Rep. Kristi Pursell

Maddy summaryHF 1896 allows victims of sexual abuse that occurred when they were minors to file civil lawsuits even if the original time limit had expired, as long as they file on or after August 1, 2025. The bill retroactively extends the statute of limitations for these cases, applying to claims that were previously time-barred. It specifically covers lawsuits for damages related to sexual abuse or negligence by the abuser, where the victim was under 18 at the time of the abuse. This change directly affects minors who were abused and unable to file a lawsuit before the new effective date.

Maddy summaryHF 1992 appropriates $150,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the clean water fund to support the River Watch program. The funds will be provided to Friends of the Minnesota Valley to expand school-based water-quality monitoring in the Minnesota River basin watershed and establish a new program in the Cannon River basin watershed, working with Clean River Partners. Schools in these watersheds directly benefit through enhanced river monitoring activities. The bill requires Friends of the Minnesota Valley to submit a detailed report on fund usage by February 15, 2027, to the commissioner and relevant legislative committees.

Maddy summaryHF 953 requires all licensed Minnesota hospitals and birth centers to provide new parents with written materials before a baby's discharge. These materials, developed and approved by the state health commissioner, teach parents how to recognize signs of physical abuse in infants and how to report suspected abuse. The bill directly affects hospitals/birth centers (via mandatory education) and new parents (as recipients of the materials). It focuses on concrete policy changes: standardized, commissioner-approved resources for early intervention, not on outcomes or advocacy.

Maddy summaryHF 1983 allocates $5 million from the general fund for grants to Minnesota organizations developing early-stage commercial markets for continuous living cover crops and related systems (like Kernza grain, elderberry, and regenerative poultry systems). The grants, administered jointly by the employment and agriculture commissioners, must support new enterprises and supply chains without duplicating funding from other agencies in the same year. By January 15, 2027, the commissioner must submit a report detailing grant usage, including administrative costs. This one-time appropriation directly affects agricultural innovators and businesses working to scale these specific crop systems in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 1966 appropriates $55,000 annually from the general fund to the Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs for its STARS program, starting July 1, 2025. The funding supports students in alternative education programs by helping them develop employment, academic, and social skills through trainings and conferences. It directly affects students in alternative programs across Minnesota who participate in the STARS initiative. The bill establishes a base annual appropriation of $55,000 for fiscal years 2026 through 2027 and beyond, with specific funding amounts designated for those years.

Maddy summaryHF 1565 designates July 6 as "Philando Castile Restoration Day" and July 7 as "Philando Castile Unity Day" each year to honor Philando Castile, a Saint Paul Public Schools nutrition supervisor killed by police in 2016. Restoration Day focuses on community connection, humility, and restoring relationships across differences, while Unity Day emphasizes collective remembrance of Castile and others lost to police violence. The bill requires the governor to issue annual proclamations for both observances. This measure directly affects Minnesotans by establishing formal annual commemorations centered on Castile’s legacy and community healing. It is a commemorative resolution with no new policy requirements beyond the designated dates and proclamations.

Maddy summaryHF 1558 appropriates $500,000 for the 2026 fiscal year and $500,000 for 2027 from the general fund to the Department of Education for a one-time grant to the Girl Scouts River Valleys leadership institute. The funds must be used to support specific programs including STEM education, financial literacy, leadership development, college/career readiness, and healthy relationships. This bill directly affects the Girl Scouts River Valleys organization by providing dedicated funding for its leadership institute activities. The appropriation is specific to these programs and does not create new ongoing funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHF 1881 appropriates $11.5 million from state bond proceeds to fund a centralized public safety center in New Prague. The bill requires the city to secure at least $11.5 million in nonstate funding before state money becomes available, then uses state bonds to cover the remaining cost. The center will expand the existing fire hall to provide integrated fire, police, and ambulance services for New Prague and surrounding communities. The legislation authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $11.5 million under Minnesota's bond statutes to finance this project. This directly affects New Prague's public safety operations and the communities it serves.

Maddy summaryHF 1709 appropriates $4 million from the bond proceeds fund to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for the Greater Minnesota Housing Infrastructure grant program, which supports housing infrastructure projects in rural and non-metro areas of Minnesota. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $4 million in bonds to fund this appropriation, with the money specifically allocated for fiscal year 2026. This program directly affects communities outside Minnesota's major urban centers by providing grants for housing-related infrastructure improvements. The legislation establishes a clear funding mechanism through bond sales and fund transfers without creating new regulatory requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 1750 establishes the Minnesota Civic Fund program, replacing the existing political contribution refund program. It allows donors to receive credits toward future political contributions instead of cash refunds, with political committees required to report redeemed credits. The bill amends campaign finance laws (Minnesota Statutes, chapters 10A and 10B) to define "contribution" to include Civic Fund credits and mandates reporting on credit redemptions. This directly affects political committees, candidates, and donors participating in Minnesota's campaign finance system.