Rep. Krista Knudsen

Maddy summaryHF 329 increases penalties for obstructing traffic on trunk highways, airports, or transit systems by amending Minnesota Statutes 609.74 and 609.855. It raises the maximum fine for non-violent obstruction of transit vehicles from $1,000 to $3,000 and the jail term from 90 days to 364 days. The bill specifically targets individuals who intentionally interfere with traffic on freeways, airport roadways, or transit vehicles, excluding law enforcement, emergency responders, and authorized transit personnel acting in their official duties. These changes take effect August 1, 2025, for crimes committed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryHF 368 amends Minnesota election law to clarify penalties for improper handling of absentee ballots. It specifically prohibits compensation structures that pay individuals based on the number of absentee ballots solicited, collected, or delivered (e.g., commission-style pay or bonuses for volume). The bill also bans requiring staff to collect a minimum number of ballots or reducing pay for failing to meet such quotas. These changes apply to anyone handling absentee ballots for compensation, with violations classified as petty misdemeanors. The law updates existing penalties under Minnesota Statutes §203B.03 to address modern ballot collection practices.

Maddy summaryHF 763 prohibits falsely impersonating a military service member, veteran, or public official with the intent to gain politically or to wrongfully obtain money, property, or other tangible benefits. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to explicitly add "for political gain" as a prohibited motive, making such impersonation a misdemeanor. This law directly affects individuals who might impersonate these figures to influence elections, campaigns, or political activities. The policy change clarifies and expands existing protections under Minnesota law to address political misuse of identities.

Maddy summaryHF 768 prohibits Minnesota's Department of Human Rights from maintaining any database or collection of incidents involving protected speech. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 363A.06 to explicitly state the department cannot collect or store data about protected speech - defined as speech protected under the U.S. or Minnesota Constitutions (including free speech, press, assembly, and association). This restriction applies directly to the Department of Human Rights' operations, preventing it from creating or using such databases for any purpose. The bill does not affect other data collection or reporting duties, such as the department's required biennial report on civil rights trends.

Maddy summaryHF 1200 exempts cooperative electric associations in Minnesota from four specific clean energy standards under Minnesota Statutes § 216B.1691. The bill adds a new exemption (subdivision 11) that removes these member-owned utilities from requirements for eligible energy technology, solar energy, carbon-free energy, and distributed solar energy standards. This directly affects cooperative electric associations, which serve many rural and community-based areas across Minnesota. The change modifies the existing law to exclude these cooperatives from the renewable energy targets applied to other electric utilities. The bill does not alter the standards themselves but removes a category of utilities from compliance obligations.

Maddy summaryHF 322 increases prison sentences for specific crimes committed by individuals who have been deported for prior felonies or who commit crimes for transnational crime organizations. It adds five years to the maximum sentence for the underlying crime if committed after unlawful reentry (deportation for a felony), or ten years if the victim is a child under 18. The bill also expands penalties for crimes committed "for the benefit of" transnational crime organizations, defined as groups involved in international drug, human, or weapon trafficking. These changes apply to offenses committed on or after August 1, 2025. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of felonies who have prior deportation orders or are linked to transnational criminal groups.

Maddy summaryHF 14 proposed a temporary moratorium on most light rail transit project development spending by the Metropolitan Council in seven Minnesota counties (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington). The bill prohibited funds for planning, design, environmental analysis, land acquisition, and construction of new light rail projects, but exempted the Southwest Light Rail (Green Line Extension) and prior contractor payments. The moratorium would have expired once the Green Line Extension began revenue operations. The bill was introduced, amended, and ultimately not passed by the legislature.

Maddy summaryHF 127 increases criminal penalties for creating, distributing, or possessing sexually explicit materials involving children in Minnesota. The bill raises maximum prison sentences for standard violations from 7 to 10 years (up to 25 years with aggravating factors) and increases fines from $10,000 to $40,000. It specifically targets offenders who possess such materials involving minors under 14, have prior sex offense convictions, or are registered predatory offenders. These changes directly affect individuals engaging in these acts, strengthening penalties under Minnesota Statutes sections 617.246 and 617.247.

Maddy summaryHF 499 extends the validity period for temporary nursing permits in Minnesota from 60 to 90 days. It directly affects nurses applying for licensure by endorsement (from another state) or reregistration after completing a refresher course, who currently hold temporary permits. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 148.212 by changing the permit duration in two specific scenarios: (1) for out-of-state licensed nurses awaiting board action, and (2) for nurses in structured refresher programs. This change provides a longer grace period for these applicants to secure full licensure without interruption. The bill makes a specific, concrete change to permit timelines with no additional provisions.

Maddy summaryHF 64 establishes the Office of Achievement and Innovation within Minnesota's Department of Education to help school districts and charter schools research and adopt innovative teaching practices focused on literacy, math, science, and career readiness. The office will maintain a central resource for educational strategies and vet nonprofit organizations that support student achievement, requiring nonprofits to submit financial records, program history, and legal compliance documentation. It modifies the state budget to allocate $2 million annually for the new office's staffing, separate from other equity, diversity, and inclusion funding. The office provides advisory support only - its guidance is not binding on schools.