Rep. Jeff Witte

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Governor of Minnesota to deliver a State of the State address to the legislature within 30 days after the regular legislative session begins each year. The law applies to the Governor and sets a specific deadline for presenting this annual message to lawmakers. By establishing this timeline, the bill ensures the address occurs early in the legislative session, allowing legislators to consider the Governor's priorities without delay. The change is codified in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 4, and does not alter the content or format of the address itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $1.1 million from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to support the maintenance of a digital mapping system for school facilities. The money is designated for grants to regional emergency communications boards, which are responsible for keeping the statewide geographic information system operational. This one-time appropriation ensures that the system, established under previous legislation, continues to function properly for emergency response purposes. The funds are managed by the commissioner of public safety and remain available until they are fully spent.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the subpoena authority of Minnesota's attorney general and county attorneys to access records from a wider range of businesses and financial institutions during fraud and identity theft investigations. It allows these officials to request information from utility companies, hotels, pawn shops, transportation services, storage facilities, and various types of financial and employment records, including bank accounts, insurance claims, and wage data. The law requires that subpoenas be issued only for records relevant to ongoing legitimate law enforcement investigations and mandates probable cause for administrative subpoenas in wage theft, welfare fraud, and identity theft cases. Additionally, the bill modifies legal definitions related to identity theft and alters statutes of limitation for certain fraud-related offenses to support prosecution efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the time limit for prosecuting certain theft and fraud crimes in Minnesota, particularly those involving public funds and medical assistance fraud. It directly affects prosecutors, law enforcement agencies, and individuals accused of these offenses by allowing more time to file charges. The key change increases the statute of limitations for theft of public money to ten years and adjusts timeframes for other financial crimes based on the amount stolen or number of victims. The bill also adds provisions that pause the clock if a defendant participates in pretrial diversion programs or if DNA evidence is being analyzed. These changes take effect on August 1, 2026, and apply to crimes committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHF 3642 prohibits the placement or operation of virtual currency kiosks in Minnesota, directly affecting businesses that provide physical kiosks for exchanging virtual currency (like Bitcoin) for cash or vice versa. The bill's key provision bans these kiosks outright, replacing prior regulations that had defined terms like "new customer" and set transaction limits. It repeals all existing statutes (53B.69 to 53B.75) that previously governed virtual currency kiosk operations, removing the legal framework that allowed such kiosks to function under specific conditions. As a result, no virtual currency kiosks may legally operate within the state under this law.

Maddy summaryHF 3762 allows Minnesota chiefs of police and sheriffs to access certain expunged criminal records (those sealed after January 1, 2015) specifically to determine if a person is eligible to purchase, receive, or carry a firearm. This exception applies only during firearm background checks under Minnesota Statutes § 609A.037, not for general law enforcement purposes. The bill amends existing expungement law to permit this limited access while requiring law enforcement to handle these records carefully and restrict their use solely to firearm eligibility determinations. It directly affects individuals with expunged records who apply for firearms and law enforcement agencies conducting background checks.

Maddy summaryHF 962 prevents state, county, or municipal law enforcement agencies from disciplining or threatening to discipline peace officers solely because they are listed on a "Brady-Giglio list" (a prosecutor's designation for officers who failed to disclose exculpatory evidence in a case). The bill creates a task force composed of law enforcement representatives, prosecutors, judges, and court officials to examine how these lists are used and recommend improvements. The task force must report its findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2025. This bill directly affects Minnesota peace officers and aims to clarify due process protections around these disciplinary lists.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands health insurance coverage in Minnesota for peace officers and firefighters who are disabled in the line of duty, even if they do not qualify for traditional disability benefits. It requires employers to continue paying their share of health insurance premiums for these individuals and their dependents until they turn 65 or pass away, regardless of whether their specific disability benefits have ended. The legislation also clarifies the process for requesting coverage and outlines how disputes over eligibility are handled through administrative hearings. Additionally, it updates rules for claims filed after May 24, 2025, to include those with disabilities not solely based on psychological conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-time special property tax refund for Minnesota property owners who paid taxes in 2026. It directly affects owners of specific property types, including residential homes, apartments, farms, and forests, by allowing them to apply for a share of a $4 billion fund. To receive money, owners must submit an application to the Department of Revenue between July 15 and September 15, 2026, and the refunds will be distributed by December 31, 2026. The legislation appropriates $4 billion from the state's general fund to finance these payments, with each eligible owner receiving a portion based on their individual tax contribution relative to the total taxes paid by all applicants.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how evidence is handled in Minnesota Tax Court cases involving property tax valuations. It requires government officials to prove their property valuations are correct rather than assuming they are valid, and it allows comparable property sales and assessed valuations to be used as evidence in court. The changes apply to cases filed on or after January 1, 2027, and affect taxpayers, property assessors, and government units involved in property tax appeals.