Rep. Katie Jones

Maddy summaryThis bill allows public colleges and universities in Minnesota to create policies restricting firearms carried by visitors on campus property. Under the new rules, institutions can require visitors to leave if they violate firearm policies, and those who refuse to comply face a petty misdemeanor charge with a fine of up to $25. The law also clarifies that firearms violating these campus policies will not be subject to forfeiture, and it maintains that employers and schools cannot ban firearms in parking facilities. This change directly affects public postsecondary institutions and their ability to manage visitor access to campus grounds.

Maddy summaryHF 3415 restricts federal immigration agents (like those from ICE, CBP, or USCIS) from entering Minnesota child care centers without specific authorization. Licensed or certified child care centers must require federal agents to present valid ID, a written purpose statement, a judicial warrant, and obtain approval from the center owner before entry. Even with these requirements, centers must limit agent access to areas where children are not present. This bill directly affects all licensed and certified license-exempt child care centers in Minnesota by establishing clear protocols for federal agent access.

Maddy summaryHF 771 establishes a supplemental energy assistance grant program in Minnesota to provide additional support for low-income households that may not have received full federal energy assistance. It targets residents with household incomes below 60% of the state median income, offering crisis grants, primary heat assistance, emergency heating repairs, and outreach support. The bill appropriates a specific sum for fiscal year 2026 (with up to 10% for administration and 5% for outreach to underserved communities) and requires the commissioner to publish annual reports starting in 2026 detailing program participation, benefits, and demographic data by county. This program operates alongside federal LIHEAP funding but prioritizes expanding assistance to new households over increasing aid for existing recipients.

Maddy summaryThis bill reenacts and modifies existing Minnesota laws regarding firearms, specifically addressing binary trigger devices and transfers to ineligible individuals. It maintains a ban on binary trigger activators effective from January 1, 2025, and updates penalties for transferring firearms to people who are legally prohibited from owning them. Additionally, the bill removes a legal defense that previously allowed family or household members to claim they were forced to transfer a firearm due to threats of violence. These changes apply to crimes committed after the bill is enacted, with the binary trigger ban also applying retroactively to offenses occurring since January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state to update its building code to permit apartment buildings with only one stairway exit, a change that would affect residential construction and renovation projects. The legislation mandates that the commissioner adopt specific rules by April 1, 2027, based on recommendations from a 2025 study on single-exit stairway apartment buildings. While the bill does not establish the exact safety standards, it directs officials to follow the study's final recommendations when creating the necessary regulations. This change aims to provide more flexibility in apartment design while ensuring compliance with the safety guidelines developed through the mandated study process.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires independent presidential elector petitions in Minnesota to include sworn certifications confirming that the presidential and vice presidential candidates meet all constitutional eligibility requirements. It also mandates that major political party candidates submit an affidavit under oath stating they are not running for any other state office and meet constitutional qualifications. The Secretary of State would be prohibited from placing presidential or vice presidential candidates on the ballot without these certifications, which would also disqualify any associated elector nominees. These changes apply to non-major party candidates while major party candidates already undergo similar certification processes under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Department of Transportation to update how it evaluates and plans certain transportation projects, specifically those involving construction, reconstruction, or capacity changes that need environmental reviews. It mandates that officials create a "purpose and need" statement that considers all possible approaches rather than assuming a specific improvement is necessary, while also incorporating safety, community input, and cost efficiency alongside traditional traffic metrics. The legislation also calls for a detailed scoping document that identifies stakeholders, analyzes different transportation modes like roads and transit, and includes field visits to understand local conditions before projects are approved for state funding. These changes apply to major highway projects but exclude routine maintenance activities like resurfacing or bridge repairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes safety and disclosure requirements for developers of artificial intelligence systems in Minnesota. It directly affects companies and individuals who train and deploy AI models, requiring them to create and maintain documented safety protocols before deployment. Key provisions mandate that developers publish redacted safety protocols, retain testing records for five years after deployment, and prohibit deploying AI systems that pose an unreasonable risk of critical harm. The legislation also defines critical harm as incidents involving significant physical injury, death, or substantial financial damage resulting from AI misuse or unauthorized access.

Maddy summaryHF 3455 renames Minnesota's State Office Building at 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in St. Paul as the "Melissa Hortman State Office Building." The bill requires the revisor of statutes to update all official references to the building in Minnesota Statutes and Rules. This is a ceremonial renaming with no policy changes or direct impact on residents or government operations.

Maddy summaryHF 3631 bans hotels and health clubs in Minnesota from providing personal care products (like shampoo, body wash, hand soap, and disposable razors) in disposable plastic containers that guests can take home. It allows the use of refillable dispensers or non-plastic packaging and permits hotels to provide requested items. Violations result in a warning for first offenses, then daily fines up to $500 (capped at $10,000 annually). The ban takes effect January 1, 2027, for health clubs and hotels with 50+ rooms, and January 1, 2028, for smaller hotels.