Rep. Esther Agbaje

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits landlords in Minnesota from including clauses in residential leases that stop tenants from joining class-action lawsuits. It declares any such restriction in a lease agreement invalid and unenforceable, regardless of whether it is written or spoken. If a landlord violates this rule, the tenant is entitled to recover three times the actual damages or $1,000, whichever is higher, plus reasonable attorney fees. The law cannot be waived or changed by agreement between the tenant and the landlord.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands and refines the procedures for Minnesota's Clemency Review Commission and Board of Pardons to improve how clemency requests are evaluated. It establishes new panels of three members to prescreen applications, allowing these panels to recommend denial or refer cases for a full hearing without requiring the applicant to attend. The legislation also clarifies rules for victim participation, permitting them to speak in closed sessions or submit confidential statements under specific circumstances, while maintaining requirements for applicants to appear unless granted a waiver by the governor. Additionally, the bill sets a minimum frequency for board meetings and authorizes the creation of rules to streamline expedited processing for certain pardon applications.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a one-time emergency rental assistance fund for counties and Tribal governments in Minnesota to help low-income households facing financial hardship after August 31, 2025. The program would provide financial support for up to two months of prospective rent and utilities, as well as unpaid rent and utility bills and related fines, to households earning at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines who are at risk of eviction or homelessness. Counties and Tribal governments would receive funding based on population and geographic factors, with 95 percent of funds designated for direct assistance and 5 percent for fraud prevention and compliance monitoring. Local governments, cities, nonprofit organizations, or groups of jurisdictions could administer the assistance, and any unused funds must be returned to the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits large meat retailers from owning stakes in livestock dealers or meat packing companies and from signing exclusive contracts that require those suppliers to sell only to them. It defines a "dominant retailer" as a company selling over $18 billion in meat annually with locations in at least 20 states, including Minnesota. The law requires these retailers to divest any existing ownership interests by January 1, 2028, with a possible 180-day extension if they show good faith efforts to comply. The attorney general will identify which retailers fall under this definition starting in 2027, and violators could face daily fines of $25,000.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3 million from the renewable development account in fiscal year 2027 to provide a grant to The Heights Community Energy for constructing a geothermal energy system. The funding is designated for a specific recipient organization to build a heating and cooling system that uses underground piping and heat pumps to exchange thermal energy with the earth. The legislation defines the geothermal energy system as one or more heat pumps connected to earth-embedded piping with associated distribution and building mechanical infrastructure. This funding comes from the existing renewable development account established under Minnesota Statutes section 116C.779.

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 729 expands Minnesota's medical assistance program to cover face-to-face care evaluations for home care planning, directly benefiting seniors and disabled residents needing home care services. The bill modifies payment rates for homemaker services, home health agencies, and home care nursing, while establishing a grant program to train home care professionals. It requires counties to report on implementation and appropriates funding for these changes. These updates aim to improve access to personalized home care assessments and support service providers through revised reimbursement structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $9.5 million from state bond proceeds to fund the construction of a Northwest Metro Regional Athletic Facility in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. The funds will be provided as a grant to the city of Brooklyn Park to build an addition to its community activity center, including multi-court gym space. The state will issue bonds up to $9.5 million to cover this appropriation, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law. The facility will serve regional athletic needs for residents in the Brooklyn Park area.

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.