Rep. Jon Koznick

Maddy summaryThis bill requires drivers to stop at least 20 feet away from a school bus displaying flashing red lights while children are boarding or exiting. It directly affects all drivers approaching school buses on Minnesota roads, mandating they remain stopped until the red lights cease flashing. The bill also adds a new provision warning drivers that amber lights indicate red lights will soon activate, requiring them to prepare to stop. These changes aim to improve safety for children near school bus stops. The bill is currently pending passage after committee approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of state bonds to fund the construction of an air traffic control tower at the Mankato Regional Airport. It appropriates $1,265,000 from the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of transportation for a grant to the city of Mankato, which will use the money to design, build, furnish, and equip the tower facility. The legislation requires the commissioner of management and budget to sell and issue state bonds up to the specified amount in accordance with existing Minnesota statutes and the state constitution. The bill takes effect the day after it is enacted into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes March 31 as Latino Heritage Day in Minnesota to honor the state's growing Latino community and their contributions. The legislation amends existing state statutes to rename the current Cesar Chavez Day observance while maintaining the same date and purpose of celebrating Latino heritage. The bill includes provisions recognizing the historical significance of Latino community organizer Cesar Chavez and his advocacy work. This change is effective immediately upon final enactment and requires no additional administrative procedures.

Maddy summaryHF 198 appropriates $14 million from state bonds to fund a new air traffic control tower base building at Duluth International Airport. The project includes design, construction, and site work like demolishing old buildings and replacing fuel tanks, with part of the funds matching federal support. The Duluth Airport Authority will receive the grant to build the facility, which includes office spaces, equipment rooms, and support areas. This bill authorizes the state to issue bonds to cover the costs and takes effect after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants immunity from nuisance lawsuits to racing facilities in Minnesota against property owners who acquired their land after the racing facility was already operating. It protects these facilities from legal claims by surrounding residents regarding noise, traffic, or other disturbances, provided the racing facility was established before the neighbor purchased or built their property. The law also prevents local governments from passing ordinances that would restrict racing facilities in ways that conflict with this immunity. However, the bill does not exempt racing facilities from complying with state and federal environmental or health and safety regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes Minnesota's paid family and medical leave program optional for both employers and employees. It allows employers to opt out of the program by submitting a form to the state, with the option to change their decision once every 12 months. Employees of opting-out employers can still participate as self-employed individuals, while all employees retain the ability to opt out individually using a state form. The changes modify existing requirements in Minnesota Statutes chapter 268B to provide this flexibility.

Maddy summaryHF 3507 cancels unused funds from the Blue Line light rail extension project and redirects them to fund a bus rapid transit line in the same corridor. The bill reallocates unspent money from a 2023-2024 transit appropriation to the Metropolitan Council for developing an arterial bus rapid transit line, with funds available until June 2029. This one-time reallocation affects the Metropolitan Council (which manages regional transit) and residents in the corridor where the canceled rail project was planned. The policy change shifts existing transit funding from rail to bus improvements without creating new taxes or spending.

Maddy summaryHF 3441 governs funding for the Blue Line light rail transit extension in Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park. It requires Hennepin County to cover remaining operating and capital maintenance costs after using operating income and federal funds, using only county sales tax revenue or the county transportation sales tax. The bill specifically applies to the Blue Line extension project and mandates Hennepin County to fund these costs from designated local tax sources. This policy change directly affects Hennepin County's budgeting for the Blue Line extension project. The law applies across seven counties including Hennepin, Anoka, Ramsey, and others.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the authority of Minnesota cities to regulate rental housing licenses. It directly affects cities and property owners who currently manage rental properties. The legislation sets a maximum annual license fee of $100 and prohibits cities from requiring lease conditions that exceed state or federal requirements. Cities may still offer optional online educational programs for rental housing owners. The changes take effect immediately upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public postsecondary institutions in Minnesota that receive student financial aid to replace traditional uncredited developmental courses with a corequisite model for English classes. Under this model, students would enroll directly in credit-bearing college-level courses while receiving concurrent academic support, rather than taking non-credit preparatory courses first. The legislation also mandates that institutions provide clear written explanations to students about the differences between credit and non-credit courses, along with a signed acknowledgment of understanding. Additionally, the bill requires the state commissioner to establish guidelines for implementing corequisite support, provide technical assistance to schools making the transition, and publish annual reports on student placement and completion data.