Rep. Nathan Coulter

Maddy summaryHF 2325 requires Minnesota employers to pay non-exempt employees at least 1.5 times their regular hourly rate for work performed on designated holidays. The bill directly affects hourly workers in Minnesota who are scheduled to work on holidays defined under Minnesota Statutes section 645.44, subdivision 5. It amends existing law (Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 177.25) to add a new provision mandating this overtime pay rate specifically for holiday work. This changes the current standard by explicitly requiring higher pay for holiday shifts, rather than allowing employers to use alternative compensation methods. The bill does not change the definition of "holiday" but specifies the required pay rate when work occurs on those days.

Maddy summaryHF 470 appropriates $96.565 million from the general fund for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund Minnesota's early learning scholarships program under Minnesota Statutes section 142D.25. This funding directly supports families with young children by providing financial assistance for early learning services. The bill establishes a specific, dedicated funding stream for the program, adding it to the base budget. It does not change eligibility criteria or program rules, only providing the necessary state funding to operate the existing scholarship program.

Maddy summaryHF 2061 appropriates $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to provide student loan debt counseling services in Minnesota. The funds are allocated to the Office of Higher Education to implement Minnesota Statutes section 136A.1788, which establishes counseling programs for residents with student loan debt. The bill permits up to 3% of the total appropriation to cover program administration costs. This legislation directly affects Minnesota residents seeking assistance managing their student loan obligations.

Maddy summaryHF 683 allows Minnesota cities and counties to adopt ranked choice voting (RCV) for local elections, such as mayoral or city council races. It establishes rules for how RCV would work, including counting votes by voter preferences and reallocating votes when candidates are eliminated. The bill permits local jurisdictions to use electronic voting systems that automatically handle vote reallocation, and it appropriates funds for implementation. This bill directly affects local governments choosing to implement RCV and voters in those jurisdictions participating in local elections. It does not change state or federal election rules.

Maddy summaryHF 2737 appropriates funds from the state general fund to support Minnesota's Hunger-Free Campus grant program. The bill allocates unspecified amounts for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Office of Higher Education commissioner. This funding directly supports Minnesota colleges and universities participating in the program, which provides grants to help campuses address student hunger through initiatives like food pantries and meal programs. The program operates under Minnesota Statutes section 135A.137.

Maddy summaryHF 2063 designates July 2 each year as "1st Minnesota Day" to honor the 262 men of the 1st Minnesota Regiment who fought for the Union at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. The bill requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation, encourages schools to teach about the regiment's Civil War role, and mandates that the Minnesota Historical Society's replica regimental flag be flown at the State Capitol on July 2. It directly affects state government officials, public schools, and Capitol operations through these ceremonial requirements. The bill establishes a recurring observance without creating new taxes, regulations, or funding.

Maddy summaryHF 1603 makes Minnesota's paramedic scholarship program permanent, providing annual funding to support students entering paramedic training. It appropriates $3.2 million each for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 - $3 million for up to 600 annual scholarships, $100,000 for promotion, and $100,000 for administration. The program directly benefits students at Minnesota postsecondary institutions pursuing paramedic careers by reducing financial barriers. The bill also requires annual reports tracking scholarship distribution, program locations, costs, and workforce demand data to the legislature.

Maddy summaryHF 1751 requires Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to use state funds to provide hospital, medical, and dental benefits to part-time or adjunct faculty who teach six or more credits annually and currently lack such coverage. The bill appropriates specific funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to cover these benefits for eligible faculty. It also mandates that the Board of Trustees collect participation data and submit a cost analysis report to legislative committees by November 1, 2027, to inform future budget decisions. This is a one-time appropriation focused on expanding benefits for a specific group of faculty members.

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 2502 modifies Minnesota's child tax credit to reduce the "marriage penalty" by raising the income level at which the credit begins to phase out for married couples filing jointly. The bill increases the phaseout threshold from $35,000 to $63,900 for joint filers (while slightly raising the threshold for other filers to $31,950), meaning married couples will retain more of their child credit at lower income levels. This change directly affects married Minnesota taxpayers filing jointly who currently lose credit benefits at lower incomes than single filers. The adjustment takes effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, and includes automatic inflation adjustments starting in 2025.