Rep. Fue Lee

Maddy summaryHF 3698 prohibits publishers from including certain restrictive terms in license agreements for libraries' electronic books and digital audiobooks. It directly affects Minnesota public libraries, school libraries, and the Minitex network by banning clauses that prevent libraries from lending digital materials - such as restrictions on interlibrary loans or limiting how materials can be shared. The law requires contracts to allow libraries to perform standard lending functions, including loaning materials via digital systems. It becomes effective 60 days after Minnesota’s secretary of state confirms other states with at least 7 million combined population have similar laws.

Maddy summaryHF 3704 prohibits the sale or distribution of certain crop seeds (like corn, soybeans, and wheat) coated with systemic insecticides after January 1, 2029, unless a commissioner-issued waiver is provided. It also bans applying neonicotinoid insecticides (e.g., imidacloprid) to ornamental outdoor plants and turf, except in specific environmental emergencies approved by the commissioner. Farmers seeking seed waivers must complete integrated pest management training and submit third-party pest risk assessments. The bill requires annual training for applicators and allows limited emergency use if less harmful alternatives are ineffective. It directly affects farmers, gardeners, seed sellers, and pesticide applicators in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 3643 establishes Melissa and Mark Hortman Memorial State Park in Ramsey County, specifically within St. Paul, as a new public park. The bill designates precise boundaries for the park using 18 directional points in St. Paul and requires that no park permit or entry fee be charged. It directs the commissioner of natural resources to manage the park under standard state park rules, while specifying that the commissioner of administration and Minnesota Historical Society retain authority over existing buildings and monuments within the park. The legislation also appropriates funds for the park’s establishment, directly affecting public access to this newly designated green space in the city.

Maddy summaryHF 44 requires food manufacturers and brand owners to test packaged food products for ortho-phthalates and report detailed results to Minnesota's Commissioner of Agriculture. Specifically, companies must submit written notices within 30 days before selling or distributing products in Minnesota, including chemical names, quantities detected, testing methods, and laboratory details. This applies to most packaged foods (excluding retail-packaged bakery items, meat, and produce) and includes reporting requirements for each product's UPC barcode. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, with testing laboratories required to meet ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a sales and use tax on advertising services in Minnesota, expanding the state's existing sales tax framework to include this category of service. The legislation directly affects businesses that provide advertising services, such as marketing agencies, media companies, and digital advertising platforms, requiring them to collect and remit tax on these services. Key provisions amend Minnesota Statutes 297A.61 to explicitly list advertising services as taxable, while maintaining existing exemptions for services performed by employees for employers and certain affiliated business arrangements. The bill clarifies that the tax applies to the furnishing of advertising services for consideration, without specifying particular rates or collection deadlines in the provided text. This change aligns advertising services with other taxable services like laundry, lawn care, and security services already included in the state's sales tax code.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires wage remediation for individual healthcare providers in Minnesota if a retroactive rate increase is approved by the federal government after a delay. It ensures that providers covered by the collective bargaining agreement with SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and Iowa receive back pay for the period between the original effective date and the actual federal approval date. The commissioner of human services must issue instructions to implement these wage adjustments as soon as federal approval is received, and the law takes effect the day after it is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the creation of a centralized online portal and database for tracking certified payrolls on all state projects that must follow prevailing wage rules. Contractors working on these projects will need to submit detailed payroll information, including worker classifications, hours worked, and wage rates, which will be publicly accessible and searchable. The system will use electronic forms with digital signatures, and submitting through this portal will satisfy existing reporting requirements, while the state will allocate funding to cover the costs of developing and maintaining the system.

Maddy summaryThis bill introduces several tax changes for Minnesota residents, including a new subtraction for qualified overtime income, an expansion of the Minnesota child tax credit, and a one-time increase in property tax refunds. It also establishes a new fifth tier of individual income tax rates, creating a progressive structure where income above $1 million for married couples filing jointly is taxed at 11.45 percent. The overtime income provision applies retroactively to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, while the new income tax brackets and rates affect current and future tax filings. These measures directly impact individual taxpayers by modifying how certain income types are calculated and taxed under Minnesota law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires feedlot operators in Minnesota with a capacity of 1,000 or more animal units to provide financial assurance before receiving or renewing permits, ensuring funds are available to cover closure costs if the facility is not properly shut down. The financial guarantee must be enforceable, not dischargeable in bankruptcy, and the provider must give 120 days' notice before cancellation. The state will also create an annual list of abandoned manure storage areas and require counties to report on these sites by January 2028. Implementation of the financial assurance requirements will be phased in over time, starting with the largest feedlots, while the Pollution Control Agency will compile a statewide report on abandoned manure storage areas by February 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program to fund the creation, renovation, and improvement of emergency shelter facilities for people experiencing homelessness in Minnesota. It creates two funding accounts in the state budget to provide grants of up to $1 million per project to eligible applicants including Tribal governments, non-profit organizations, and local governments. The program prioritizes projects that add new shelter beds, renovate existing facilities, or improve safety and accessibility, with at least 40% of funds directed to rural areas known as greater Minnesota. Grants can cover up to 100% of capital project costs, and recipients must meet all applicable building codes while following a competitive application process managed by the commissioner of human services.