Rep. Rick Hansen

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Council on Central and Eastern European Affairs in Minnesota to serve as a liaison between state government and Minnesotans from Central and Eastern European countries, including refugees and recent immigrants. The 15-member council will consist of 11 public members appointed by the governor and four legislative members appointed by both parties, with requirements for gender diversity and demographic representation. The council will advise state leaders on issues affecting these communities, recommend policy changes, and receive administrative support and funding from the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $5 million from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to provide supplemental grants to existing youth intervention programs in Minnesota. The funding is intended to help these programs address immediate or emerging needs related to trauma experienced by the youth they serve. Each grant can be up to $50,000, and recipients must submit a work plan describing their specific intervention needs. The commissioner may use up to 10% of the total appropriation for administrative costs, and this is a one-time funding allocation.

Maddy summaryHF 3748 appropriates $250 million from the general fund for grants to replace lead service lines in municipal water systems. This funding directly helps water utilities and homeowners affected by lead pipes, which pose health risks. The grants are administered by the Public Facilities Authority under Minnesota Statutes, section 446A.077, and are available until June 30, 2034. The bill provides one-time state funding to accelerate the replacement of hazardous lead pipes in drinking water infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill renames the Minnesota Senate Building to the Kari Dziedzic Senate Building in honor of Kari Dziedzic. It directs the state to update signage throughout the Capitol complex to reflect the new name and requires the Revisor of Statutes to change the building's name in official state records and laws. The legislation also appropriates funds from the general fund to cover the cost of replacing existing signs. This change primarily affects state government operations and official documentation within Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $20 million in state funding to the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame nonprofit to build a facility in Inver Grove Heights that will include a museum, ice rink, and event spaces. It also authorizes the state to issue up to $5 million in bonds to provide infrastructure improvements like roads, utilities, and sidewalks to support the project. The funding is designated for construction and development costs, with the money available until the project is finished or abandoned. Both sections of the bill take effect immediately upon final passage by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Minnesota's Special Education Teacher Pathway Program to also include related services providers such as school counselors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and speech-language pathologists. It allows school districts and other educational entities to apply for grants to support these professionals in obtaining Tier 3 licensure through partnerships with accredited teacher preparation programs or universities. Grant funds can be used for tuition assistance, stipends, mentoring, licensure test preparation, and recruitment, with priority given to helping those with lower-tier licenses advance to Tier 3 status. The program requires annual reporting on participant numbers and fund usage, and it will become effective on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 3322 proposes a 10-cent excise tax on plastic drink containers (under 3 liters) sold to retailers in Minnesota, paid by bottle distributors (like beverage sellers or producers). The tax applies to most plastic bottles containing beverages (excluding drugs and infant formula) and begins January 1, 2026, expiring December 31, 2030. Revenue from the tax will fund Minnesota's water infrastructure account, prioritizing projects like sewer systems, water treatment, and contaminant removal in communities with low tax base per capita. Funds are distributed to local governments for eligible capital projects related to drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's regulations on importing, stocking, and transferring fish eggs in aquaculture operations. It establishes new disease testing requirements and allows certain fish species with specific pathogens to be imported or transferred following approved treatment protocols. The law also clarifies permit requirements for releasing private aquatic life into public waters and sets disease-free history standards for importing eggs from different facility types. These changes apply to licensed aquaculture facilities, the state commissioner of natural resources, and anyone involved in fish stocking or transfer activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of up to $22 million in state bonds to fund the replacement of unsafe and undersized buildings and facilities at Dakota County regional parks. The funds will be used to upgrade infrastructure at Lebanon Hills Regional Park and Lake Byllesby Regional Park, including new swimming beach facilities with accessible restrooms and showers, improved campground lodges with storm shelters, and updated trails and amenities. The legislation directs the commissioner of employment and economic development to manage the grant process for designing and constructing these improvements, with the bond sale handled by the commissioner of management and budget.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for Minnesota state veterans homes to include former commissioned officers of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who served on active duty. To qualify, these individuals must have served at least 181 consecutive days or been separated due to a service-related disability, and must have been discharged under honorable conditions. The legislation amends existing state statutes to formally define these groups as veterans for the purpose of accessing nursing care and related health and social services at state veterans homes.