Rep. Nathan Coulter

Maddy summaryHF 2254 adds a $400 "baby bonus" to Minnesota's existing child credit for each qualifying child born during the tax year. This directly affects Minnesota taxpayers with newborn children, increasing their state income tax credit. The bill modifies the child credit calculation by adding the $400 per newborn (without reducing the minimum credit amount) and allows for potential advance payments. It takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryHF 1949 requires Minnesota's Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board to create and maintain a plain-language handbook about lobbying rules on its website. The handbook must clearly explain lobbyist registration requirements (including dollar thresholds and government employee exemptions), activities that count toward reporting thresholds, and differences between lobbying the legislature, executive branch, or other entities. The Board must regularly update the handbook and consult non-professional lobbyists, nonprofits, small organizations, and groups led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color during development. The handbook is required to be published by January 15, 2026, to improve transparency for those engaging in lobbying activities.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's HF 1384 expands the state's dependent care credit and creates a new "Great Start child care credit" for families with young children. It directly affects Minnesota taxpayers with children under age six who pay for child care, including parents using family day care homes or not enrolled in employer-dependent care plans. The bill increases the credit amount for one qualifying child to a maximum of $600 and for two or more children to $1,200, with phaseouts for higher-income households. These changes apply to 2025 tax returns and reduce the tax liability for eligible families based on their child care expenses.

Maddy summaryHF 2144 appropriates unspecified funds from the general fund for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program under Minnesota Statutes § 462A.204, for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The bill directly affects families in Minnesota at risk of homelessness by providing funding for prevention and assistance services. Key provisions include directing the Housing Finance Agency to administer the program using these allocated funds. This is a funding bill with no new policy requirements, solely authorizing budget resources for an existing state program.

Maddy summaryHF 1147 amends Minnesota law to allow school-age care programs to serve eligible prekindergarten students. It expands the definition of "eligible children" to include children not yet enrolled in kindergarten who have a disability (per state disability law), are experiencing temporary family issues, or are enrolled in kindergarten through grade 6. The bill does not change existing requirements for school-age care programs, such as adult supervision during school breaks, parental involvement, or partnerships with schools. This change enables school districts to extend existing care services to younger children meeting these specific criteria.

Maddy summaryHF 1145 prohibits Minnesota legislators from acting as lobbyists for two years after leaving office. It directly affects former state legislators who would otherwise seek lobbying roles immediately following their service. The bill authorizes a civil penalty of up to $25,000 or the amount earned from violating the ban, whichever is lower. This law applies to legislators whose service ends on or after the effective date following final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 1762 proposes adding a new constitutional amendment to Minnesota's state constitution. If approved by voters, it would guarantee all persons equal rights under state law and prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, or sex - including protections for pregnancy decisions, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. The amendment would apply to all state actions and agencies, requiring any discriminatory state action to be the "least restrictive means" of achieving a "compelling governmental interest." The proposed amendment must be submitted to voters in the 2026 general election, with implementation starting January 1, 2027, if ratified.

Maddy summaryHF 1750 establishes the Minnesota Civic Fund program, replacing the existing political contribution refund program. It allows donors to receive credits toward future political contributions instead of cash refunds, with political committees required to report redeemed credits. The bill amends campaign finance laws (Minnesota Statutes, chapters 10A and 10B) to define "contribution" to include Civic Fund credits and mandates reporting on credit redemptions. This directly affects political committees, candidates, and donors participating in Minnesota's campaign finance system.

Maddy summaryHF 1087 appropriates $300,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $300,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the I-494 Corridor Commission. The funds are designated for the Commission's programming, staffing, communications, outreach, education program development, and operations management. This one-time appropriation requires full disbursement by July 31 each year, with no funds retained by the commissioner of transportation.

Maddy summaryHF 1685 requires Minnesota's IT Services agency to combine the state's transit assistance program (currently managed by Metro Transit) into the existing Minnesota Benefits Web Portal by December 31, 2025. The bill mandates coordination with transportation, human services, and children's agencies to ensure seamless integration while allowing Metro Transit to continue processing applications. It also appropriates $1.2 million from the general fund in fiscal year 2026 specifically for this integration work. This change directly affects state agencies managing benefits and Metro Transit, aiming to streamline access for Minnesotans using transit assistance programs.