Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn

Maddy summaryHF 1759 requires the Minnesota Department of Human Services to apply age and size exceptions for customized living services at three specific Eden Prairie locations (8751, 8761, and 8771 Preserve Boulevard). These exceptions apply to clients enrolled in the Brain Injury (BI) and Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) waiver programs who were served at these facilities, which had capacity for ten clients each as of July 1, 2022. The bill directly affects these three housing settings by allowing them to operate under the waiver programs without adhering to standard age and size restrictions for their existing client capacity. This is a targeted exception for specific existing facilities, not a broad policy change.

Maddy summaryHF 1276 modifies Minnesota's Northstar Care for Children program to adjust benefit rates for two specific groups: children under age six entering kinship or adoption assistance, and children transferred into the program. It requires that most children under six receive 50% of the standard benefit rate upon entry, while children placed with relatives under certain placement preferences receive the full benefit amount. The bill amends statutes to clarify these rate changes and ensures state funding adjustments account for eliminating the reduced rate for relative placements. This directly affects young children in foster care or adoption assistance programs and their caregivers.

Maddy summaryHF 1566 requires landlords in Minnesota to make reasonable safety modifications for tenants with children who have autism, specifically when hazards like lakes, rivers, or other water bodies are near rental properties. Tenants must request these accommodations, and landlords can ask for documentation unless the child's condition is obvious. Landlords cannot retaliate against tenants making such requests and must adjust policies or property features to protect the child, unless the change would fundamentally alter the property. This bill directly affects tenants with autistic children and their landlords in rental housing.

Maddy summaryHF 1499 modernizes Minnesota's family child care licensing regulations by requiring the Department of Human Services to hire an independent consultant (preferably the National Association for Regulatory Administration) to develop new standards and a risk-based monitoring system. The bill mandates that new standards must protect children's health and safety while being "child-centered, family-friendly, and fair to providers," with violations weighted by potential risk to children and corresponding sanctions. It requires extensive stakeholder input from parents, providers, county licensors, and child development experts through at least five working group meetings, and mandates that all materials be translated into six languages. The updated standards and monitoring model cannot take effect before January 1, 2027, and must be submitted to lawmakers by February 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 776 appropriates $1.5 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1.5 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to support Minnesota's Family Assets for Independence program. The funding is directed to the commissioner of children, youth, and families to implement the initiative under section 142F.20. This bill provides ongoing financial support for the program but does not change eligibility or program structure. It directly affects the state's administration of the Family Assets for Independence initiative.

Maddy summaryHF 1211 appropriates $5 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund road improvements in Eden Prairie, specifically for designing and preparing an interchange at the intersection of Trunk Highway 5 and Hennepin County State-Aid Highway 4. The funds cover preliminary and final design work, environmental analysis, and acquiring land and utility rights for the project. This one-time appropriation is available until June 30, 2030, and can be used by the city of Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, or the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The bill directly affects infrastructure planning and construction for this specific interchange location.

Maddy summaryHF 994 appropriates $1.8 million annually for the ParentChild+ program for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with a base amount of $1.8 million set for 2028 and beyond. The bill funds an evidence-based early childhood program that provides literacy and school readiness support to children aged 16 months through four years. This funding must be used at existing locations (including Cass, Hennepin, and Rice counties, plus Rochester and St. Cloud) or new rural, suburban, or urban sites. The appropriation ensures continued support for the program's mission to prepare young children for educational success.

Maddy summaryHF 995 appropriates $100,000 from Minnesota's general fund for the predesign and site development of an aviation museum and education center. The funds will be granted to the Minnesota Historical Society to support Wings of the North, the organization leading the project. The museum is planned for the campus of Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie. This appropriation is available until the project is completed or abandoned, per state law.

Maddy summaryHF 501 proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee equal rights under Minnesota law and prohibit state discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, or sex - including pregnancy decisions, gender identity, and sexual orientation. If approved by voters in 2026, it would add a new section to the Minnesota Constitution requiring state actions to use the least restrictive means to achieve compelling government interests. The amendment would directly apply to all Minnesotans and state agencies, ensuring equal protection in all state laws and programs. It requires voter approval at the 2026 general election, with the question asking whether the state constitution should include these equal rights protections.

Maddy summaryHF 158 allows the city of Eden Prairie to establish up to two tax increment financing (TIF) districts in a specific area bounded by Flying Cloud Drive, West 78th Street, and Prairie Center Drive for economic redevelopment. The bill authorizes these districts to automatically meet certain state requirements (Minnesota Statutes § 469.174, subd. 10) and exempts them from a standard provision (§ 469.176, subd. 4j) that normally applies to TIF districts. This special rule directly affects Eden Prairie's economic development authority and city government when planning new redevelopment projects within the designated area. The authority to create these districts expires December 31, 2026.