Maddy summaryHF 1890 establishes a process for filling legislative vacancies in Minnesota when a seat becomes vacant due to a successful election contest based on candidate misconduct. If a contest results in a vacancy, the second-place candidate from the most recent general election for that office automatically takes the seat after three days, provided no election contest is filed within two business days of the vacancy notification. This eliminates the need for a special election in these specific circumstances. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 209.10 and 351.02 to implement this rule, affecting House and Senate vacancies caused by contested election results. It directly impacts legislative offices and the candidates who received the second-highest votes in the prior general election.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHF 1786 amends Minnesota law to allow cities to issue on-sale liquor licenses to licensed cosmetology salons. This change directly affects cosmetology salons that already hold valid state licenses under section 155A.29, enabling them to serve alcohol on-site. The bill adds cosmetology salons to the list of approved establishments (previously including hotels, restaurants, and clubs) eligible for such licenses. The amendment modifies Minnesota Statutes section 340A.404, subdivision 1, and takes effect upon final enactment.
Maddy summaryHF 249 amends Minnesota's definition of "carbon-free" electricity to include biomass energy generated from specific wood sources. It defines carbon-free as electricity produced without carbon dioxide emissions, specifically including utility-scale electricity from wood chips derived from logging byproducts (like limbs and branches) or discarded wood products. This change directly affects electric utilities that report their carbon-free energy mix, as it expands what qualifies under current renewable energy reporting rules. The bill excludes incineration of wastewater sludge and certain waste-to-energy facilities from the carbon-free definition.
Maddy summaryHF 1311 modifies Minnesota's rules for how public utilities recover costs for electric generation and transmission assets. It requires utilities to submit detailed assessments showing how new assets contribute to system reliability during peak demand, including seasonal load calculations, before adding them to customer bills. For retiring assets, utilities must prove the action won't impair reliability, with the Public Utilities Commission required to explain impacts in its decisions. The bill directly affects Minnesota's electric utilities (like Xcel Energy) and the commission that reviews their rate requests. These changes apply to new filings after enactment, focusing on ensuring reliability while determining which costs can be passed to ratepayers.
Maddy summaryHF 1359 increases funding for solid waste management by changing how fees collected from waste management are allocated. Starting in 2026, 7% of these fees will go to a resource management account (rising to 20% in 2027 and 30% after 2028), instead of the general fund. The funds must be distributed to counties for waste management programs under state law. This directly affects counties receiving these allocations and changes the percentage of fees dedicated to environmental resource management over time. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryHF 1563 allows Minnesota taxpayers to reduce their taxable income by up to $10,000 (for joint filers) or $5,000 (for others) for employer-provided dependent care assistance, based on federal tax rules. It also establishes a state tax credit for employers who pay for qualified child care expenses in Minnesota, matching the federal Section 45F credit but limited to expenses incurred within the state. The bill affects employers offering dependent care benefits and employees receiving them, directly changing how these costs are treated for state tax purposes. Both provisions take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.
Maddy summaryHF 1475 abolishes Minnesota's Metropolitan Council and transfers its core responsibilities to other state entities. Specifically, it moves the Council's duties to the commissioners of Administration and Natural Resources, shifts transportation and transit functions to the Department of Transportation, and creates a new metropolitan area sanitary sewer district. The bill also repeals land use planning provisions previously managed by the Council and ends its oversight of the Metropolitan Airports Commission. These changes reorganize regional governance for key services like transportation, environmental management, and sewer infrastructure across the metropolitan area.
Maddy summaryHF 1402 modifies Minnesota's compensation programs for livestock losses due to wolves and crop/fence damage caused by elk. It requires site inspections with photographs by approved agents (like sheriff's deputies or Agriculture Department staff) to verify wildlife damage before payments are made. The bill maintains a $100 minimum claim value and $20,000 annual cap for wolf-related livestock claims, while adding specific evidence criteria (like elk tracks or sightings) for elk crop/fence damage claims. It also repeals outdated sections of law and appropriates funds for these programs. These changes directly affect livestock owners and agricultural producers who experience wildlife-related losses.
Maddy summaryHF 1403 appropriates $7.8 million from state bond proceeds to fund the planning, design, and construction of a new gymnasium at Browerville High School. The funds will go directly to Independent School District No. 787 in Browerville, Minnesota, for the project. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $7.8 million to cover this cost, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law. This is a direct funding measure for a specific school facility upgrade, not a broader policy change.
Maddy summaryHF 1184 removes burial fees at Minnesota state veterans cemeteries for spouses and dependents of eligible veterans. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 190.19 (subd. 2a) and 197.236 (subd. 9) to eliminate the fee schedule for these individuals and direct funds from the "Support Our Troops" account to cover uncompensated burial costs. It appropriates unspecified funds for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to cover these costs, replacing the previous waiver process for indigent applicants. This policy change directly affects veterans' families seeking burial at state cemeteries.