Rep. Mike Howard

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 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 2381 establishes new rules for manufactured home parks in Minnesota. It requires park owners to charge uniform rent (with limited exceptions for lot size/location), caps late fees at 8% of rent, and prohibits fees based on family size, home size, or guests. The bill mandates itemized utility billing, requires safety inspections for hazardous trees within 14 days of notice, and requires 60 days' written notice for rent increases. These changes directly affect park residents and owners by standardizing fees, improving transparency, and enhancing safety protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Minnesota's Department of Revenue to create and run a tax compliance program that uses advanced data tools to better identify and audit taxpayers. The program will focus on corporations, complex pass-through entities, high-income individual taxpayers earning over $500,000, and businesses subject to sales and use taxes. The commissioner can enter into contracts to develop or purchase the necessary analytics and intelligence tools, following state procurement rules. The legislation also allocates $5 million from the state's general fund for fiscal year 2027 to support this initiative, with the requirement that these funds supplement rather than replace existing resources.

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 3405 requires Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to use its existing Use of Force Investigations Unit to investigate incidents involving federal agents. Specifically, it amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 299C.80, to include "federal agents" (defined as those employed by DHS, ICE, CBP, or USCIS) under the unit's duty to investigate cases involving peace officers or federal agents. The bill expands the unit's current mandate - which already covers incidents with state/local officers - to now cover all incidents involving the specified federal agencies. This change directly affects federal law enforcement personnel from those agencies operating in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 3413 prohibits Minnesota state, county, and local government units - including county sheriffs - from entering new agreements with the federal government that allow them to enforce civil immigration law. The bill also requires immediate termination of any existing agreements of this type within 24 hours of the law taking effect. It defines "immigration enforcement agreement" broadly to include contracts, memorandums, or intergovernmental agreements that authorize local entities to carry out federal immigration enforcement actions. This policy change directly affects all state and local law enforcement agencies that previously participated in such federal programs. The law takes effect the day after final enactment, eliminating both new and ongoing participation in these specific federal-local immigration enforcement partnerships.

Maddy summaryHF 3414 creates a new legal pathway for Minnesotans to sue government officials who violate their civil rights under the U.S. or Minnesota Constitution. It allows individuals harmed by such violations to seek damages, injunctions, and attorney fees within six years of the incident. The bill also requires state and local law enforcement agencies to obtain written agreements from federal partners before collaborating, ensuring federal officers follow both U.S. and Minnesota constitutional standards and can be held liable under this new law. This directly affects people experiencing civil rights violations and law enforcement agencies entering federal partnerships.

Maddy summaryHF 3411 limits federal immigration officers' access to student data at Minnesota's public colleges and universities. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to require a judicial order or subpoena before educational institutions can disclose student records to immigration authorities, specifically restricting access under federal law (20 U.S.C. § 1232g). It directly affects public postsecondary campuses and students by strengthening privacy protections for educational data. Key provisions update existing disclosure rules to explicitly block immigration-related data sharing without court authorization, aligning with federal student privacy standards while adding state-level safeguards. The bill does not alter funding, programs, or other campus operations.