Rep. Alex Falconer

Maddy summaryHF 3480 requires Minnesota to study the economic effects of the federal "Operation Metro Surge" immigration enforcement operation. The bill appropriates funding to contract a nonpartisan entity to quantify impacts on the state, child care providers, businesses, counties, cities, and school districts. The study must be completed and reported to key legislative committees by February 1, 2027. This is a procedural study bill focused on gathering data, not implementing new policy. The bill was introduced in February 2026 with multiple co-authors.

Maddy summaryHF 2516 requires Minnesota public school districts and charter schools to adopt cell phone use policies by March 2025, prohibiting phones and smartwatches for K-8 students and restricting them to classrooms for grades 9-12 starting in 2026-2027, with exceptions for medical needs or disability accommodations. The bill appropriates funds for a statewide awareness campaign about screen overuse (2026-2027) and provides one-time grants to schools for implementing the policy, covering only one-time expenses like equipment, not staff salaries. It directly affects all Minnesota K-12 public schools and students, aiming to address concerns about cell phone impacts on behavior and academic performance. The funding mechanisms include specific annual appropriations for campaign costs and school implementation grants.

Maddy summaryHF 3293 creates the Minnesota Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (MCFPB) to enforce consumer financial laws and protect residents from unfair or deceptive practices in banking, lending, and other financial services. The bill establishes a commissioner appointed by the governor to oversee the bureau, which will investigate complaints, monitor financial markets, and enforce anti-discrimination rules in consumer finance. It appropriates funding for the bureau’s operations in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, and directs the commissioner to recruit staff with federal CFPB experience. The bureau directly affects Minnesota consumers and financial institutions operating in the state by providing a dedicated enforcement agency for consumer financial protection.

Maddy summaryHF 2500 prohibits health insurance companies (health carriers) in Minnesota from using algorithms or artificial intelligence to approve or deny prior authorization requests for medical treatments. This applies to all health plans offered, sold, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. The bill directly affects insurers by requiring human review for these coverage decisions, rather than automated systems. It amends Minnesota Statutes section 62A.59 to explicitly ban AI/algorithm use in this specific process.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the legal authority for federal agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to make arrests under Minnesota state law. It directly affects these federal agencies by eliminating their ability to conduct warrantless arrests within the state, except when assisting local law enforcement. The change amends existing statutes to delete provisions that previously allowed these officers to arrest individuals for specific crimes like assault or felonies when on duty or with a warrant. This policy adjustment limits arrest powers to state-authorized peace officers and private citizens, while still permitting federal agents to aid in executing warrants when requested by local officers.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's law on concealing identity in public places. It adds "protection from smoke, gas, or other airborne toxin" as a valid exception for wearing masks or disguises, while clarifying that the law generally prohibits such concealment (except for religious, entertainment, weather, or medical reasons). The bill specifically creates two new exceptions for law enforcement: undercover officers may conceal identity when necessary for investigations or safety, and tactical team members may wear face masks to prevent facial disfigurement. The law would not apply to these officers while performing official duties under these specified circumstances. (Note: This is a proposed bill pending in committee as of February 2026.)

Maddy summaryHF 2819 provides $3.3 million in one-time funding from the general fund to build wastewater infrastructure on the Red Lake Reservation. The bill directs the Public Facilities Authority to grant this money to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians for constructing a wastewater stabilization pond and associated water/sewer lines in the Little Rock District. This funding directly supports the reservation's water infrastructure needs and is available until the project is completed. The appropriation is effective upon final enactment and aligns with existing state infrastructure grant procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Minnesota law enforcement officers from detaining or transporting suspects in vehicles not specifically designed for human transport, such as standard patrol cars. It requires all such vehicles to be owned/leased by a law enforcement agency, clearly marked with the agency's identification, and equipped with seats and seat belts for each person transported. Exceptions apply during emergencies threatening life/safety or for undercover operations. The law directly affects police departments and officers who transport detainees, aiming to standardize safe transport conditions.

Maddy summaryHF 954 requires Minnesota officials to confirm that similar nonferrous sulfide ore mining operations (like copper, nickel, or gold mines) have operated safely for at least 10 years without pollution before conducting environmental reviews or issuing permits. Applicants must prove a comparable mine in the same climate and water conditions operated without hazardous releases for a decade using similar reclamation methods. The bill mandates public comment periods and potential hearings if new evidence challenges proposed approvals. Existing permits for such projects must be renewed every 10 years with updated safety reviews. It explicitly excludes iron ore mining from these requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 2687 restricts corporate ownership of single-family homes in Minnesota by prohibiting corporate owners (including real estate investment trusts and corporations managing pooled investor funds) from owning 50 or more such homes. It increases the deed tax rate to 0.5% on transfers of single-family homes to corporate owners (up from the standard 0.0033%) and dedicates the state portion of this revenue to workforce and affordable homeownership programs. The bill also creates a statewide landlord database to track rental properties. These changes directly affect large corporate landlords and aim to increase housing affordability through targeted tax revenue.