Rep. Krista Knudsen

Maddy summaryHF 3759 prohibits most changes to the sex designation on birth records in Minnesota, requiring that replacement records match the sex originally recorded. It specifically prevents registrars from issuing new birth records showing a different sex unless the original record contained an error that needs correction. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to clarify that sex changes are only permitted when the original entry was incorrect, not to align with a person's gender identity. This affects individuals seeking to update their birth records and state/local registrars responsible for processing such requests.

Maddy summaryHF 21 would require a three-fifths supermajority vote in both the Minnesota House and Senate to extend a peacetime emergency declaration beyond 14 days. Currently, such extensions beyond 14 days could be approved by the Executive Council, but this bill would shift that authority to the legislature. The bill directly affects governors seeking to prolong emergency powers and the legislative process for reviewing those requests. It does not change the initial 14-day emergency declaration period or the governor's authority to declare emergencies under existing criteria. Note: This bill was introduced but not passed during the 2025 legislative session.

Maddy summaryHF 2809 establishes a new crime for protesting directly in front of or about a person's home (excluding homes used as businesses). It makes this a misdemeanor, escalating to a gross misdemeanor if the person has a prior conviction under this law or ignores court orders like protection orders. The bill specifically allows peaceful protests about community meetings or assemblies held at locations commonly used for public discussion. This law applies to residential properties only and takes effect August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 3550 allows Minnesota school districts to develop their own health education standards instead of using statewide requirements. Currently, districts must follow state-mandated health standards, but this bill gives them the option to create local standards that meet their community's needs. When statewide health standards become available (expected after 2025), districts must choose between adopting the state standards or continuing with their locally developed ones. The bill becomes effective July 1, 2025, and applies to all public school districts in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 3576 amends Minnesota law to allow school districts, school bus companies, and service cooperatives to become designated third-party programs that administer road tests for school bus drivers. It adds "third-party testing of school bus drivers" as a service cooperatives may provide under section 123A.21, and establishes rules for how these programs can operate, including agreements between entities to test drivers for other districts or companies. The bill requires agreements to be submitted to the commissioner for approval and allows reimbursement for testing services. This directly affects school bus drivers, school districts, school bus companies, and service cooperatives that provide driver testing services.

Maddy summaryHF 1567 extends Minnesota's existing personal information protections for judicial officials to peace officers (including police officers). The bill defines protected information as residential addresses, family details, non-work contact information, and children's names/schools attended. It requires peace officers to submit written notification to request protection, which expires after five years unless renewed. The law prohibits government entities and others from publicly sharing this protected information online or through other means, with limited exceptions for news reporting. This directly affects Minnesota peace officers by safeguarding their personal details from public disclosure.

Maddy summaryHF 1 establishes a centralized Office of Inspector General (OIG) for Minnesota state government, replacing existing agency-specific inspector general offices. The OIG will oversee state spending, require agencies to halt payments when fraud is suspected, and mandate a fraud reporting hotline for employees and contractors. It directly affects all state agencies and recipients of state funds (such as contractors and organizations administering state programs) by requiring them to report suspected fraud and prohibiting retaliation against whistleblowers. The bill also specifies the OIG must coordinate with the legislative auditor and amends statutes related to fraud detection, waste prevention, and oversight.

Maddy summaryHF 2517 restricts MinnesotaCare (the state's Medicaid program) from using public funds to cover abortions, except in three specific cases: when the pregnancy endangers the patient's life, causes substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function, or results from rape or incest. This directly affects MinnesotaCare enrollees who might seek abortion coverage, limiting public funding to those narrow exceptions. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes § 256L.03 to clarify that public funds cannot cover abortions outside these circumstances. The change applies to all MinnesotaCare-covered health services, excluding the listed exceptions.

Maddy summaryHF 287 would amend Minnesota law to exclude children under 13 years old from being classified as "delinquent children" or "juvenile petty offenders" for most offenses. This means children under 13 who commit acts that would typically be handled in juvenile court (like minor property crimes or underage drinking) would no longer face those proceedings. The bill changes two key legal definitions in Minnesota Statutes to set 13 as the minimum age for such classifications, effective August 1, 2026. It directly affects children under 13 who would have been processed through the juvenile justice system for minor offenses.

Maddy summaryHF 1908 amends Minnesota's child custody laws to remove barriers that previously limited courts' jurisdiction when a child is in the state for gender-affirming care. The bill adds that a child's presence in Minnesota for gender-affirming health care meets the "significant connection" requirement for initial custody jurisdiction under statute 518D.201, and it allows temporary emergency custody orders if a child cannot access such care (statute 518D.204). These changes directly affect children and families navigating custody cases when traveling to Minnesota for gender-affirming medical treatment. The bill repeals prior restrictive language (including sections 543.23 and 260.925) that had limited these protections.