Rep. Ben Bakeberg

Maddy summaryHF 514 amends Minnesota Statutes section 121A.425 to modify dismissal limitations for kindergarten through grade 3 students. The current law prohibits disciplinary dismissals for these students, with exceptions for short-term dismissals (less than one school day) for students receiving special education services and for expulsions only after exhausting other resources in cases of serious safety threats. This bill adjusts those limitations, but the specific policy changes are not detailed in the provided bill text. The amendment directly affects public school students in grades K-3 and their schools, altering how disciplinary actions may be applied.

Maddy summaryHF 1381 modifies Minnesota's teacher licensing rules to exempt certain special education teaching permissions from renewal limits. Specifically, it states that out-of-field permissions allowing teachers to instruct in special education assignments between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2030, will not count toward any cap on how many times such permissions can be renewed. This directly affects licensed teachers in special education programs who need to teach outside their primary certification area during this five-year period. The change aims to provide flexibility for school districts to meet student needs in special education without being restricted by previous renewal limits for these specific assignments.

Maddy summaryHF 1054 requires Minnesota public schools to include student attendance data in their annual school performance reports. The bill amends existing law to add "student attendance data for the previous school year" as a mandatory reporting component alongside academic performance, safety, and other metrics already required in these reports. This applies directly to all Minnesota public schools and school districts, which must report this data starting with reports released for the 2025-2026 school year. The policy change simply adds attendance tracking to the existing set of standardized school performance metrics.

Maddy summaryHF 1274 appropriates $4 million from the state general fund to the city of Shakopee for the design, construction, and equipping of an Innovation Hub. This one-time grant will create a regional facility focused on workforce training and business incubation. The funding directly supports Shakopee's efforts to develop a center for job skills training and local entrepreneur support. The project must be completed or abandoned within the timeframe specified by the appropriation, with funds available until then.

Maddy summaryHF 127 increases criminal penalties for creating, distributing, or possessing sexually explicit materials involving children in Minnesota. The bill raises maximum prison sentences for standard violations from 7 to 10 years (up to 25 years with aggravating factors) and increases fines from $10,000 to $40,000. It specifically targets offenders who possess such materials involving minors under 14, have prior sex offense convictions, or are registered predatory offenders. These changes directly affect individuals engaging in these acts, strengthening penalties under Minnesota Statutes sections 617.246 and 617.247.

Maddy summaryHF 64 establishes the Office of Achievement and Innovation within Minnesota's Department of Education to help school districts and charter schools research and adopt innovative teaching practices focused on literacy, math, science, and career readiness. The office will maintain a central resource for educational strategies and vet nonprofit organizations that support student achievement, requiring nonprofits to submit financial records, program history, and legal compliance documentation. It modifies the state budget to allocate $2 million annually for the new office's staffing, separate from other equity, diversity, and inclusion funding. The office provides advisory support only - its guidance is not binding on schools.

Maddy summaryHF 517 modifies Minnesota's student bullying policy requirements by clarifying when electronic bullying using school-issued devices off-campus becomes subject to school policies. The bill adds a new provision (subsection 1.13-1.15) stating that bullying via school-issued devices off school premises is covered if it substantially disrupts learning or the school environment. This directly affects public school students and those participating in school activities, as it extends policy coverage to certain off-campus digital conduct using school equipment. The bill does not apply to home schools or nonpublic schools under specific statutes, though it encourages nonpublic schools to share their anti-bullying policies with the state commissioner.

Maddy summaryHF 65 repeals the state's authority to adopt statewide health education standards for Minnesota public schools and cancels related funding. This bill directly affects public schools, as it removes the requirement for them to implement new statewide health standards (previously planned for implementation), allowing them to continue using locally developed health curricula instead. Key provisions include amending education statutes to clarify that "locally developed academic standards in health apply" without needing state adoption. The bill does not change standards for other subjects like math, science, or language arts, which remain subject to statewide requirements. The effective date for these changes is July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 846 allocates $3 million annually for 2026 and 2027 to fund registered special education apprenticeship programs. It provides $740,000 grants each year to four specific intermediate school districts (287, 288, 916, and 917) for these programs. The funds must cover program administration, apprentice stipends/tuition, mentor teacher stipends, and substitute teacher costs. This directly supports special education apprentices and their training partnerships with higher education institutions. The bill does not change existing laws but provides dedicated funding for these specific programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies and expands Minnesota's self-defense laws by removing the requirement to retreat before using force to protect oneself or one's home. It specifically eliminates the "duty to retreat" outside the home, broadens the definition of "dwelling" to include vehicles and adjacent areas like porches or decks, and creates a legal presumption that force was justified when someone enters a dwelling or occupied vehicle by stealth or force. The law applies directly to Minnesotans defending their homes, vehicles, or occupants against unlawful entry or threats, and extends protections to individuals defending others in these spaces. These changes codify existing common law principles into statute while removing restrictions on defensive force in specified scenarios.