Rep. Bianca Virnig

Maddy summaryHF 1468 establishes a new full-service motor vehicle and driver's license office in Circle Pines, Minnesota, at 9201 Lexington Avenue North. The bill requires the state commissioner of public safety to appoint a deputy registrar for Anoka County to operate this office, overriding standard rules about office locations based on distance or transaction volume. This office will handle all standard services including vehicle registration, motor vehicle tax collection, and driver's license processing. The bill directly affects residents of Circle Pines and surrounding areas by providing local access to these services, eliminating the need to travel to other locations for these transactions.

Maddy summaryHF 1403 appropriates $7.8 million from state bond proceeds to fund the planning, design, and construction of a new gymnasium at Browerville High School. The funds will go directly to Independent School District No. 787 in Browerville, Minnesota, for the project. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $7.8 million to cover this cost, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law. This is a direct funding measure for a specific school facility upgrade, not a broader policy change.

Maddy summaryHF 98 modifies supervision and training rules for mental health professionals in Minnesota. It requires case managers with less experience to complete 40 hours of approved training and receive 38 hours of annual supervision (including monthly clinical sessions), while case management associates must meet specific education or experience criteria and complete 40 hours of preservice training. The bill also exempts intensive residential mental health treatment providers from certain client rights requirements and updates critical incident reporting timelines for residential programs. These changes directly affect mental health service providers, case managers, behavioral aides, and residential treatment facilities.

Maddy summaryHF 132 prohibits the open or concealed carry of firearms within 100 feet of polling places, ballot drop boxes, or counting centers during election hours (two hours before polls open to two hours after they close). It directly affects individuals carrying firearms near these locations during voting periods, with exceptions for law enforcement officers on duty, lawful possession on private property or in vehicles, and travel to/from private property. Violations are punishable as misdemeanors, with repeat offenses classified as gross misdemeanors. The bill creates a specific safety buffer zone around election sites to prevent firearm presence during voting, without altering broader gun laws.

Maddy summaryHF 875 expands how Minnesota school districts and charter schools can use state funding for student support personnel. It allows districts to hire more support staff (like counselors or social workers), make temporary pandemic-era hires permanent, or maintain positions at risk of elimination. If a district can't hire a full-time position with this funding, it can instead contract directly with licensed professionals in these roles. The bill specifically updates funding rules to provide greater flexibility for supporting student services. This change applies to fiscal year 2026 and later.

Maddy summaryHF 297 appropriates $2 million from Minnesota's general fund for a one-time grant to the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency. The funding must be used as a reusable fund to acquire and rehabilitate tax-forfeited properties (properties seized due to unpaid taxes) for owner occupancy. The housing funded through this grant must be affordable to the local workforce, directly benefiting residents seeking homeownership in Arrowhead region communities.

Maddy summaryHF 1415 increases funding for Minnesota's school unemployment aid program, which provides financial support to hourly school employees who face unemployment between academic terms. The bill appropriates specific additional funds from the general fund to the Department of Education for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This directly affects hourly school workers, such as those in maintenance or summer programs, who qualify for unemployment aid under existing rules. The change simply adds more money to an existing account without altering eligibility or program structure.

Maddy summaryHF 1388 appropriates $10 million annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund the Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) Center. The center will deliver evidence-based programs to at least 40 schools serving high concentrations of students in poverty or from underrepresented groups (including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities), with geographic balance across urban, suburban, and rural areas. Key provisions focus on improving student social-emotional skills, increasing academic achievement for marginalized students, supporting teacher effectiveness, and boosting high school graduation rates. The funding requires the BARR Center to provide school coaching, professional development, and curriculum resources over a three-year period.

Maddy summaryHF 1293 appropriates $8.4 million from Minnesota's general fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund school bus stop-signal arm camera systems. The money will be distributed as grants to school districts, nonpublic schools, charter schools, and school bus service providers to purchase and install these cameras. The grant program must follow existing rules from 2021 and is a one-time allocation available until June 30, 2027. This directly affects school transportation providers by providing funding to implement safety technology that captures vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses.

Maddy summaryHF 1194 links school district funding to increases in Minnesota's general education basic formula allowance, starting in fiscal year 2026. It establishes a formula where districts receive revenue based on student enrollment in specific programs (like summer school, extended days, or day treatment programs for students with mental health needs) and the ratio of current to prior year education funding. This funding directly affects school districts serving students in day treatment programs or children's residential facilities, as defined in the bill. Districts may use these funds for extended learning programs, including summer school and vacation academies. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to implement this funding mechanism for fiscal years 2026 and later.