Rep. Brad Tabke

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits banks and payment networks from charging interchange fees on state and local sales taxes or gratuities added to credit and debit card transactions. To qualify for this protection, merchants must clearly separate tax and tip amounts from the purchase price when processing payments or provide proof of these amounts within 180 days if they were initially included in the total. If a merchant submits the required documentation after the fact, the law mandates that any interchange fees wrongly charged on the tax or tip portion be refunded within 30 days. The legislation also prevents payment processors from manipulating fee calculations to increase charges on these specific transaction components.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a five-year pilot program allowing the city of Shakopee to take over state responsibilities for licensing and inspecting food, beverage, and lodging establishments. To qualify, the city must hire qualified health professionals, follow state standards, and set up its own data systems while paying for the program through local fees. The state health commissioner will keep the power to monitor the city's work and can cancel the agreement if standards are not met. If the pilot is successful, the commissioner will be authorized to allow other cities to take on these duties statewide without restrictions based on population size. The bill also requires the state to submit annual reports to lawmakers detailing inspection numbers, compliance results, and costs to evaluate the program's effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a loan guarantee program in Minnesota to help federal employees who lost pay during the 2026 government shutdown. The program allows approved local banks and credit unions to lend money to affected residents, with the state guaranteeing 100% of the loan amount if the borrower defaults. The Department of Employment and Economic Development will manage the program, which is set to end by July 31, 2028, and includes a limit on the total number of guaranteed loans.

Maddy summaryHF 3764 requires all public Minnesota K-12 schools to implement 24/7 anonymous reporting systems by July 2028. The systems must include mobile apps, multilingual crisis centers staffed by trained professionals, and protocols for school teams to respond to threats involving students, staff, or school property. Schools must also provide evidence-based student violence prevention training and public awareness campaigns. Nonpublic schools are exempt, and the Department of Education must compile a list of approved systems and submit annual reports to legislators. This bill directly affects public schools and aims to improve safety reporting mechanisms through concrete, structured requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 60 modifies Minnesota teacher licensure requirements by adding dyslexia training as a mandatory component for license renewal. The bill requires all licensed teachers renewing their licenses under sections 122A.181-122A.184 to complete two hours of free professional development on dyslexia, covering its effects on reading skills, instructional needs, and related health comorbidities. This training must be provided by the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board with input from dyslexia specialists, and teachers must complete it once - either during initial licensure or upon renewal. The requirements apply to all renewing teachers and take effect for licenses issued on or after July 1, 2027. The bill also updates renewal conditions for Tier 1 and Tier 2 licenses to include this dyslexia training.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota state agencies to pay certain interns at least $15 per hour. It applies specifically to interns who qualify for federal Pell Grants based on financial need and are enrolled full-time (nine semester credits or equivalent) in school. The law excludes interns already eligible for unpaid positions under federal labor rules. It defines "state intern" broadly to include those working in executive, legislative, or judicial branch roles. The policy directly affects student interns in state government positions meeting these financial and enrollment criteria.

Maddy summaryHF 3119 establishes minimum pay standards for Minnesota teachers and certain unlicensed school staff starting July 1, 2026. It sets teacher compensation thresholds at $60,000-$100,000 annually (based on education and experience) and a $25 hourly wage floor for unlicensed staff who regularly interact with students. The bill requires annual inflation adjustments using the Consumer Price Index, beginning in 2030, and creates state aid programs to help school districts cover these costs. School districts, charter schools, and other public education entities directly affected must meet these standards or receive state funding to do so.

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 summaryThis bill authorizes state agencies to round small cash payments and transfers to the nearest five cents to simplify transactions, while explicitly excluding electronic payments like checks or credit cards. It also amends existing health insurance rules for nonrepresented employees and managers to change the language regarding high-deductible health plan options from mandatory to permissive. Agencies must post their rounding policies at locations where cash is handled, and the changes update the statutory text governing these specific compensation plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax in Minnesota that targets individuals and organizations convicted of fraud or those identified by the state revenue commissioner as having obtained money through deceitful means. The tax requires anyone who has successfully defrauded state programs to pay back 100 percent of the stolen amount, regardless of any existing fines or restitution already ordered by courts. The state revenue commissioner is tasked with investigating suspected fraud, setting up a system to collect these payments, and ensuring the recovered funds are used specifically for income and property tax relief. The law applies retroactively to fraud cases determined after December 31, 2019, and also covers people who were paid to help commit the fraud.