Rep. Fue Lee

Maddy summaryHF 1340 amends Minnesota law to allow housing infrastructure bonds to fund adaptive reuse projects (converting existing buildings like offices or stores into housing) for permanent and supportive housing. It directly affects low-income households earning 50% or less of the area median income (AMI) and housing developers seeking bond financing. The bill expands existing bond program uses to specifically include adaptive reuse for these affordable housing projects, requiring new construction to meet accessibility standards (e.g., roll-in showers, sensory-accessible units). This change to Minnesota Statutes 462A.37, section 2, broadens the program’s scope without creating new funding.

Maddy summaryHF 3074 creates legal rights for transportation network company (TNC) drivers in Minnesota to form and join labor organizations for collective bargaining. It directly affects "active drivers" who completed at least the median number of rides in the most recent two quarters, as defined by the bill. The law establishes a certification process where drivers can designate an exclusive representative (like a union) through the Bureau of Mediation Services, while prohibiting TNCs from controlling or dominating driver representation groups ("company unions"). Drivers gain the right to negotiate terms and conditions of work, including grievance procedures, with TNCs, and the bill defines "lockout" to prevent TNCs from restricting driver access to the platform during disputes.

Maddy summaryHF 2387 amends Minnesota Statutes § 124D.118 to establish a program allowing schools to provide free half-pint milk to students who do not participate in the full school lunch program. This directly affects public and nonpublic schools in Minnesota, enabling students to receive milk without needing to take a complete lunch, thereby reducing food waste from uneaten meals. The bill authorizes state reimbursement of 20 cents per milk serving for kindergarten students and up to 50 cents (or USDA rate) for lunch milk, with funding appropriated for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Schools must follow commissioner-established guidelines to participate, focusing on daily milk access as a nutritional supplement.

Maddy summaryHF 3013 appropriates $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to fund a cybersecurity training program. The funds are directed to Milestone Community Development for its "Milestone Tech Cybersecurity Training Program," in partnership with Saint Mary University. This one-time appropriation creates a specific grant to support workforce development in cybersecurity training. The bill directly affects Milestone Community Development, Saint Mary University, and individuals participating in the training program.

Maddy summaryHF 1779 authorizes an unreduced early retirement annuity for probation agency employees in Minnesota who separate from service after reaching age 60 or with at least 35 years of service, meaning they receive their full pension amount without reduction starting January 1, 2028. It also increases the employee contribution rate for these workers, requiring a higher percentage of their salary toward retirement benefits beginning January 1, 2026. The bill defines "probation agency employees" as county or state employees who provide community supervision services or oversee probation programs, including probation officers, supervisory staff, and program managers. These changes specifically affect probation staff in Minnesota's county and state agencies.

Maddy summaryHF 2203 appropriates $4.5 million from the general fund for the Neighborhood Development Center to design, build, and equip a new entrepreneur innovation center in Minneapolis' Lake Street Corridor. The center will provide dedicated space for low-income entrepreneurs to develop businesses, including a technology accelerator, wellness incubator with a kitchen, community meeting areas, and retail space. This one-time funding for the 2026 budget year is specifically intended to support economic development in underserved communities. The project must be completed or abandoned within the timeframe allowed by Minnesota law.

Maddy summaryHF 1885 appropriates $100,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 for fiscal year 2027 to the Minnesota Department of Health. The funds are specifically for the Beautywell Project to support public awareness and education activities addressing colorism, skin-lightening products, and associated chemical exposures. This one-time appropriation expires on June 30, 2027, and directly supports the state's public health efforts through the Health Commissioner's office.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $675,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $729,000 for fiscal year 2027 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund. The funds will support two outdoor education programs: Wilderness Inquiry's Canoemobile and Pyramid of Outdoor Engagement. These programs provide statewide, sequential outdoor educational experiences for youth and families, aligning with Minnesota graduation standards and connecting participants to the state's natural resources, outdoor traditions, and public lands. The funding directly supports these programs' operations to expand access to nature-based learning across Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 1884 requires Minnesota retailers selling mercury-containing skin-lightening products to display visible warning signs starting August 1, 2026. The signs must state that these products are illegal and warn users of health risks like skin damage, and must be placed where customers can easily see them while shopping. The signage must be developed jointly by state health and pollution agencies and displayed in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, French, Ethiopian, and Oromo languages. This bill directly affects retailers in Minnesota who sell such products.

Maddy summaryHF 2844 appropriates $102.99 million for the University of Minnesota's Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR) program, $102.99 million for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities' HEAPR program, $900,000 for library construction grants, and smaller sums for Minnesota State Academies (including student center and therapy pool predesign) and the Perpich Center for Arts Education. The bill authorizes spending bond proceeds and specific funds to acquire, improve, and better public land, buildings, and capital assets at state institutions, with strict requirements on project completion timelines and funding sources. It modifies existing programs like HEAPR and specifies that funds cannot replace routine operations or projects that could be financed through other means. This bill directly affects public universities, colleges, state schools, and cultural institutions by providing targeted capital improvement funding for facility upgrades.