Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies deadlines for professional development training related to Minnesota's Read Act. It requires school districts to provide evidence-based training to specific educators by July 1, 2026 (including K-3 classroom teachers and reading intervention staff) and by July 1, 2027 (for grades 4-12 reading teachers). The bill also allows districts to reduce elementary students' instructional hours by 5.5 hours during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years if teachers receive required training on days when other students are learning. This change applies to all public and charter schools meeting the training agreement requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals in Minnesota to request changes or additions to the sex indicators on their birth and death records, including options beyond just male or female. For adults and emancipated minors, the state health commissioner must approve these requests if supported by medical documentation, a court order, or a sworn statement of good faith. The legislation also permits parents or guardians to make these changes for minors and requires courts to grant such petitions when there is no intent to defraud. Additionally, the bill mandates that once a birth record is updated, the original document becomes private data that cannot be disclosed without a court order.

Maddy summaryHF 5149 restricts law enforcement from making civil immigration arrests at court facilities and surrounding areas to protect individuals attending legal proceedings. The bill defines 'civil arrest' as taking someone into custody for immigration violations and explicitly prohibits this action within courthouses, parking lots, and nearby sidewalks. It also establishes protections for court companions, such as family members and advocates, by extending these arrest restrictions to anyone accompanying a person to court. Additionally, the legislation modifies laws related to concealing identity and expands investigations into police use of force.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 1943 prohibits pet shops (physical retail stores selling animals to the public) from selling or transferring ownership of cats and dogs, effective August 1, 2026. The bill allows pet shops to provide space for nonprofit animal shelters, humane societies, or 501(c)(3) rescue groups to offer animals for adoption, but pet shops cannot own the animals or charge fees for this space. It does not affect breeders, direct sales from breeders, or nonprofit adoption organizations themselves. The law aims to shift pet sales toward adoption-focused organizations while maintaining transparency requirements for pet dealers.

Maddy summaryHF 2627 prohibits pet shops (defined as physical retail stores selling animals to the public) from selling, offering to sell, or transferring ownership of cats or dogs. The bill directly affects retail pet shops operating in Minnesota, requiring them to stop selling these animals by August 1, 2026. However, pet shops may still host nonprofit animal rescues or shelters (501(c)(3) organizations) for adoption events, provided the shops don’t own the animals or charge fees for the space. The law does not restrict breeders, shelters, or adoption centers, only retail pet shops selling cats and dogs directly to customers.

Maddy summaryHF 744 modifies professional development requirements under Minnesota's Read Act by setting new deadlines for educators to complete evidence-based literacy training. It requires K-3 classroom teachers, reading intervention staff, special education teachers, and others to complete training by July 1, 2026, with additional training for grades 4-12 teachers by July 1, 2027. School districts can reduce elementary school instructional hours by 5.5 hours per year if they schedule this training during regular school days, provided teachers complete the required training. The bill directly affects Minnesota public school districts, their teachers, and instructional staff implementing the state's literacy initiative.

Maddy summaryThis bill introduces new regulations in Minnesota to restrict the ownership and sale of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, while also banning the sale of binary trigger systems. It expands criminal penalties for possessing dangerous weapons in schools and for negligently storing firearms, and it specifically criminalizes the manufacture and sale of untraceable "ghost guns." Additionally, the legislation strengthens the state's extreme risk protection order system, requires law enforcement to report firearm discharges more comprehensively, and allocates funding to support public awareness campaigns and mental health services.

Maddy summaryHF 3335 proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment, removing the current exception in Minnesota's constitution that allows it for convicted criminals. The amendment would require voter approval at the 2026 general election, with the ballot question asking: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude as criminal punishment for a crime?" If passed, it would ban forced labor as a penalty for any crime, affecting Minnesota's criminal sentencing laws. This change would eliminate a historical loophole in the state constitution that permits involuntary servitude as punishment for offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens Minnesota's regulations on the handling of infectious or pathological waste by requiring immediate notification when such waste is mistakenly sent to unapproved facilities, mandating unannounced inspections of waste generators, and establishing significant financial penalties for violations. Facilities that receive infectious waste must report the incident to state officials with details about the waste and its source, while generators must conduct annual internal audits to ensure compliance with management plans. Penalties for unlawful transport start at $200,000 for a first offense and increase to up to $2 million for subsequent violations, with half of collected fines directed to the facility that received the waste. The legislation also allocates $50,000 to create training materials for proper waste management and disposal practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Greenhouse Gas Pollution Superfund in Minnesota to address climate change impacts. It establishes a program that requires fossil fuel companies responsible for over one billion metric tons of emissions between 1995 and 2026 to pay into a dedicated account. The collected funds will be used to finance climate change adaptation projects for state, local, and Tribal governments, as well as for disadvantaged communities. The bill defines specific terms like "responsible party" and "covered greenhouse gas emissions" to determine which companies must contribute and what types of projects can receive funding.