Maddy summaryHF 1152 amends Minnesota Statutes to clarify and update the mission and operations of Explore Minnesota, the state tourism office. The bill modifies sections defining Explore Minnesota's purpose to explicitly include promoting "livability" and "workforce and economic opportunity" alongside tourism, and updates the director's duties to emphasize partnerships, efficiency, and data collection. It revises how the office manages promotional contracts, requiring the director to coordinate marketing strategies with other state agencies and expand international tourism programs. The changes directly affect Explore Minnesota's director, its divisions (Tourism, Business, Film), and local communities that partner with the office on marketing efforts. The bill focuses on streamlining operations and aligning promotional activities with broader economic development goals.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHF 217 appropriates $8.55 million in bond proceeds to fund upgrades for Burnsville's water treatment plant. The city of Burnsville directly receives this grant to cover specific improvements, including electrical component replacement, water line upgrades, and surface water treatment process enhancements. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $8.55 million to cover this appropriation, as required by Minnesota law. This funding supports the physical infrastructure of Burnsville's public water system.
Maddy summaryHF 159 provides a refundable sales and use tax exemption for construction materials used in building Burnsville's new city hall. It exempts materials purchased between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, from Minnesota's sales tax, with the city reimbursed for taxes paid upfront. Refunds are processed after June 30, 2025, funded from the state general fund. The exemption applies retroactively to purchases made after December 31, 2024, directly benefiting Burnsville for its new municipal building project.
Maddy summaryHF 995 appropriates $100,000 from Minnesota's general fund for the predesign and site development of an aviation museum and education center. The funds will be granted to the Minnesota Historical Society to support Wings of the North, the organization leading the project. The museum is planned for the campus of Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie. This appropriation is available until the project is completed or abandoned, per state law.
Maddy summaryHF 501 proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee equal rights under Minnesota law and prohibit state discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, or sex - including pregnancy decisions, gender identity, and sexual orientation. If approved by voters in 2026, it would add a new section to the Minnesota Constitution requiring state actions to use the least restrictive means to achieve compelling government interests. The amendment would directly apply to all Minnesotans and state agencies, ensuring equal protection in all state laws and programs. It requires voter approval at the 2026 general election, with the question asking whether the state constitution should include these equal rights protections.
Maddy summaryHF 262 prohibits employers from paying people with disabilities less than the state minimum wage, effective August 1, 2025 for new hires and August 1, 2027 for all current employees, ending the use of federal or state special certificates that allow subminimum wages. It requires providers of home and community-based services to report data on individuals currently paid subminimum wages by August 1, 2027, including personal details and employment metrics. The bill appropriates $38,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $75,000 in fiscal year 2027 to enhance the MnCHOICES system with employment-related resources. These changes directly affect employers, service providers, and people with disabilities working in supported employment programs across Minnesota.
Maddy summaryHF 37 proposes adding a new constitutional guarantee to Minnesota's state constitution, stating that "Elections shall be free, fair, and equal. No civil or military power shall, at any time, interfere with the free exercise of the right to vote." If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, this amendment would take effect January 1, 2027, directly affecting all Minnesotans participating in elections by establishing this fundamental principle. The bill specifies the exact wording for the constitutional amendment and the ballot question voters would see. It does not create new election procedures but enshrines this standard into the state constitution.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new rules for ticket sales in Minnesota to increase transparency and prevent deceptive practices. It requires ticket sellers and online marketplaces to clearly display the total price, including all fees, and to provide buyers with proof of purchase and refund policies within 24 hours. The legislation also prohibits specific behaviors such as selling duplicate tickets, using unauthorized domain names, or bypassing online security measures to buy multiple tickets. The commissioner of commerce is given the authority to request data on how violations occur and to enforce these rules, with the law taking effect on January 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows local jurisdictions in Minnesota to choose ranked choice voting for their local elections, where voters rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting just one. It establishes specific rules for how these elections would be conducted, including procedures for counting votes and handling ballots where a candidate is eliminated based on the rankings. The legislation also permits local areas to use electronic voting machines that can automatically reallocate votes to remaining candidates after an initial winner is determined. However, the bill did not pass during the 2024 legislative session and therefore will not become law.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new section to the Minnesota Constitution to guarantee equal rights and prohibit discrimination for all people. It specifically protects individuals from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, and sex, with the definition of sex explicitly including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation. If voters approve the amendment at the 2026 general election, the change will become effective on January 1, 2027. The text also establishes that any state action denying these rights must be the least restrictive way to achieve a very important government goal.