Rep. Jim Joy

Maddy summaryHF 1266 appropriates $25.7 million from state bonds to fund the design, construction, and equipment of a new nonsecure juvenile detention facility in Moorhead, Clay County. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to this amount to cover the costs, with funds directed to Clay County through the commissioner of public safety. This bill directly affects Clay County and the operation of its juvenile detention system by providing funding for a specific facility project.

Maddy summaryHF 482 establishes "Choose Life" special license plates for Minnesota motor vehicle owners. To obtain these plates, applicants must pay a $25 initial fee and $25 annual contribution to a dedicated "Choose Life account," in addition to standard registration fees. Funds collected are deposited into this account and distributed by Choose Life Minnesota, Inc., to non-profit agencies within each county that assist pregnant women making adoption plans - excluding any agencies involved in abortion services or charging fees for services. The bill also specifies plate design requirements (featuring the "Choose Life" logo and inscription) and limits administrative costs for the program to 15% of funds. The program becomes effective January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the SAVE Minnesota Act, which requires voters to present a specific photo identification card to register to vote and to cast their ballots. To obtain this new voter identification card, applicants must provide proof of their U.S. citizenship and may receive certain vital records, such as birth certificates, without a fee. The legislation also creates a new voter identification card program, modifies existing driver's license requirements, and sets up a process for handling provisional ballots. Additionally, the bill includes funding provisions to support the administration of these new election procedures and establishes a children's trust fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-time special property tax refund for Minnesota property owners who paid taxes in 2026. It directly affects owners of specific property types, including residential homes, apartments, farms, and forests, by allowing them to apply for a share of a $4 billion fund. To receive money, owners must submit an application to the Department of Revenue between July 15 and September 15, 2026, and the refunds will be distributed by December 31, 2026. The legislation appropriates $4 billion from the state's general fund to finance these payments, with each eligible owner receiving a portion based on their individual tax contribution relative to the total taxes paid by all applicants.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Minnesota School Safety Center to create and distribute evidence-based model safety plans for K-12 schools, requiring districts to adopt similar plans by May 2028. It establishes strict criteria for what counts as "evidence-based," mandating that safety strategies be backed by strong research or well-designed studies before they are implemented. The legislation also enables anonymous threat reporting systems in schools and requires the safety center to consult with licensed mental health professionals when developing these plans. Additionally, the bill modifies grant programs for school buildings and cybersecurity while increasing funding for safe schools initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how evidence is handled in Minnesota Tax Court cases involving property tax valuations. It requires government officials to prove their property valuations are correct rather than assuming they are valid, and it allows comparable property sales and assessed valuations to be used as evidence in court. The changes apply to cases filed on or after January 1, 2027, and affect taxpayers, property assessors, and government units involved in property tax appeals.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's tax reduction authority for businesses located in designated border city enterprise zones. It allows local governments to approve various tax incentives, including sales tax exemptions for construction materials, income tax credits for hiring employees, property tax credits for new facilities, and reimbursement for land acquisition costs to prevent business relocation. The legislation also updates restrictions by removing certain exclusions for specific business types while maintaining prohibitions on tax benefits for recreational facilities, public utilities, financial institutions, and franchised retail food or beverage businesses. Additionally, the bill authorizes a $2 million allocation for additional tax reductions to border city zones and clarifies which cities can designate development zones and their size limits.

Maddy summaryHF 3513 defines key terms for autonomous vehicles in Minnesota Statutes, establishing a regulatory foundation for future rules. It adds definitions for terms like "automated driving system" (level 4/5 vehicles), "dynamic driving task," "minimal risk condition," and "on-demand autonomous vehicle network" to clarify operational standards. The bill does not impose new restrictions or requirements but creates the terminology needed for future legislation governing autonomous vehicle safety and operation. This procedural update prepares Minnesota’s legal framework for regulating self-driving technology as it develops.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax in Minnesota that targets individuals and organizations convicted of fraud or those identified by the state revenue commissioner as having obtained money through deceitful means. The tax requires anyone who has successfully defrauded state programs to pay back 100 percent of the stolen amount, regardless of any existing fines or restitution already ordered by courts. The state revenue commissioner is tasked with investigating suspected fraud, setting up a system to collect these payments, and ensuring the recovered funds are used specifically for income and property tax relief. The law applies retroactively to fraud cases determined after December 31, 2019, and also covers people who were paid to help commit the fraud.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state of Minnesota to issue up to $7,267,000 in bonds to fund a waste management project for the Prairie Lakes Municipal Solid Waste Authority, which serves five counties. The funds will be used to build an ash recovery and recycling plant that processes ash from landfills into road construction materials and recovers metals, as well as a waste transfer station to handle municipal and demolition waste. The money comes from the bond proceeds fund and will be distributed through the Pollution Control Agency to Otter Tail County, which manages the joint powers board for the authority. This legislation focuses on funding infrastructure improvements for regional waste management rather than changing existing regulations or policies.