Rep. Esther Agbaje

Maddy summaryHF 998 appropriates $8.6 million from the state transportation fund to Hennepin County for Phase 2 of the Hennepin Avenue Suspension Bridge reconstruction in Minneapolis, including the historic bridge and approach bridges. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $8.6 million, with the bond proceeds funding the appropriation for design, engineering, construction, and related work like right-of-way acquisition. This funding directly supports Hennepin County's infrastructure project to rebuild the bridge and its approaches in Minneapolis. The bill provides the financial mechanism to cover these costs without changing bridge construction standards or regulations.

Maddy summaryHF 858 requires agricultural producers who receive bioincentive payments from Minnesota to submit detailed annual reports. The bill mandates recipients to provide specific information including their business structure, parent company details, all financial assistance received, job creation or retention goals, equity hiring progress, wage goals, executive compensation, environmental compliance evidence, and how they used the payments. This affects producers participating in state incentive programs under sections 41A.16-41A.20. The goal is to increase transparency around how these payments are used and their impact on jobs, wages, and environmental compliance.

Maddy summaryHF 1050 provides $12.36 million in state funding to the City of Minneapolis for repairing a 36-inch water main under Second Street North and Washington Avenue North. The bill appropriates money from bond proceeds to install a structural liner along 2.6 miles of the water main, contingent on sufficient nonstate funding being secured first. It authorizes the state to issue up to $12.36 million in bonds to cover this project cost, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law. The funding directly supports Minneapolis's infrastructure improvement efforts for this specific water main segment.

Maddy summaryHF 384 appropriates $35 million from the state general fund for fiscal year 2026 to the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. This one-time funding is specifically for rehabilitating, preserving, equipping, and repairing deeply affordable family housing units in Minneapolis and its affiliated entities, such as Community Housing Resources. The bill directly affects low-income residents living in Minneapolis public housing by providing resources to maintain and upgrade their homes. It does not create new programs but allocates existing state funds for immediate housing preservation efforts.

Maddy summaryHF 205 allocates $4.75 million from the state general fund to provide a one-time grant to the nonprofit organization People Serving People. The funding is specifically for renovating their homeless family shelter facility in Minneapolis, covering design, construction, furnishings, and equipment. This bill directly affects the shelter's residents (homeless families in Minneapolis) and the organization managing the facility. The appropriation is available until the project is completed or abandoned, effective upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 496 appropriates $15 million from the general fund to provide a grant to WE WIN Institute, Inc., a Minneapolis-based nonprofit. The funds will be used to renovate existing facilities, acquire additional property for community spaces, and support construction for academic, social, culturally specific programming, and food services targeting Black students in Minneapolis. This one-time appropriation directly supports WE WIN Institute's operations and its community-focused services for Black students in the city.

Maddy summaryHF 501 proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee equal rights under Minnesota law and prohibit state discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, or sex - including pregnancy decisions, gender identity, and sexual orientation. If approved by voters in 2026, it would add a new section to the Minnesota Constitution requiring state actions to use the least restrictive means to achieve compelling government interests. The amendment would directly apply to all Minnesotans and state agencies, ensuring equal protection in all state laws and programs. It requires voter approval at the 2026 general election, with the question asking whether the state constitution should include these equal rights protections.

Maddy summaryHF 262 prohibits employers from paying people with disabilities less than the state minimum wage, effective August 1, 2025 for new hires and August 1, 2027 for all current employees, ending the use of federal or state special certificates that allow subminimum wages. It requires providers of home and community-based services to report data on individuals currently paid subminimum wages by August 1, 2027, including personal details and employment metrics. The bill appropriates $38,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $75,000 in fiscal year 2027 to enhance the MnCHOICES system with employment-related resources. These changes directly affect employers, service providers, and people with disabilities working in supported employment programs across Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's landlord-tenant laws to clarify definitions, expand tenant protections, and update eviction procedures. It directly affects landlords, tenants, and courts by establishing new rules for how rental agreements are handled and how disputes are resolved. Key changes include adding legal definitions for tenant associations and organizers, clarifying what constitutes a lease violation, and allowing courts to automatically remove eviction records from public view in specific situations, such as when a tenant wins the case or the eviction was based on marijuana possession. The legislation also prohibits landlords from charging extra fees for service or support animals and requires clearer disclosure of pet policies in leases.

Maddy summaryThis law establishes new standards to protect African American children and those from other disproportionately represented groups within Minnesota's child welfare system. It requires social services agencies to make continuous, rigorous efforts to keep families together and prevent unnecessary removal of children from their homes. The act defines a higher level of care called "active efforts," which mandates that agencies involve families in planning services and respect their cultural values. Additionally, the legislation sets specific criteria for what constitutes a permanent adoptive placement and ensures that these protections apply alongside existing laws for Native American children.