Rep. Ben Bakeberg

Maddy summaryHF 51 authorizes Minnesota school districts to use state education funds for roof repairs and replacements costing $100,000 or more per site as part of the long-term facilities maintenance program. School districts must develop a ten-year facility plan that includes a roof maintenance schedule, health and safety measures (like indoor air quality management), and provisions for gender-neutral restrooms at each school. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to explicitly include roof projects in eligible uses of the funding, effective for fiscal year 2027 and later. This legislation expands the types of maintenance projects that can be funded under the existing education finance program without changing the overall funding formula.

Maddy summaryHF 3218 modifies Minnesota's e-learning day requirements and clarifies employment terms for school staff. It requires school boards to consult with teacher representatives (or teachers directly if no union exists) when creating e-learning plans, mandating accommodations for students without internet access, digital devices, or disabilities. The bill also amends employment terms to explicitly include adult-to-student ratios and student testing for school employees, while clarifying that staffing ratios are excluded. These changes take effect for plans and agreements beginning July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 500 repeals Minnesota's Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board and related statutes (sections 181.211-181.217) that previously established requirements for nursing home staffing and worker protections. This bill directly affects nursing home employers in Minnesota by removing these specific regulatory standards. The key mechanism is the complete repeal of the board and its associated provisions, eliminating the legal framework that required nursing homes to comply with workforce standards and penalties for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryHF 2489 modifies Minnesota school policies for epinephrine access, directly affecting students with severe allergies and school staff. The bill requires annual written authorization from parents and prescribing doctors for students to possess epinephrine auto-injectors or for schools to store them for immediate use. It mandates individualized health plans developed by parents, school staff, and medical professionals at the start of each school year, specifying whether a student can carry the device or needs it kept nearby during the instructional day. Schools must also keep additional epinephrine in first aid kits and define "instructional day" for implementation, while providing liability protection for good-faith actions.

Maddy summaryThis bill lowers the age threshold for early retirement reductions in Minnesota's Teachers Retirement Association from 62 to 60. It directly affects teachers who retire before normal retirement age but want to avoid reduced benefits. Specifically, members retiring before age 60 will now face the early retirement reduction, whereas previously the reduction applied only for retirement before age 62. The bill also clarifies procedures for delaying postretirement adjustments, though the exact mechanism isn't detailed in the provided text.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies a $4.9 million appropriation for constructing an interchange at U.S. Highway 169 and Trunk Highway 282 in Scott County (specifically affecting the Shakopee area). It authorizes the commissioner of transportation to provide this one-time funding from the general fund to Scott County for design and construction of road improvements. The project includes accommodations for bicycles, pedestrians, rail grade separation, and utility relocations. The funds are available until June 30, 2027, and apply to the specific intersection location in Scott County.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution designating April 11, 2025, as "Shaken Baby Prevention Day" in Minnesota. It recognizes the preventable nature of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) and Abusive Head Trauma (AHT), highlighting that SBS causes death in 25% of cases and long-term disability in 70% of survivors. The resolution directs the House to transmit an official copy to the organization "Never Shake Minnesota" to support public education efforts about preventing infant shaking through caregiver awareness and stress management techniques.

Maddy summaryHF 62 is a technical correction that moves references to existing student attendance laws from Minnesota Statutes Chapter 120A to their appropriate chapters elsewhere in the statutes. This bill does not change any attendance policies, rules, or requirements for students, schools, or families. It only reorganizes where these laws are codified in the state code for clarity and consistency. The bill has no substantive impact on education practices or student attendance.

Maddy summaryHF 2240 allows union members in Minnesota (both public and private sector) to direct a portion or all of their union dues to a local, state, or national organization of their choice, rather than solely to their union. The bill requires unions to inform members about this allocation option and mandates that dues deduction authorizations clearly include this choice. Employers must process payroll deductions as requested and remit funds within 30 days, with unions liable for errors in processing. This changes how dues are distributed but does not alter membership requirements or collective bargaining agreements.

Maddy summaryHF 2067 modifies Minnesota school attendance rules by changing how student absences are tracked and reported. It requires school boards to establish written rules for issuing and recording excused absences (replacing current informal practices) and clarifies that students are counted as "in attendance" only when school staff are paid to supervise them. The bill directly affects all Minnesota public school districts and their staff, who must implement these new reporting procedures by July 1, 2025. Key changes include standardized documentation for absences and updated reenrollment notification processes for students returning after extended absences.