses, dark houses, and shelters, with these funds deposited into a dedicated "Keep it Clean account" in the game and fish fund. The program provides grants to local governments and nonprofits for specific pollution prevention efforts, including installing sanitary dumping stations, providing biowaste disposal services, increasing winter enforcement patrols, and running education campaigns. The bill also appropriates initial funding from the general fund and the Keep it Clean account for program administration and grants.

Maddy summaryHF 1999 restricts how people can request public data from Minnesota school districts. It requires requesters to provide their identity (no anonymous requests) and pay for costs if they fail to appear to inspect the data in person. The law applies to all public data requests to school districts under Minnesota's government data practices law, but does not affect requests made by students under separate privacy rules. These changes take effect 24 hours after the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryHF 1124 allows Minnesota school districts to begin the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years before Labor Day, which is currently prohibited under state law. This temporary change applies only to those two specific school years and does not alter the standard start date requirement for other years. School districts choosing this option must report their start dates to the education commissioner, who will then compile and submit a list of participating districts to legislators by January 5, 2027. The bill directly affects public school districts in Minnesota for those two school years.

Maddy summaryHF 1378 modifies Minnesota's election filing deadlines and campaign finance reporting rules. It requires candidates for state and local offices to file economic interest statements within 14 days after candidate filing ends (previously 60 days for some), adjusts municipal candidate filing periods to 56-70 days before March elections (previously 56-70 days), and updates campaign finance reports to include vendor details for payments over $100 and privacy protections for contributors who request address withholding. These changes affect candidates, elected officials, and campaign committees by altering when they must submit filings and what information they must disclose. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's definition of a "debt buyer" to clarify that businesses purchasing charged-off medical debts for collection purposes are considered debt buyers, while excluding nonprofits buying for charitable reasons. It appropriates $5 million from the general fund for a one-time grant to the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to relieve medical debt for eligible residents who couldn't pay after hospitals completed reasonable collection efforts. The grant must be used by June 30, 2028, and Undue Medical Debt must report recipient demographics to state agencies. The bill directly affects low-income Minnesotans with unpaid medical bills and hospitals that previously pursued collections.

Maddy summaryHF 2147 exempts hot tubs or whirlpools on houseboats and single-unit rental properties from most public pool safety requirements in Minnesota. It requires property owners to ensure water temperature stays below 106°F, test chlorine/bromine, pH, and alkalinity before each rental, and provide renters with a specific notice about the exemption. The bill mandates a posted warning: "NOTICE: This spa is exempt from certain state and local sanitary requirements... USE AT YOUR OWN RISK." It directly affects rental property owners, resorts, and renters of these properties, while prohibiting local governments from adding extra requirements for qualifying hot water pools.

Maddy summaryHF 2297 establishes special license plates for vehicles owned by Minnesotans who support solar pollinator habitats, requiring a $60 annual contribution to a pollinator fund. It also adds agrivoltaic solar sites - those integrated with farming practices like crop production or pollinator habitats - to eligibility for solar site management programs under state law. Owners of such sites must submit management plans for agency review. The special plates become available January 1, 2026, while the agrivoltaics provisions take effect immediately upon enactment.