Rep. Jon Koznick

Maddy summaryHF 3106 increases fines for drivers operating vehicles without insurance in Minnesota. It raises the minimum fine for a first offense to $200 (up from lower amounts), $550 for a second offense within 10 years, and $850 for three or more offenses within 10 years. Drivers can avoid conviction by submitting proof of insurance to court before their first appearance. The bill also clarifies procedures for both vehicle owners and non-owners to provide insurance verification. It takes effect August 1, 2025, applying to violations occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHF 1255 allows certain public safety employees in Minnesota to purchase their surplus badges at fair market value. The bill specifically applies to current or retired state troopers, commercial vehicle inspectors, and Capitol security officers. It amends Minnesota Statutes to permit the commissioner to sell badges bearing pre-May 11, 2024 seals (or retired personnel badges) directly to the employee who originally used them. The sale price must reflect the badge's fair market value as determined by the commissioner. This is a procedural change affecting badge ownership for these specific state employees.

Maddy summaryHF 19 establishes education savings accounts (ESAs) for Minnesota students from low-income households, defined as families earning no more than four times the income threshold for free school meals. The bill allows parents to use state funds to pay for qualifying education expenses - including tuition at eligible nonpublic schools, tutoring, approved curriculum, and school supplies - at participating schools or providers. Participation is capped at 5% of public school enrollment in the first year, increasing by 3% annually, with priority given to kindergarten students and those who attended public school full-time the prior year. The program directly affects eligible students (ages 18 and under) and their families, with funds restricted to approved educational services and materials.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota law to clarify and limit optometrists' authority to prescribe or administer certain drugs. It specifically sets new time limits: oral antivirals may not be prescribed for more than 10 days, oral steroids for more than 14 days (requiring physician consultation), and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors for more than seven days. These changes apply directly to licensed optometrists in Minnesota who prescribe medications for eye conditions under the Board of Optometry's rules. The bill maintains existing restrictions on intravenous injections, invasive surgery, and Schedule II/III oral drugs.

Maddy summaryHF 247 modifies Minnesota's rules for nonoxygenated gasoline sales. It allows retail gas stations within five miles of a motor sports racing facility to store this gasoline in up to two tanks (instead of one), while requiring all stations selling it to post clear signage stating its permitted uses (collector vehicles, off-road vehicles, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, or small engines). The gasoline must be unleaded premium grade, and stations must report annual sales to the state director every two years. This directly affects gas stations near racing facilities and users of specialty vehicles requiring nonoxygenated fuel.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HF 2890) creates new rules for gambling organizations in Minnesota that experience theft of cash, prizes, or inventory. It requires the gambling board to approve fund loss requests if the theft is reported to police and the organization files the request properly. The board may deny requests if an organization has filed two or more such requests within the past year. Crucially, the bill prevents the board from requiring organizations to repay stolen amounts from non-gambling money, even if a request is denied.

Maddy summaryHF 2798 modifies Minnesota's rules for escort vehicles required when transporting overdimensional loads. It eliminates the need for escorts on loads 15 feet wide or less at the bottom (or 16 feet at the top), while specifying one rear escort for wider loads on divided roads and one lead plus one rear escort on undivided roads. The bill also gives the transportation commissioner authority to require additional escorts or peace officer escorts in specific safety situations, and to allow non-officer "escort drivers" if carriers establish alternative safety measures. These changes take effect July 1, 2025, directly impacting commercial trucking companies transporting oversized cargo in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 2712 allocates $8.5 million from the state general fund for one-time improvements to the Capitol tunnel under Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and east of the State Capitol. The funds will cover designing, constructing, and equipping the tunnel to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, directly benefiting people with disabilities who use Capitol facilities. The bill specifies that the funding is available until the project is completed or abandoned, with no ongoing annual appropriations. This is a straightforward infrastructure funding measure focused on accessibility compliance, not a policy change affecting broader legislation.

Maddy summaryHF 2636 requires Minnesota's Attorney General to submit an annual report by July 15 each year to legislative committees overseeing judiciary, civil law, or criminal law. The report must detail all legal cases challenging the constitutionality of state statutes, including the challenged statute, defense efforts, case status, staff time, and costs incurred during the prior fiscal year. This bill directly affects the Attorney General's office (which must prepare the report) and the specified legislative committees (which receive the report). The law creates no new policy but mandates transparency about how the office handles constitutional challenges to state laws.

Maddy summaryHF 2675 prohibits the Metropolitan Council from using motor vehicle sales tax revenue to fund light rail transit guideways through debt instruments (certificates of participation). It requires host counties (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington) to cover specific uncovered costs, including planning/construction expenses exceeding federal/state funding, operating costs beyond fare revenue, and capital maintenance needs. The bill applies to all light rail guideways in the specified counties and takes effect July 1, 2025. This shifts funding responsibility from the Council to local counties for certain transit project expenses.