Rep. Alex Falconer

Maddy summaryHF 2699 legalizes personal cultivation, possession, transportation, and use of psilocybin for Minnesotans aged 21 or older, removing criminal penalties for these activities. The bill establishes a Psychedelic Medicine Board to oversee implementation, creates public education and harm reduction programs, and authorizes civil actions for related issues. It amends Minnesota’s controlled substances laws (specifically sections 152.021, 152.022, and 152.024) to exclude psilocybin from possession crime classifications for adults 21+. The legislation also appropriates funding for these programs and sets up rulemaking authority for the new framework.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota House resolution (H.R. No. 1) condemns President Trump's January 20, 2025, pardon of individuals convicted of violent crimes related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. It specifically targets the pardon of 400 people, including members of extremist groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, who had been found guilty of assaulting law enforcement with weapons. The resolution expresses the Minnesota House's disapproval of erasing these convictions, arguing the pardon undermines justice and devalues law enforcement sacrifices. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal effect but formally rejects politicizing public safety.

Maddy summaryHF 2765 modifies Minnesota's optometry scope of practice by adding specific restrictions to the existing law. The bill directly affects licensed optometrists by prohibiting them from administering prescription medications via injection (except for anaphylaxis treatment), performing invasive surgeries (including laser procedures), prescribing certain strong oral medications (like Schedule II/III drugs or steroids), and extending the duration of some prescriptions (limiting oral antivirals to 10 days and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors to 7 days). These changes clarify the boundaries of optometric practice under Minnesota Statutes 148.56. The bill does not alter optometrists' core duties like vision testing, lens prescribing, or diagnosing eye conditions.

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 855 appropriates $1.5 million from the general fund to the Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture for a study on microplastics in meat and poultry sold in Minnesota. The study, to be conducted in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and the University of Minnesota, must be completed by February 1, 2026, with findings reported to relevant legislative committees. This bill directly affects state agencies (Agriculture, Health) and the University of Minnesota, which will conduct the research. The funding is a one-time appropriation, and the bill does not establish new regulations but requires a factual assessment of microplastic presence in food products.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's HF 1150 requires the Pollution Control Agency to study AI's environmental impacts in the state and submit a report by January 1, 2027. The study must assess energy/water use across AI's full lifecycle (hardware mining, data centers, model development), potential local impacts like grid stress, and both positive (e.g., energy efficiency) and negative effects (e.g., rebound pollution). The bill appropriates funds from the general fund for this study and mandates stakeholder input during the process. The report will inform Minnesota's policymakers about AI's environmental footprint and potential mitigation strategies.

Maddy summaryHF 1175 requires Minnesota public school districts and charter schools to develop written cardiac emergency response plans by the 2026-2027 school year. These plans must include specific steps for responding to cardiac arrests, such as placing automatic defibrillators in accessible locations, training staff in CPR and defibrillator use, and conducting annual emergency simulations. The bill appropriates $2 million from the general fund to help schools implement these plans, covering costs for defibrillators, training, and related equipment. It directly affects all Minnesota schools, ensuring they are prepared for cardiac emergencies during school activities.

Maddy summaryHF 2010 raises Minnesota's age of consent for criminal sexual conduct from 16 to 18 years old in cases where the offender is 22 or older. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 609.344 and 609.345 to remove consent as a defense and criminalize sexual contact between minors aged 16-17 and partners 22+ years old. It specifically targets situations where the age gap exceeds 36 months (3 years) and the offender holds authority over the minor. The law takes effect August 1, 2025, imposing criminal penalties for violations that previously might have been treated as consensual.

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.

Maddy summaryHF 2591 establishes a new fifth tax bracket for Minnesota individual income tax, targeting high earners to replace revenue lost from federal Medicaid funding changes. The bill amends tax law to create a top income bracket (applying to income over $1.667 million for married couples filing jointly) with a rate set by the commissioner of revenue. This rate must be calculated to generate revenue equal to the amount of federal Medicaid funds Minnesota lost, as certified by the commissioner of management and budget. The new tax rate applies to taxable years 2026 and 2027, affecting only taxpayers in the highest income bracket.