Rep. Esther Agbaje

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it illegal to advertise a price for goods or services while hiding mandatory fees that consumers must pay. It defines these hidden fees as charges that are unavoidable or that a reasonable person would expect to be included in the total cost, though it excludes government taxes. Businesses must clearly show any additional flat fees or percentages before a customer selects items and again on a subtotal page before checkout. The law includes specific exemptions for motor vehicle dealers, utilities regulated by the state, and certain real estate settlement costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission from issuing permits to build pipelines designed to transport carbon dioxide. It directly affects energy companies and regulators by legally barring the approval of any new carbon dioxide pipeline routes in the state. The law takes effect immediately upon final passage, ensuring that no such permits can be granted under the current statute.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows local jurisdictions in Minnesota to choose ranked choice voting for their local elections, where voters rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting just one. It establishes specific rules for how these elections would be conducted, including procedures for counting votes and handling ballots where a candidate is eliminated based on the rankings. The legislation also permits local areas to use electronic voting machines that can automatically reallocate votes to remaining candidates after an initial winner is determined. However, the bill did not pass during the 2024 legislative session and therefore will not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new section to the Minnesota Constitution to guarantee equal rights and prohibit discrimination for all people. It specifically protects individuals from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, and sex, with the definition of sex explicitly including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation. If voters approve the amendment at the 2026 general election, the change will become effective on January 1, 2027. The text also establishes that any state action denying these rights must be the least restrictive way to achieve a very important government goal.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new section to the Minnesota Constitution to guarantee equality under the law. The amendment would prohibit the state, its cities, counties, and other political subdivisions from denying or abridging rights based on race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, ancestry, or national origin. If approved by voters at the 2024 general election, the change would take effect on January 1, 2025. The measure is titled the "Equal Rights Amendment" and requires a simple yes or no vote from the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules governing the Hennepin Healthcare System to give the Hennepin County Board stronger oversight powers over the hospital's corporate board. Under the new provisions, the county board can dissolve the corporation, reorganize it, or remove the entire corporate board if it finds evidence of malfeasance, which includes actions like fraud, corruption, or serious ethical violations. Before taking such drastic steps, the county board must conduct a formal investigation that includes notifying the hospital and the state health commissioner, allowing the hospital to respond, and assessing how the action would impact patient care and financial obligations. Additionally, the bill clarifies that while the Hennepin County attorney serves as the system's legal counsel, the healthcare system retains the option to hire its own separate legal and government relations staff without needing county approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum pay standards for teachers and certain unlicensed school staff in Minnesota, setting a salary floor of $60,000 for most full-time teachers and $80,000 for those with a master's degree and over a decade of experience. It also mandates that covered unlicensed staff members, such as paraprofessionals and aides, earn at least $25 per hour, with all these rates scheduled to be adjusted every four years based on inflation. To help school districts meet these new financial obligations, the legislation creates state aid programs that cover the cost of raising teacher salaries and unlicensed staff wages from their 2024 levels to the new minimums. The law applies to public school districts, charter schools, and other educational entities, while explicitly stating that these minimums do not interfere with existing collective bargaining agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state agencies, public universities, charter schools, and local municipalities from banning or removing rainbow flags and other rainbow displays from their property. While it protects these symbols, it includes an exception for public meeting rooms or spaces where general rules already restrict the display of any banners or posters. The law applies immediately upon enactment and ensures that government entities cannot enforce policies that specifically target rainbow imagery.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act to protect African American children and families from unnecessary removal from their homes. It creates a new advisory council and requires social services agencies to make "active efforts," which is a higher standard than usual, to keep these children safely with their families while respecting their cultural values. The legislation also mandates specific reports on how well these new protections are working and sets a future effective date of July 1, 2027.