Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a previous requirement that assumed a $250 million reduction in special education funding for the 2027-2028 biennium and subsequent years. Under the new provisions, the state commissioner of management and budget will no longer be required to forecast this specific funding cut when preparing revenue and expenditure forecasts. The legislation also removes the mandate that the legislature must identify enacted provisions from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Special Education to offset the assumed funding reduction. If savings from those provisions fall short of $250 million, the commissioner of education would no longer be required to reduce the special education cross subsidy aid factor to make up the difference. The changes take effect the day following final enactment of the bill.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHF 3493 increases Minnesota's safe schools revenue funding to $36 per adjusted pupil unit for the 2027 fiscal year and later. It expands eligibility to include charter schools, cooperative units, nonpublic schools, and Tribal contract schools - previously limited to traditional public school districts. The bill requires funds to be used for specific safety purposes like security enhancements, counseling services, drug prevention programs, and cybersecurity measures. This policy change directly affects all Minnesota schools receiving state education funding, providing new resources for school safety initiatives. The bill takes effect for fiscal year 2027.
Maddy summaryHF 3511 increases state funding for school safety and local optional school aid while changing Minnesota's school meal program. It limits state-paid free and reduced-price school lunches to families earning at or below 500% of the federal poverty level (approximately $160,000 for a family of four in 2024), replacing the previous "free school meals program" with an "enhanced school meals program." The bill also reduces state reimbursement rates for school lunches starting in fiscal year 2028 - from 12.5 cents per full-paid/free meal to 6.25 cents - while requiring schools to adopt new meal policies preventing "lunch shaming" and ensuring students receive meals regardless of unpaid debt. This directly affects Minnesota public schools and families with children enrolled in the national school lunch program.
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 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.
Maddy summaryHF 3395, the "Fraud Isn't Free Act," requires Minnesota state agencies administering public programs (like healthcare or education funding) to take specific actions when fraud occurs. If fraud is suspected, agencies must submit a corrective plan to lawmakers within 30 days, including steps to prevent future fraud, recover stolen funds, and fire employees directly responsible for the fraud. The bill also mandates suspending new enrollments in affected programs, reducing agency budgets, and reporting fraud totals to the budget office and legislative auditors. These provisions apply to all state programs using public funds, with definitions covering intentional deception like false claims or theft.
Maddy summaryHF 3753 establishes a pilot program to enhance school safety through threat assessment. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety will contract with a vendor to provide real-time monitoring, threat alerts, and door-locking capabilities using predictive analytics, with services integrating into existing school security systems. One school district per congressional district (including both large and small districts) will participate, excluding those already using similar systems. The program requires a report by January 2027 evaluating effectiveness, gathering feedback from schools, and recommending statewide implementation, funded by a $4 million appropriation from the general fund for fiscal year 2027.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits property tax assessments from increasing for Minnesota homesteads owned and occupied by individuals aged 65 or older, with the freeze applying to the house, garage, and surrounding acreage. To qualify, owners must apply to their county assessor by July 1 and provide proof of age, ensuring that both spouses are at least 65 for married couples. While the bill caps the taxable value based on the previous year's estimate, it explicitly allows property values to rise if improvements are made to the home. The legislation also requires assessors to notify eligible homeowners of this valuation freeze in their annual tax notices and is set to take effect starting with the 2026 assessment year.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota calculates registration taxes for passenger cars and hearses by lowering the tax rate based on the vehicle's manufacturer's suggested retail price. It changes the tax calculation for new vehicles registered on or after November 16, 2020, and reduces the percentage of the vehicle's value taxed for each subsequent year of ownership. The legislation also establishes a process to transfer money from the state's general fund to the highway user tax distribution fund to cover any revenue shortfall caused by these tax reductions.
Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $1,000,000 from the state's general fund to hire eight additional school safety specialists at the Minnesota School Safety Center for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The funding is designated as a one-time appropriation that can be used until fully spent, with no restrictions on how the money is distributed among the new positions. This legislation directly affects the Minnesota School Safety Center and the public safety system by increasing the number of available safety personnel. The bill takes effect immediately upon final passage by the legislature.