Rep. Mary Clardy

Maddy summaryHF 1048 clarifies how Minnesota calculates general education funding for charter schools to align their payment method with traditional school districts. The bill adjusts the formula to include specific local aid allowances while consistently accounting for factors like declining enrollment revenue, which was previously excluded but now added back. Charter schools offering extended programs (such as extended day, week, or summer) will receive an additional 25% of the statewide average extended time revenue per student. Special education charter schools also gain extra funding for non-special education students based on their unreimbursed costs, as defined by existing law.

Maddy summaryHF 1607 modifies Minnesota's requirements for school instruction hours. It specifies the minimum annual hours all public schools must provide: 425 hours for kindergarten, 935 for grades 1-6, and 1,020 for grades 7-12 (not including summer school), with additional requirements for all-day kindergarten and prekindergarten. The bill clarifies what counts as "hours of instruction" (e.g., must earn credit, be available to all students, and be supervised by a qualified teacher) and allows up to five days of online instruction during weather-related closures. This bill directly affects Minnesota public schools and their compliance with state education standards.

Maddy summaryHF 1215 modifies how Minnesota's Department of Human Services handles licensing violations for providers operating multiple home or community-based services under Chapter 245D. It requires correction orders and conditional licenses (temporary restrictions) to apply only to the specific service site or program where violations occurred, not all sites operated by the same provider. The bill also mandates annual reports to legislators detailing the number of such orders, locations, staffing, and efforts to improve compliance. These changes aim to make enforcement more precise while adding requirements for providers to access legal assistance and for the department to partner with culturally specific organizations.

Maddy summaryHF 1885 appropriates $100,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 for fiscal year 2027 to the Minnesota Department of Health. The funds are specifically for the Beautywell Project to support public awareness and education activities addressing colorism, skin-lightening products, and associated chemical exposures. This one-time appropriation expires on June 30, 2027, and directly supports the state's public health efforts through the Health Commissioner's office.

Maddy summaryHF 2867 appropriates $1,760,000 from state bond proceeds to fund the predesign and design of a combined city hall and public safety facility for Mendota Heights, Minnesota. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to that amount to cover these costs, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law. This funding directly supports Mendota Heights' planning for a new facility housing its police department and city administrative operations. The appropriation is specific to the city's facility planning phase, not construction or operational costs.

Maddy summaryHF 2833 requires a commemorative work honoring John Francis "J. Frank" Wheaton, Minnesota's first African American state legislator (elected 1898), on the Capitol complex. It mandates the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board to design and install the memorial by 2027, with annual progress reports to the legislature. The bill also requires the commissioner of education to develop school curriculum materials about Wheaton’s legacy and the Minnesota Historical Society to create public programs and an annual "J. Frank Wheaton Legacy Day." It appropriates funds from the general fund for these efforts, available until June 2028. The bill directly affects Capitol grounds, public schools, and historical programming, focusing on recognizing Wheaton’s civil rights advocacy and paving the way for future Black legislators.

Maddy summaryHF 2534 increases the minimum percentage of general education funding that school districts must reserve for area learning centers or alternative learning programs from its current level to at least 90%. This change directly affects school districts that operate or join these centers, requiring them to allocate more state funds specifically for these programs. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 123A.05 to mandate this higher reserve percentage, calculated using specific funding formulas. The new requirement takes effect for fiscal year 2026 and later.

Maddy summaryHF 2864 modifies Minnesota's teacher licensure requirements related to the Read Act by requiring school districts to create annual literacy plans focused on foundational reading skills. These plans must include evidence-based student assessments, parent notification processes, intervention strategies, staff training tracking, and curriculum details for kindergarten through grade 12. The bill mandates that districts provide structured literacy training to specific teachers (K-3 classroom teachers, intervention staff, special education teachers, and curriculum directors) by July 1, 2026, and report training completion rates and student reading data to the education commissioner. School districts directly affected must update these plans yearly and submit them by June 15, with the commissioner required to summarize district data for legislative committees by December 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 2548 creates the Outdoor School for All grant program to fund immersive, multiday outdoor educational experiences for Minnesota students in grades 4-8. The program provides grants to accredited overnight outdoor schools and nonprofit learning centers meeting specific criteria, including research-based curricula, integration with school standards, skill development (like leadership and critical thinking), and accessibility for underserved students. It appropriates $2.5 million for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the general fund. The bill directly affects public school students and providers offering equitable outdoor education, aiming to address declining outdoor engagement and access disparities.

Maddy summaryHF 1884 requires Minnesota retailers selling mercury-containing skin-lightening products to display visible warning signs starting August 1, 2026. The signs must state that these products are illegal and warn users of health risks like skin damage, and must be placed where customers can easily see them while shopping. The signage must be developed jointly by state health and pollution agencies and displayed in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, French, Ethiopian, and Oromo languages. This bill directly affects retailers in Minnesota who sell such products.