Rep. Rick Hansen

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a tax on plastic bottles containing less than three liters of beverage in Minnesota to raise funds for water infrastructure projects. The tax would be levied on distributors who sell these bottles to retailers, with the revenue collected in a dedicated state account managed by the Public Facilities Authority. Money in this account can only be used to finance specific water-related projects approved by the authority, and the tax is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2027, with provisions set to expire in 2031.

Maddy summaryHF 3373 appropriates funds from state bond proceeds to design a new interchange at the intersection of Trunk Highway 10/61 and 70th Street (Washington County State-Aid Highway 22) in St. Paul Park. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds to cover these costs, with the funds designated specifically for preliminary and final design work by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. This project directly affects St. Paul Park residents and commuters using this transportation corridor. The bill focuses solely on funding the design phase, not construction, and would require legislative approval to issue the bonds.

Maddy summaryHF 3352 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Minnesota to issue bonds and incur public debt specifically for public information technology systems, licenses, and infrastructure. If approved by voters in 2026, the amendment would add this purpose to the state constitution's list of authorized uses for public debt. The bill does not change current law but requires voter approval to permit state borrowing for these technology-related capital costs. This affects state government operations by enabling new funding mechanisms for IT infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HF 3556) is a naming resolution that commemorates Melissa Hortman by designating Minnesota's community solar garden program as the "Melissa Hortman Community Solar Garden Program." It does not change any program rules, funding, or operations - it only adds a short title to Minnesota Statutes section 216B.1641. The bill directly honors Melissa Hortman, a former state legislator, through this naming. It is procedural and has no policy impact beyond the name change.

Maddy summaryHF 3419 removes the ability of most Minnesota entities - including businesses, nonprofits, cooperatives, and foreign entities operating in Minnesota - to spend money on elections or ballot measures. The bill retracts this power for all entities except registered political committees that exist solely for political activity and claim no entity benefits (like limited liability). It also voids any organizational documents allowing political spending. This change does not affect regular business operations or charitable work, only political activity.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $6 million from state bond proceeds to fund capital improvements at Duluth's Lake Superior Zoo, directly benefiting the city of Duluth through a grant for predesign, construction, and equipment upgrades. Key provisions include authorizing the sale of up to $6 million in state bonds under Minnesota law and exempting the funding from standard budget rules (Minnesota Statutes § 16A.86, subd. 4). The funds will support critical infrastructure like mechanical/electrical systems, utility infrastructure, and exhibit renovations to sustain zoo operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates regulations for electric cooperatives and municipal utilities in Minnesota to clarify how they handle billing for small solar and other net metered facilities. It allows these utilities to charge a specific fee to recover fixed costs for small systems while prohibiting them from using other methods to collect those same costs. The legislation also permits electric cooperatives to aggregate multiple customer meters for billing purposes and requires cooperative board directors to use electronic voting or vote by mail. Additionally, the bill improves transparency by ensuring members have better access to cooperative documents and meetings.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state of Minnesota to use a lease-purchase agreement and the sale of certificates of participation to fund improvements or replacement of its MAXIS system. Under this plan, the state would lease the project from a vendor or financing source and pay for it in installments over a period of up to ten years. The legislation establishes specific rules for how the state must manage the funds, including requirements for insurance, liability, and financial reporting within a dedicated project fund. It also allows the state to transfer money from its general fund to cover expected costs before the financing proceeds are received.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's agricultural funding and policy by adjusting budget allocations for various programs. It increases financial support for soil health assistance, livestock and crop damage compensation, laboratory equipment, and meat inspection services. The legislation also establishes new grants to help counties fund agricultural inspectors and creates a program to evaluate the effectiveness of specific soil and water conservation initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota municipalities to hold at least two public hearings before approving data center development projects. The law mandates that specific information about the project, including the applicant and end user names, facility size and location, security guard details, and utility requirements, be disclosed to the public at least 48 hours before each hearing. These disclosure rules apply regardless of any private agreements that might otherwise prevent the sharing of such information. The requirements would take effect on August 1, 2026, and apply to counties, cities, and towns when considering rezoning petitions or special use permits for data centers.