Rep. Jess Hanson

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies licensing rules and labeling requirements for cannabis and hemp businesses in Minnesota. It allows businesses to hold multiple licenses for lower-potency hemp edibles and permits holders of these licenses to also obtain cannabis business licenses. The legislation updates labeling standards to require more detailed product information, including usage directions and child safety warnings, while removing previous restrictions that prevented hemp license holders from also holding cannabis licenses. These changes affect businesses involved in producing, wholesaling, and retailing cannabis and hemp products by adjusting how they can be licensed and what information must appear on their product packaging.

Maddy summaryHF 974, the Equal Access to Broadband Act, updates Minnesota's broadband laws by defining key terms like "broadband" (meeting FCC standards for high-speed internet), "underserved areas" (lacking 100/20 Mbps wired service), and "broadband infrastructure." The bill requires broadband providers to coordinate with local governments when placing infrastructure in public rights-of-way, including notifying them before installation to minimize future disruptions. It preserves local governments' authority to require franchises from broadband providers, while excluding electric cooperatives and satellite-only providers from these requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 1944 amends Minnesota law to require all state agencies, counties, cities, and towns to use federal standard time (not daylight saving time) year-round starting in 2025. It changes how time is referenced in state law to align with federal standards, meaning state government operations and references to time must follow federal rules. The bill automatically expires if federal law ever permits states to adopt year-round "advanced standard time." It directly affects all Minnesota local and state government entities that reference time in their operations or laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of up to $22 million in state bonds to fund the replacement of unsafe and undersized buildings and facilities at Dakota County regional parks. The funds will be used to upgrade infrastructure at Lebanon Hills Regional Park and Lake Byllesby Regional Park, including new swimming beach facilities with accessible restrooms and showers, improved campground lodges with storm shelters, and updated trails and amenities. The legislation directs the commissioner of employment and economic development to manage the grant process for designing and constructing these improvements, with the bond sale handled by the commissioner of management and budget.

Maddy summaryHF 1911 provides $5 million in one-time funding for Minnesota counties to cover costs related to implementing the Department of Human Services' service delivery transformation IT initiatives. It also allocates $40 million for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to improve its social services information systems. The bill funds county IT modernization projects that connect with state systems and encourages collaboration between larger and smaller counties. Counties must apply for grants using a formula based on service population and other factors. This is a one-time appropriation for fiscal year 2026, with the DCF funding available until June 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 3293 creates the Minnesota Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (MCFPB) to enforce consumer financial laws and protect residents from unfair or deceptive practices in banking, lending, and other financial services. The bill establishes a commissioner appointed by the governor to oversee the bureau, which will investigate complaints, monitor financial markets, and enforce anti-discrimination rules in consumer finance. It appropriates funding for the bureau’s operations in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, and directs the commissioner to recruit staff with federal CFPB experience. The bureau directly affects Minnesota consumers and financial institutions operating in the state by providing a dedicated enforcement agency for consumer financial protection.

Maddy summaryHF 954 requires Minnesota officials to confirm that similar nonferrous sulfide ore mining operations (like copper, nickel, or gold mines) have operated safely for at least 10 years without pollution before conducting environmental reviews or issuing permits. Applicants must prove a comparable mine in the same climate and water conditions operated without hazardous releases for a decade using similar reclamation methods. The bill mandates public comment periods and potential hearings if new evidence challenges proposed approvals. Existing permits for such projects must be renewed every 10 years with updated safety reviews. It explicitly excludes iron ore mining from these requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 1197 requires mining companies seeking permits for nonferrous sulfide ore projects in Minnesota to disclose all environmental violations, fines, or legal actions against them or their key personnel within the past 15 years. The bill prohibits state agencies from conducting environmental reviews or issuing permits to applicants who have been charged, convicted, or fined for environmental violations, bribery, or corruption in that timeframe. This directly affects companies applying for mining permits by blocking approval if they or their leadership have recent environmental compliance issues. The law aims to prevent entities with poor environmental records from obtaining permits for new mining projects.

Maddy summaryHF 3085 appropriates $3 million from the general fund for a one-time grant to Community Mediation Minnesota to run a statewide family mediation pilot program. The program directly serves grandparents and families facing disputes, providing services like mediation, family reconnection coaching, and navigation to legal/court resources. Key provisions require the grant to expand access to dispute resolution, train culturally specific programs, grow the mediator roster, and integrate services with legal assistance. This pilot, active in fiscal year 2026, aims to improve alternatives to court for family conflicts.

Maddy summaryHF 3623 modifies Minnesota's North Star Promise scholarship program by raising the income eligibility threshold to $80,000 for students attending non-state-college public institutions (like universities), while exempting students at state colleges and Tribal colleges from this income limit. The bill also adjusts funding amounts for the program, with specific transfers of $2.5 million annually for spinal cord injury programs and $3.132 million for dual training programs. These changes apply to students enrolled in fall 2026 and beyond. The bill directly affects low-to-moderate-income students seeking tuition support at Minnesota's public higher education institutions.