Rep. Jess Hanson

Maddy summaryHF 1671 updates Minnesota labor laws by prohibiting employers from paying workers with disabilities less than the state's minimum wage after specific dates (August 1, 2026 for new hires, August 1, 2028 for existing employees), regardless of federal "special certificate" status. It also establishes detailed requirements for internet-based continuing education courses, mandating security protocols, interactivity standards, and specific technical features like encryption and identity verification. These changes directly affect employers hiring people with disabilities and training providers offering online courses for professions like manufactured home installers and elevator constructors. The bill modifies existing statutes (177.24, 177.27, 326B.0981, etc.) and repeals outdated sections.

Maddy summaryHF 3158 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds vote in both the Minnesota House and Senate to authorize public funding for the design, construction, or renovation of a professional sports facility. Currently, a simple majority vote suffices for such funding. The amendment must be submitted to voters in the 2026 general election, where they will decide whether to adopt the two-thirds requirement. If approved by voters, this change would become part of the Minnesota Constitution, affecting future legislative decisions on sports facility funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.5 million from the state general fund for Minnesota's Lawns to Legumes program, which supports homeowners in replacing grass lawns with soil-enriching legume plants like clover. The funds, available until June 2029, are administered by the Board of Water and Soil Resources and can be used to partner with local governments and organizations. The program aims to improve soil health and reduce fertilizer use by incentivizing legume-based lawn alternatives. This is a one-time funding allocation for fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 1918 updates Minnesota's child welfare and early childhood programs. It requires child welfare agencies to actively locate noncustodial parents and relatives before removing African American or disproportionately represented children from their homes, and mandates placement with these relatives when feasible. The bill also modifies data privacy rules for the Great Start compensation program and exempts the Department of Children, Youth, and Families from standard contract term limits for electronic benefits systems. These changes affect foster care placements, early childhood providers, and families receiving child welfare services.

Maddy summaryHF 1614 amends Minnesota's definition of a "child in need of protection or services" (specifically Minnesota Statutes §260C.007, subd. 6(4)) to clarify when a child is considered without necessary special care due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition. The bill explicitly states that a parent, guardian, or custodian cannot be deemed unable or unwilling to provide such care if a child remains in an emergency department or hospital because residential treatment is unavailable or safe discharge to the family isn't possible due to service gaps. This change directly affects children with special healthcare needs who are stuck in hospital settings due to lack of community-based support services. The provision aims to prevent unnecessary child welfare involvement when the barrier is systemic unavailability of care, not parental neglect.

Maddy summaryHF 3074 creates legal rights for transportation network company (TNC) drivers in Minnesota to form and join labor organizations for collective bargaining. It directly affects "active drivers" who completed at least the median number of rides in the most recent two quarters, as defined by the bill. The law establishes a certification process where drivers can designate an exclusive representative (like a union) through the Bureau of Mediation Services, while prohibiting TNCs from controlling or dominating driver representation groups ("company unions"). Drivers gain the right to negotiate terms and conditions of work, including grievance procedures, with TNCs, and the bill defines "lockout" to prevent TNCs from restricting driver access to the platform during disputes.

Maddy summaryHF 3069 imposes a tax on the growth of assets at large Minnesota colleges and universities meeting specific criteria. It applies to institutions with over $100 million in assets, at least 500 tuition-paying students (with over half from Minnesota), and taxes asset growth exceeding $75,000 per student at tiered rates (15% to 25%). Revenues from this tax flow into a new "higher education assets growth account" within the state treasury, which funds the state grant program for higher education. The tax targets increases in endowment-like assets, not existing assets, and begins for taxable years after December 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 3009 modifies Minnesota's multidisciplinary child protection teams to better address missing and murdered Indigenous relatives. The bill requires counties to include at least one representative from a nonprofit organization serving youth at risk of going missing or being murdered, or families with missing and murdered Indigenous relatives, on each team. This addition expands team composition beyond existing members like county welfare agencies and law enforcement. The change aims to improve coordination between child protection systems and organizations supporting Indigenous communities affected by these issues.

Maddy summaryHF 2920 appropriates $5 million from Minnesota's general fund to MNSBIR, Inc. for a one-time grant to support small businesses in securing federal research and development funding. The bill directly affects Minnesota-based small businesses, especially those owned by Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and women, by helping them access federal programs like SBIR and STTR. Key mechanisms include MNSBIR providing assistance with federal grant applications, technology transfer support from universities, outreach on federal requirements, and help managing federal contracts. The funding is available until June 30, 2027, to strengthen Minnesota's innovation economy and commercialize research.

Maddy summaryHF 2969 amends Minnesota law to exempt full-time graduate students employed by their educational institution under work-study programs or financial aid from being classified as "public employees." This specifically affects graduate students working in roles connected to their education, such as teaching assistantships or research positions funded through their program. The bill adds a new exemption (subdivision 14, clause 10) to Minnesota Statutes 179A.03, clarifying that these students are not considered public employees regardless of their weekly work hours. The change applies to students employed by schools (excluding the University of Minnesota Board of Regents) as part of their financial aid or work-study arrangements. This is a technical classification update, not a change to student employment conditions or benefits.