Rep. Mike Wiener

Maddy summaryHF 3539 establishes a grant program for Minnesota school districts to integrate firearms safety, trap shooting, archery, hunting, and angling into physical education courses. School districts can apply for funding to cover curriculum development, staff training, equipment, and student licenses, with $1 million appropriated for fiscal year 2027. The program requires schools to align activities with existing PE standards and mandates a 2027 report to the legislature on outcomes and participation. This affects public and tribal schools seeking to expand outdoor skills education within required physical education frameworks.

Maddy summaryHF 3533 prohibits public school teachers from discussing gender identity in classrooms for students in kindergarten through grade 8, effective for the 2026-2027 school year. The bill requires schools to notify parents about changes in a student's health, well-being, or school environment, and mandates written parental permission before administering well-being questionnaires to K-8 students. It also requires schools to obtain parental consent for health services and ensures parents can access their child's health records. These provisions directly affect K-8 public school students, teachers, and school administrators in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 1784 requires government entities (such as state agencies or local municipalities) to pay the legal costs - including attorney fees - of individuals or organizations they sue and lose in court. If a government entity initiates a civil lawsuit against a person and does not win, the bill mandates that the government cover all defense-related expenses incurred by the losing party. This applies to actions filed on or after August 1, 2025, and does not limit other legal remedies available to defendants. The bill aims to discourage government entities from filing meritless lawsuits by making them financially responsible for opposing legal costs.

Maddy summaryHF 1894 delays the implementation of new payment rates for family residential services and life sharing services until January 1, 2029 (or federal approval, whichever is later). It establishes an Advisory Task Force on Family Residential Services to evaluate proposed rate changes and their impact on providers, including adult family foster care agencies and recipients. The Task Force, composed of providers, agency representatives, and service recipients, must analyze multiple rate models and provide case studies and median rate estimates before issuing a report. The bill also appropriates funds for the Task Force’s work and requires the Department of Human Services to provide necessary data and support.

Maddy summaryHF 2339 increases Minnesota's income threshold for the child tax credit, allowing more families to qualify for the full benefit before credits begin phasing out. The bill raises the phaseout threshold from $35,000 to $45,490 for married couples filing jointly and from $29,500 to $38,340 for other filers. This change directly affects Minnesota taxpayers with children who file individual income tax returns, as it prevents the credit from decreasing at lower income levels. The bill also requires future annual inflation adjustments to these thresholds starting in 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 1913 creates a new limited medical license for graduates of foreign medical schools who meet specific criteria, including 60 months of practice outside the U.S. in the past decade, working in a collaborative agreement within a rural or underserved area, and providing evidence of a job offer. It requires employers of these limited license holders to carry medical malpractice insurance and pay at least the equivalent of a medical resident's salary, while prohibiting retaliation for reporting violations. Limited license holders must submit periodic certification to the medical board confirming their employment and good standing every six months. The bill also establishes a pathway to full licensure after two years of practice (1,692 hours annually), passing all USMLE/COMLEX-USA steps, and obtaining a recommendation letter.

Maddy summaryHF 3210 appropriates $1.5 million from state bond proceeds to fund renovations at Eagle Bend High School, directly affecting the school and its students in Eagle Bend, Minnesota. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $1.5 million in bonds under Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631-16A.675, with funds delivered to Eagle Bend through the commissioner of employment and economic development. This appropriation supplements prior funding authorized in 2017 and 2021 for the same project. The measure provides concrete financial support for physical improvements to the high school facility.

Maddy summaryHF 1297 increases Minnesota's property tax exemption for veterans with service-connected disabilities. It raises the excluded market value from $150,000 to $250,000 for veterans with a 70%+ disability, and from $300,000 to $500,000 for those with a total (100%) permanent disability. This directly affects veterans (or their spouses if the veteran dies) who own their primary residence (homestead), meet VA certification requirements, and have an honorable discharge. The change applies to property tax assessments after the bill's effective date, requiring applications by December 31 each year.

Maddy summaryHF 3143 appropriates $23 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to the Pollution Control Agency. This funding will be granted to the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association to construct a wood upcycling campus. The campus will process wood waste into products like lumber, furniture, building materials, compost, mulch, biochar, and energy. The bill directly affects the Association and the Pollution Control Agency through this specific funding allocation.

Maddy summaryHF 3142 appropriates $7 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. This funding will be granted to the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association to transport wood waste to processing facilities. The bill directly affects wood waste processors and the nursery/landscaping industry by providing financial support for waste transportation. It specifies the exact amount, recipient, and purpose without altering existing environmental regulations.