Rep. Rick Hansen

Maddy summaryHF 1355 requires permit holders harvesting or destroying aquatic plants in Minnesota public waters to use scuba diving equipment safely and establishes safety standards for commercial diving operations. It mandates that applicants provide documentation of a recent third-party safety survey by a qualified professional (like a DLI consultant or insurance underwriter) and ensures divers have valid certification from accredited programs. The bill also requires employers to provide buoyancy control devices for workers using scuba equipment during these activities. These requirements apply directly to commercial entities and contractors seeking permits under Minnesota Statutes §103G.615 for aquatic plant management. The law aims to improve workplace safety for divers working in Minnesota's waterways.

Maddy summaryHF 3260 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Agriculture to prepare a report on agricultural land trends using $1.1 million in fiscal year 2026 funds. The report must include data on land sales (price, acres, buyer type, financing), regional land use differences, and policy recommendations to ensure farmland remains available for farmers. It prohibits including personally identifiable information and mandates submission to legislative committees by January 1, 2027. This bill directly affects agricultural land transactions and informs future policy decisions, but does not change existing land use laws.

Maddy summaryHF 1653 appropriates $1 million from state bonds to fund electric bus charging stations for school buses statewide. The bill directs the commissioner of commerce to provide grants to eligible school districts or public transit agencies under Minnesota Statutes §216C.374, specifically for installing Level 2 and Level 3 charging infrastructure. Funding comes from bonds sold by the state under established procedures, with grants awarded through the existing electric school bus deployment program. This measure directly affects school transportation systems seeking to transition to electric fleets, effective upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 2554 designates a specific bridge on Burnsville Parkway over Interstate Highway 35W in Burnsville, Minnesota, as the "Elmstrand * Finseth * Ruge Heroes Memorial Bridge." The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 161.14 to formally name the structure and requires the transportation commissioner to adopt appropriate signage for it. This is a commemorative measure naming a physical location, not a policy change affecting residents or creating new laws. The bridge itself is the direct subject of the designation, with no broader legislative impact beyond the memorial name and signage.

Maddy summaryHF 2770 prohibits the sale, use, or application of neonicotinoid pesticides throughout Minnesota. It directly affects all pesticide sellers, farmers, gardeners, and other users within the state. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, banning these pesticides for all purposes, including agricultural and residential use. This is a direct policy change eliminating the legal availability of neonicotinoid pesticides in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 2761 updates Minnesota's pesticide regulations to include pesticides from treated seeds in the commissioner's management plans and monitoring. It requires new coordination between state agencies, local governments, and public health agencies for pesticide management, and adds monitoring for pesticides from treated seeds and their breakdown products in groundwater, surface water, and air. The bill establishes new labeling requirements for certain pesticide-treated seeds and defines "systemic pesticides" (like neonicotinoids) for a new regulatory program. These changes primarily affect farmers using treated seeds, state environmental agencies, and local communities managing water and air quality.

Maddy summaryHF 2764 requires Minnesota public schools (including charter schools participating in the National School Lunch Program) to offer at least one plant-based meal option daily starting with the 2026-2027 school year. A "plant-based meal" is defined as one without any animal products (meat, dairy, eggs, fish), and schools must provide this option within four weeks of a student's written request. Schools must also make the request process clear to students and parents, comply with federal nutrition standards, and report annually on implementation to the Department of Education. The bill applies to all public schools serving lunches through the National School Lunch Program.

Maddy summaryHF 2171 is a symbolic resolution, not a law. It asks Congress to recognize Minnesota's historical ratification of the Child Labor Amendment (ratified by Minnesota in 1933), which would authorize federal regulation of child labor for those under 18. The resolution has no legal effect, as the amendment remains unratified nationally (requiring 38 states, but only 27 have ratified) and federal child labor laws are already in place following the 1941 Supreme Court case *United States v. Darby Lumber Co.*

Maddy summaryHF 3186 requires Minnesota water utilities (including public water supplies and publicly owned treatment works) to submit annual reports by March 1st to state agencies. The reports must detail policies on late payments, service termination, payment plans, financial assistance, and account terminations, broken down by residential, commercial, and industrial accounts. Utilities must also include customer contact information, financial statements, and explanations if data is unavailable. The state agencies will post all reports publicly online, increasing transparency around water access policies and billing practices. This bill directly affects water utilities and their customers by mandating standardized disclosure of service policies.

Maddy summaryHF 2580 requires owners to remove abandoned boats on Minnesota waters or adjacent property within 14 days of receiving a notice. It mandates that officials tag boats appearing inoperative, neglected, or in danger, then send certified mail to owners detailing the required repairs. Failure to act results in criminal misdemeanor charges, civil penalties (2-5 times removal costs), and potential boat forfeiture. Owners convicted under this bill also lose all watercraft, fishing, and off-highway vehicle licenses until costs are reimbursed. The law applies directly to boat owners leaving vessels in disrepair on public waters or shorelines.