Rep. Aisha Gomez

Maddy summaryHF 208 allocates $10 million in state bond proceeds to fund the construction and equipment of the Minnesota Latino Museum in St. Paul. The city of St. Paul will receive this grant to acquire property, design, build, and furnish the museum at 85 West Water Street on Harriet Island. The state will issue up to $10 million in bonds to cover this cost, following established bond procedures under Minnesota law. This bill specifically funds the physical museum facility, not ongoing operations or programming.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new regulations for landlords in Minnesota who use shared meters to bill tenants for electricity and natural gas in residential buildings. It requires that all submeters installed on or after January 1, 2025, meet specific accuracy standards set by the American National Standards Institute. The law also mandates that landlords must investigate tenant complaints about inaccurate meters and refund any overcharges, while allowing landlords to collect undercharges only for the previous six months. Additionally, the bill prohibits landlords from charging tenants for the costs of installing, maintaining, or repairing these meters unless the damage was caused by the tenant's willful or negligent actions.

Maddy summaryHF 5247 is a broad omnibus bill that modifies numerous state laws and appropriates funds to update policies across many areas of government operation. It directly affects state agencies, licensed professionals, employees, and residents by changing rules related to healthcare licensing, labor relations, transportation, agriculture, and tax collection. Key provisions include establishing new licenses for behavior analysts and veterinary technicians, adjusting paid leave and sick time rules, updating construction codes, and creating a new office for emergency medical services. The bill also adjusts various tax provisions and authorizes the transfer of broadband funding to support infrastructure projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's landlord-tenant laws to clarify definitions, expand tenant protections, and update eviction procedures. It directly affects landlords, tenants, and courts by establishing new rules for how rental agreements are handled and how disputes are resolved. Key changes include adding legal definitions for tenant associations and organizers, clarifying what constitutes a lease violation, and allowing courts to automatically remove eviction records from public view in specific situations, such as when a tenant wins the case or the eviction was based on marijuana possession. The legislation also prohibits landlords from charging extra fees for service or support animals and requires clearer disclosure of pet policies in leases.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it illegal to advertise a price for goods or services while hiding mandatory fees that consumers must pay. It defines these hidden fees as charges that are unavoidable or that a reasonable person would expect to be included in the total cost, though it excludes government taxes. Businesses must clearly show any additional flat fees or percentages before a customer selects items and again on a subtotal page before checkout. The law includes specific exemptions for motor vehicle dealers, utilities regulated by the state, and certain real estate settlement costs.

Maddy summaryThis law establishes a new account to manage funds related to a 2024 settlement regarding the state's retention of tax-forfeited lands and mineral rights. Counties that choose to participate must sell properties forfeited between 2012 and 2023 at auction or through brokers for at least their appraised value, keeping only a portion of the proceeds while sending the rest to the state. Counties that do not actively opt out by August 2024 are automatically considered participants, whereas those that remain non-participating retain full financial liability for claims related to properties forfeited before 2024. The bill also allocates $109 million to pay claims administrators and requires participating counties to submit regular reports on their sales efforts and results.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new program in Minnesota to collect and recycle electronic waste from households and small businesses. It defines specific items that must be recycled, such as computers, monitors, and gaming consoles, while excluding devices like cameras, telephones, and household appliances. The legislation creates a system where an approved organization, known as a clearinghouse, will manage the collection, transport, and recycling of these covered devices. Additionally, the bill sets up new state accounts to fund the program and requires the state agency to submit a report on its progress.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows cities in Minnesota to create special districts that reassign property taxes based on land value rather than improvements like buildings. To establish such a district, a city must hold a public hearing and mail notices to all affected property owners before passing an ordinance. The tax reallocation must use specific formulas that focus on the value of the land itself, excluding the value of structures or improvements made after a certain date. These new tax rules would first apply to property taxes payable in 2024.