Rep. Krista Knudsen

Maddy summaryHF 3588 would expand who can request Minnesota's voter registration list by adding the national chair of a major political party to the current list of eligible requesters (registered voters). County auditors and the secretary of state must provide the list within five business days of a complete request with payment for copying, and make it available for free public inspection. The bill maintains restrictions requiring users to limit the list's use to election-related, political, or law enforcement purposes only. This change directly affects national political party leaders seeking voter data for campaign or organizational purposes.

Maddy summaryHF 3587 requires election judges assisting voters outside polling places (such as in vehicles) to handle only one voted ballot at a time. This applies when judges help voters register, update registration, or complete voting procedures outside the polling site, as specified in Minnesota Statutes section 204C.15, subdivision 2. The bill directly affects election judges and ensures a specific procedural safeguard during this type of assistance. It amends existing law to add this one-ballot-at-a-time requirement for judges providing such support. The change aims to clarify handling procedures during off-site voting assistance.

Maddy summaryHF 2817 amends Minnesota law to extend service line of duty death benefits to part-time, paid on-call, and volunteer firefighters. The bill updates the definition of "public safety officer" to include these firefighters when performing specific duties like firefighting, emergency medical services, or hazardous material response. This change ensures that the families of these firefighters who die while on duty receive the same death benefits previously available only to full-time firefighters. The policy applies to firefighters working for local government fire departments or independent nonprofit firefighting organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Minnesota's Department of Human Services to temporarily stop medical assistance payments to providers while investigating allegations of kickback fraud, without requiring prior notice or a hearing. It expands the state's definition of fraud to explicitly include illegal kickbacks and requires the department to update its rules to reflect this change. The legislation also mandates that providers receive written notice within five days of any payment suspension, explaining the general reasons while protecting ongoing investigation details, and outlines procedures for appealing the decision. Additionally, the bill authorizes the department to impose fines for incomplete documentation and requires forfeited payments to go to the state or managed care organizations when fraud is proven.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as Simon's Law, establishes procedures for providing life-sustaining treatment to unemancipated minors in Minnesota hospitals and health care facilities. It requires health care providers to notify at least one parent or legal guardian before instituting orders not to resuscitate or to withhold life-sustaining treatment, nutrition, or hydration, with a 48-hour waiting period after notification unless the situation is urgent. The law also outlines a transfer process allowing parents to request moving their child to another facility while ensuring continued life-sustaining care for up to 15 days during the decision-making period. These provisions aim to balance medical decision-making with parental involvement in critical care situations for minors.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes Minnesota's paid family and medical leave program optional for both employers and employees. It allows employers to opt out of the program by submitting a form to the state, with the option to change their decision once every 12 months. Employees of opting-out employers can still participate as self-employed individuals, while all employees retain the ability to opt out individually using a state form. The changes modify existing requirements in Minnesota Statutes chapter 268B to provide this flexibility.

Maddy summaryHF 495 creates a new tax subtraction for Minnesota individual income taxpayers who pay for licensed child care. It allows taxpayers to subtract day care costs paid to licensed programs (like centers or family child care) from their taxable income, but only for amounts exceeding any dependent care benefits they already excluded from federal income tax. This change applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, and directly affects Minnesota taxpayers with qualifying child care expenses. The bill does not change existing federal tax rules but adds a state-level benefit for eligible costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill aligns Minnesota's state tax law with the federal tax treatment of tip income. It adds a provision allowing Minnesota taxpayers to deduct qualified tips under the federal Internal Revenue Code (section 224) as a subtraction from taxable income. The deduction applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2028, but is effective retroactively for years starting after December 31, 2024. This directly affects Minnesota residents who earn tip income and file individual income tax returns, potentially reducing their state tax liability.

Maddy summaryHF 3524 would allow Minnesota taxpayers to deduct qualified overtime pay from their state taxable income, aligning Minnesota's tax code with a federal deduction for overtime compensation. This bill directly affects Minnesota residents who earn overtime pay and file state income taxes. The key provision adopts the federal definition of "qualified overtime compensation" under Internal Revenue Code section 225, permitting this deduction for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2028, though it applies retroactively to years starting after December 31, 2024. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 290.0132, to add this deduction as a subtraction from taxable income.

Maddy summaryHF 3219, the "mRNA Bioweapons Prohibition Act," designates all mRNA-based medical products - including vaccines like those for COVID-19 - as "weapons of mass destruction" under Minnesota law. The bill prohibits possession, distribution, or manufacturing of these products, with criminal penalties for violations, and requires state/local officials to enforce the ban. It broadly defines "mRNA injections and products" to include any mRNA therapy, gene-altering agents, or nanoparticles, excluding only naturally occurring mRNA. The law takes effect August 1, 2025, and would directly affect individuals receiving mRNA-based medical treatments in Minnesota.