Rep. Brad Tabke

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's school bus regulations by updating the definition of school buses to include vehicles used for employee training, clarifying weight classifications for different bus types, and requiring USDOT identification numbers on all school buses. It also adjusts first aid kit requirements for school buses and authorizes the use of school buses on public roads for training purposes under specific conditions. Additionally, the bill maintains existing safety rules requiring vehicles to stop at least 20 feet away from stopped school buses with flashing red lights and prohibits non-school buses from being painted yellow or equipped with school bus markings.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for impersonating a police officer in Minnesota. It upgrades the base offense to a felony (up to 2 years in jail or $4,000 fine) and creates a new crime for impersonating while carrying a firearm (up to 10 years in jail or $20,000 fine). The bill also requires anyone pretending to be a law enforcement officer to identify themselves when asked and imposes harsher penalties if they commit other crimes while impersonating an officer (e.g., a misdemeanor becomes a gross misdemeanor). It directly affects individuals who falsely pose as police officers, including those using fake uniforms, vehicle markings, or equipment to mimic law enforcement.

Maddy summarySF 3887 allows watershed districts, watershed management organizations, and towns with over 100 employees to self-insure for employee health benefits like long-term disability (but not life insurance). The bill requires self-insurance plans to meet legal benefit standards and be certified by the Department of Commerce before use. It also mandates that employers consult with employee representatives before adopting or dissolving self-insurance plans and provides options for employees to enroll in external insurance at their own expense. This expands existing self-insurance options previously limited to cities and counties.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires law enforcement agencies to disclose the name, product number, and quantity of chemical irritants (like pepper spray) used during specific operations in buildings. It applies when officers execute search warrants, apprehend suspects, or attempt to apprehend suspects. Upon request, agencies must share this information with building owners, tenants, insurers, and cleaning/remediation service providers. The disclosure must be made regardless of data classification rules, ensuring transparency about chemical deployments. The bill directly affects law enforcement practices and building occupants' awareness of chemical exposure.

Maddy summaryHF 1606 prohibits websites, apps, software, or programs from allowing users to access, download, or use technology that alters images or videos to reveal private body parts (defined as "nudification"). It directly affects platform operators who host such tools and individuals whose images are altered without consent. The bill creates civil lawsuits for victims, allowing them to seek triple damages, punitive penalties, and attorney fees, while imposing $500,000 civil penalties per violation on violators. It becomes effective August 1, 2025, targeting the unauthorized use of image-altering technology that could harm individuals' privacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's organized retail theft law to explicitly include gift card fraud as a form of retail theft. It defines "retail merchandise" to cover all gift cards (both physical and digital) and specifies that the "value" of stolen gift cards includes their full face value. Retailers and law enforcement will now have a clearer legal framework for prosecuting gift card fraud under existing organized retail theft statutes. The change takes effect August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 3298 establishes a reimbursement program for owners of underground petroleum storage tank systems to replace outdated pressurized single-walled steel piping. This directly affects property owners and operators of gas stations or similar facilities with these specific piping systems. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to add a new provision (115C.09, subdivision 3l) allowing reimbursement from the existing petroleum tank release cleanup fund for the cost of replacing this piping. The program covers eligible piping between storage tanks and dispensers, excluding the tanks themselves or other site improvements. This creates a concrete financial mechanism to address a known safety and environmental risk associated with this aging infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Business Regulation and Land Ownership within Minnesota's Department of Agriculture. The office will investigate monopolies and consolidation in agriculture-related businesses, such as those producing food, seeds, and chemicals, while also tracking how agricultural land is being bought by individuals, corporations, and other organizations. To carry out these tasks, the office will employ a director with expertise in antitrust and property law, along with staff including lawyers and economists, and must submit biennial reports to state legislators. The legislation also authorizes funding from the state's general budget to establish and operate this new office.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals in Minnesota to request changes or additions to the sex indicators on their birth and death records, including options beyond just male or female. For adults and emancipated minors, the state health commissioner must approve these requests if supported by medical documentation, a court order, or a sworn statement of good faith. The legislation also permits parents or guardians to make these changes for minors and requires courts to grant such petitions when there is no intent to defraud. Additionally, the bill mandates that once a birth record is updated, the original document becomes private data that cannot be disclosed without a court order.

Maddy summaryHF 5149 restricts law enforcement from making civil immigration arrests at court facilities and surrounding areas to protect individuals attending legal proceedings. The bill defines 'civil arrest' as taking someone into custody for immigration violations and explicitly prohibits this action within courthouses, parking lots, and nearby sidewalks. It also establishes protections for court companions, such as family members and advocates, by extending these arrest restrictions to anyone accompanying a person to court. Additionally, the legislation modifies laws related to concealing identity and expands investigations into police use of force.