Rep. Esther Agbaje

Maddy summaryHF 3586 establishes a $10 million annual grant program for regional food banks and Minnesota Tribal governments in Minnesota, funded through the general fund for fiscal years 2027-2029. The program distributes funds based on poverty and unemployment data in each area, requiring grantees to use money for purchasing, transporting, and distributing food and hygiene products (like diapers) at no cost to recipients. Funds cannot cover staff salaries or other ineligible expenses, and grantees must report spending and maintain records for oversight. This bill directly supports food banks serving low-income individuals and families by expanding access to essential food and hygiene supplies.

Maddy summaryHF 2904 requires certain Minnesota school employers - including school districts, charter schools, and vocational education centers - to join the state's public employees insurance program. It establishes an "educator group insurance program" specifically for school employees, mandating coverage tiers that match existing school employee pool options and including high-deductible plans. The bill creates a labor management committee with 12 members (including seven from Education Minnesota and representatives from unions and school administrators) to study program issues like cost efficiency. It also requires mutual agreement between the commissioner and the committee before changing cost-sharing plans. This bill directly affects school employees and their employers by integrating them into the state's insurance framework with specific administrative structures.

Maddy summaryHF 76 limits how much Minnesota utility customers can pay for executive compensation. It prohibits utility regulators from approving rate increases that cover the top 10 executives' pay at public utilities with 300,000+ Minnesota retail customers if that pay exceeds the governor's annual salary. The bill defines "compensation" broadly to include salary, bonuses, and other pay, but excludes standard benefits and expense reimbursements. Utilities may still pay executives from non-ratepayer sources (like investor funds), but regulators must ensure this doesn't unfairly burden customers in other states.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Hennepin County's local sales tax authority to allow the county to use its financial position for investment calculations and authorizes grants for ballpark improvements. It also establishes a funding mechanism to provide up to $24 million annually to a designated private, nonprofit Level I trauma hospital for uncompensated care, with specific rules on how that care is defined and calculated. Additionally, the bill permits the county to use remaining funds from this tax for upgrades to county-owned health facilities and related public infrastructure. The legislation directly affects Hennepin County government, the local ballpark authority, and a specific private hospital that meets certain trauma and service criteria.

Maddy summaryHF 2021 prohibits landlords in Minnesota from discriminating against tenants or prospective tenants who use government rental assistance, housing choice vouchers, or other public aid to pay rent. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 363A.09 to ban landlords from denying viewings, applications, or rentals based on a tenant's income source, or from advertising they won't rent to voucher users. It directly affects landlords and tenants utilizing federal, state, or local housing assistance programs. The law creates clear, enforceable standards to prevent unfair treatment in housing applications and rentals.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to receive $15 million in funding for the local public housing program, with half coming from state bonds and the other half from the general fund. The money must be used specifically for qualified capital projects, such as repairs or improvements to existing public housing. The state will issue up to $15 million in bonds to help pay for this portion of the funding, following established legal procedures for state borrowing. The bill takes effect immediately upon final passage by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires insurance companies in Minnesota to accept an individual taxpayer identification number instead of a Social Security number when processing new coverage applications. The law mandates that insurers must explicitly state on their application forms that they accept these alternative numbers if they ask for identification. This change takes effect on January 1, 2026, and applies to any insurance policies offered, issued, or renewed on or after that date. The primary impact is on consumers who may prefer or need to use an individual taxpayer identification number rather than a Social Security number for their insurance records.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $1.5 million from the arts and cultural heritage fund to the City of Minneapolis to create a public memorial honoring Renée Good and Alex Pretti. The memorial will feature statues, educational exhibits, and a space for community reflection, focusing on their deaths and the broader issues of civil rights and immigration enforcement. The project requires a collaborative planning process involving local residents, civil rights groups, artists, and historians, with oversight provided by a partnership including city officials and state legislators. While the state provides the initial funding, the city is permitted to seek additional private donations and partnerships to cover design, programming, and long-term maintenance costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new prenatal and newborn benefit program in Minnesota to provide financial assistance to families with newborns. The program offers a one-time $1,500 prenatal payment and $750 monthly payments for 24 consecutive months to eligible parents or guardians. Eligibility requires Minnesota residency and a legal relationship to a child born on or after January 1, 2028, with no income, asset, or employment requirements. The commissioner of employment and economic development will administer the program and create rules for implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $375,000 from the state's general fund to the Clemency Review Commission for fiscal year 2027. The funding is intended to help the commission process more clemency petitions, which are requests for forgiveness or reduction of criminal sentences. The money will support the commission's operations and staff to handle these requests. This legislation directly affects the Clemency Review Commission's ability to review and act on clemency applications from individuals seeking relief from their convictions or sentences.