Rep. Bianca Virnig

Maddy summaryHF 3446 appropriates $6.5 million from state bond funds to build a new swimming pool and aquatics center in South St. Paul, Minnesota. The city of South St. Paul directly receives this grant for site preparation, construction, equipment, and furnishings. The bill requires the facility to include specific sustainability features like energy-efficient lighting, water-saving plumbing, native landscaping, accessibility for active transportation, and photovoltaic-ready infrastructure. The state will issue bonds to cover the cost, with the funding effective upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 3790 restores Minnesota school districts' ability to use property tax levies to lease space for high school graduation ceremonies. The bill amends state law to explicitly include graduation ceremonies as a permitted purpose for lease levies, which had been excluded under prior rules. School districts can now apply for additional levy authority to cover actual lease costs for graduation venues, subject to cost limits (e.g., $212 per adjusted pupil unit annually) and commissioner approval. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Education to approve lease costs for the 2025-2026 school year's graduation ceremonies regardless of when the lease was finalized.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Minnesota law enforcement officers from detaining or transporting suspects in vehicles not specifically designed for human transport, such as standard patrol cars. It requires all such vehicles to be owned/leased by a law enforcement agency, clearly marked with the agency's identification, and equipped with seats and seat belts for each person transported. Exceptions apply during emergencies threatening life/safety or for undercover operations. The law directly affects police departments and officers who transport detainees, aiming to standardize safe transport conditions.

Maddy summaryHF 46 requires dental insurance plans in Minnesota to pay dentists directly for services when a patient (enrollee) submits a written request, regardless of whether the dentist is in the insurance plan's network. This applies to all dental insurance organizations covered under Minnesota Statutes. The key provision mandates that upon written request, the dental organization must send payment directly to the dentist instead of the patient. This change gives patients more flexibility to choose any dentist without network restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HF 3742) requires Minnesota's Department of Education to create an oral translation of procedural safeguards notices for parents or guardians of children with disabilities. It directly affects families of students receiving special education services in Minnesota schools. The key provision mandates the development of an accessible oral translation version of existing rights notices, ensuring clearer communication. The requirement will take effect for the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summaryHF 3660 establishes a Teacher Microcredential Task Force to study how specialized teaching certifications (microcredentials) could support educators and address workforce needs, particularly in special education. The task force, composed of teachers, education leaders, and board representatives, must review current licensure processes, identify implementation needs, and submit recommendations to the legislature by February 1, 2027. The bill appropriates funds to cover the task force’s operations, with meetings scheduled to begin by October 2026. It directly affects Minnesota teachers, school districts, and the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board by setting a framework for evaluating microcredentials as a potential tool for professional development and staffing. The legislation focuses on factual processes, not outcomes, and expires upon report submission or February 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 3349 requires Minnesota public and charter high schools to permit students in grades 9-12 to possess and administer opiate antagonists (like naloxone) to other students experiencing an opioid overdose. The bill directly affects high school students and school districts by mandating this policy change. Key provisions include requiring schools to allow student possession/administration of these life-saving drugs and extending legal protections under section 604A.04 to cover this activity. The law aims to make overdose reversal more accessible in school settings without adding new administrative burdens to schools.

Maddy summaryHF 3662 amends Minnesota's individual income tax code to require taxpayers to include certain employer-reimbursed travel expenses as taxable income. Specifically, it adds an "addition" for travel costs (like fares, meals, and lodging) paid by or reimbursed by an employer while traveling within Minnesota for immigration enforcement activities or supporting such activities. This provision applies only to expenses incurred in Minnesota and takes effect for tax years starting after December 31, 2025. The bill directly affects Minnesota taxpayers whose employers cover travel related to immigration enforcement within the state.

Maddy summaryHF 3659 requires individuals who earned income in Minnesota while participating in immigration enforcement activities or providing material support to such activities to file a Minnesota income tax return. This requirement applies even if the individual's income would normally be too low to trigger a filing obligation under standard tax rules. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to add this specific filing requirement, which takes effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 3668 establishes an Office of Gun Violence Prevention within Minnesota's Department of Health. The office will coordinate prevention efforts, collect and report statewide data on gun incidents/deaths, conduct research, create public health campaigns, and support victims - working with agencies like Public Safety. It requires an annual report to legislative committees by February 15 each year. The bill appropriates unspecified funding from the general fund for the office's operations in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.