Rep. Katie Jones

Maddy summaryHF 3806 authorizes Minnesota to issue up to $200 million in housing infrastructure bonds for projects like affordable housing development and repairs. It requires annual transfers from the state general fund to a dedicated bond account, with specific yearly limits (ranging from $800,000 to $6.4 million) depending on the bond series. These transfers will occur each July 15 from 2028 through 2049 for the new bonds authorized under this bill. The funds will support housing infrastructure initiatives managed through the state’s housing finance program, directly affecting projects eligible for these bond-funded resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a sales tax exemption for nonprofit carshare organizations in Minnesota, allowing them to purchase vehicles and related items for their services without paying sales tax. To qualify, an organization must be a nonprofit whose main goal is providing carshare services and must be federally recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The exemption does not cover purchases of prepared food, candy, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, or taxable cannabis products. This change will take effect for sales and purchases made after June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Metropolitan Airports Commission to increase transparency regarding flights at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport that transport detained immigrants. Specifically, it mandates that the airport operator notify the commission whenever U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrives or departs with passengers being held in restraints. The legislation also requires the commission to install a live-streaming camera to record these flights and to submit monthly reports detailing the number of detained individuals, including minors, on each trip. These measures are designed to provide the public and state officials with real-time data and regular updates on immigration-related air traffic at the airport.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in Minnesota who provide monetary parking benefits to employees to also offer an equivalent monetary benefit for using alternative transportation modes instead of driving personal vehicles. The law mandates that these transit options must be available as a direct alternative to the parking allowance, ensuring equal financial value for different commuting choices. Minnesota's commissioner of labor and industry is designated to enforce this new requirement, which applies to any employer currently offering parking subsidies to their workforce.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota bill creates a $100 million relief program to help small businesses that experienced significant revenue declines between July 2024 and February 2026, which the bill attributes to federal enforcement activity. The program provides grants to operators of indoor retail or food market spaces with at least 25 small tenant businesses, requiring that most funds be used to offer rent forgiveness to existing tenants. To qualify, businesses must be Minnesota-based, have fewer than 50 employees, operate from a physical location, and show at least a 20 percent drop in revenue or sales during the specified period. Grant applications will be processed through a lottery system, with funds usable for payroll, rent, utilities, inventory, and other operational expenses, and the state must report on the program's outcomes by December 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 2694 proposes a technical amendment to the Minnesota Constitution to update specific wording in Articles I and IV to align with current Minnesota Statutes. It does not change substantive rights or create new policies, but adjusts terms like "disfranchised" to match modern statutory language in sections covering voting rights, criminal trials, due process, and legislative procedures. The bill directly affects the state constitution's text, ensuring consistency between constitutional language and existing statutes. This is a procedural update with no direct impact on citizens or new legal requirements. The amendment would require voter approval before taking effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HF 3556) is a naming resolution that commemorates Melissa Hortman by designating Minnesota's community solar garden program as the "Melissa Hortman Community Solar Garden Program." It does not change any program rules, funding, or operations - it only adds a short title to Minnesota Statutes section 216B.1641. The bill directly honors Melissa Hortman, a former state legislator, through this naming. It is procedural and has no policy impact beyond the name change.

Maddy summaryHF 3419 removes the ability of most Minnesota entities - including businesses, nonprofits, cooperatives, and foreign entities operating in Minnesota - to spend money on elections or ballot measures. The bill retracts this power for all entities except registered political committees that exist solely for political activity and claim no entity benefits (like limited liability). It also voids any organizational documents allowing political spending. This change does not affect regular business operations or charitable work, only political activity.

Maddy summaryHF 3351 repeals Minnesota's state preemption law that previously blocked local governments from regulating firearms. This bill removes barriers preventing cities and counties from creating their own firearm regulations, such as zoning rules for gun stores. It amends Minnesota Statutes to allow local governments to adopt "reasonable, nondiscriminatory, and nonarbitrary" ordinances regarding firearm sales locations. The bill also repeals specific sections (471.633, 471.634, 624.714, 624.717, and 624.7191) that enforced the preemption. Local governments will now have direct authority to regulate firearms within their jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryHF 793 establishes a voluntary certification program for commercial salt applicators (businesses that apply deicers for hire on private property) in Minnesota. To become certified, applicators must complete approved training on water-friendly snow/ice removal practices, pass an exam, and renew every decade. Certified applicators gain limited liability protection if they follow approved best practices and avoid gross negligence, but must maintain detailed records of deicer use and submit annual reports to the Pollution Control Agency. The program aims to reduce environmental harm from excessive salt runoff while providing a clear standard for commercial snow removal services.