Rep. Leigh Finke

Maddy summaryThis bill gives renters in Minnesota the right to temporarily host a youth under age 25 in their rental unit for up to 60 days without landlord retaliation. Renters must notify landlords within 7 days of the youth's arrival, providing basic details like the youth's name and age (or full name and birthdate if 18+), but landlords cannot raise rent, evict, or require the youth to sign a lease during this period. The tenant remains responsible for rent, damages, and other lease obligations. Landlords who violate this law face dismissed eviction cases, liability for damages, and payment of tenant's legal costs.

Maddy summaryHF 1656 appropriates $2.25 million from Minnesota's renewable development account to fund a geothermal energy system at Como Zoo's large cats building in St. Paul. The bill directs the commissioner of commerce to provide a grant for constructing this system, which uses underground piping and heat pumps to provide space heating and cooling. The project directly affects Como Zoo and its large cats building, replacing conventional heating and cooling systems. This is a targeted funding measure for a specific facility, not a broader energy policy change.

Maddy summaryHF 1628 prohibits solitary confinement in Minnesota jails and prisons, defined as cell confinement depriving inmates of meaningful visual or auditory contact for more than 20 hours in a day or 45 hours in any three-day period. It directly affects all inmates in state and local adult correctional facilities, with special protections for vulnerable populations like minors, pregnant individuals, people with mental illness, or those with serious medical conditions. The bill requires facilities to document segregation placements, submit quarterly reports to the Corrections Commissioner, and adopt rules identifying vulnerable individuals. It also bans "unassigned idle" confinement exceeding 10 hours daily and mandates that segregated housing conditions approximate those in general population.

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 1562 appropriates $500,000 from the state general fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund physical improvements at the Gibbs Farm Museum: Pathways to Dakota and Pioneer Life in Ramsey County. The funds will be granted to the Ramsey County Historical Society to design, renovate, construct, furnish, and equip the museum's site, buildings, and facilities. The museum focuses on the history of early Minnesota agriculture and the relationship between the Dakota people (specifically referencing "Heyata Othunwe") and the Jane and Heman Gibbs family. This appropriation becomes effective upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 1561 appropriates $6 million from the general fund for a one-time grant to FilmNorth, a St. Paul-based nonprofit, to renovate its property at 2447 University Avenue West. The funding will create a multiuse facility including a film industry workforce training center, a public archive for Minnesota-made films, a soundstage, community event space, and affordable offices for low-income artists. This grant directly supports FilmNorth’s operations and benefits Minnesota film industry workers, artists, and the public through accessible resources. The appropriation is specific to fiscal year 2026 and expires upon project completion or abandonment, per Minnesota law.

Maddy summaryHF 773 prohibits health insurance companies in Minnesota from requiring cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) for specific short office visits for infants, children, and adolescents. The bill applies when visits are under 15 minutes and focus on evidence-based preventive care aligned with federal Health Resources and Services Administration guidelines. It also requires insurers to allow providers to bill separately for preventive services delivered during these visits. This directly affects health insurers, pediatric providers, and families seeking routine preventive care for young patients. The law amends Minnesota Statutes section 62Q.46 to add these protections.

Maddy summaryHF 1187 requires Minnesota's Housing Finance Agency to collect and report data on contractors receiving financing through the agency. Specifically, it mandates collecting information about contracts awarded to veteran-owned small businesses (as defined in MN Statute 16C.16, subd. 6a) and LGBTQ-owned businesses certified by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. The agency must submit an annual report by February 1st of even-numbered years to housing finance committees, detailing the total number and dollar value of contracts for each business category. This bill affects the Housing Finance Agency's reporting obligations and provides transparency on contracting patterns for these business categories.

Maddy summaryHF 702 amends Minnesota law to set specific property rate increases for four nursing facilities, removing an automatic expiration date (sunset) for these increases. The bill directly affects facilities in St. Paul ($10.65 increase), Duluth ($20.81), Chatfield ($21.35), and Fergus Falls ($38.56), all effective January 1, 2025. These increases are fixed dollar amounts and will remain in effect without a sunset provision. The changes take effect July 1, 2025, for the property payment rates.

Maddy summaryHF 501 proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee equal rights under Minnesota law and prohibit state discrimination based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, or sex - including pregnancy decisions, gender identity, and sexual orientation. If approved by voters in 2026, it would add a new section to the Minnesota Constitution requiring state actions to use the least restrictive means to achieve compelling government interests. The amendment would directly apply to all Minnesotans and state agencies, ensuring equal protection in all state laws and programs. It requires voter approval at the 2026 general election, with the question asking whether the state constitution should include these equal rights protections.