Rep. Athena Hollins

Maddy summaryHF 2818 creates a program to reimburse Minnesota law enforcement agencies for specific costs incurred while responding to protests or demonstrations at the State Capitol complex or the governor's residence. Eligible costs include overtime pay, equipment damage, backfill staffing, and necessary supplies. Agencies must submit detailed requests within 60 days of a protest, with the Public Safety Commissioner reviewing applications and making payments within 30 days. The law requires an annual report starting in 2027 detailing all reimbursements, and appropriates funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 683 allows Minnesota cities and counties to adopt ranked choice voting (RCV) for local elections, such as mayoral or city council races. It establishes rules for how RCV would work, including counting votes by voter preferences and reallocating votes when candidates are eliminated. The bill permits local jurisdictions to use electronic voting systems that automatically handle vote reallocation, and it appropriates funds for implementation. This bill directly affects local governments choosing to implement RCV and voters in those jurisdictions participating in local elections. It does not change state or federal election rules.

Maddy summaryHF 2707 appropriates $11.125 million for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the general fund to support sexually exploited youth or youth at risk of sexual exploitation under Minnesota Statutes §256K.47. At least $9 million annually must fund street outreach, emergency shelter, regional navigators, and housing services for these youth. The bill directly affects vulnerable youth in Minnesota by providing dedicated funding for critical safe harbor resources and housing support. It establishes concrete funding mechanisms without altering existing statutes or creating new requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 2699 legalizes personal cultivation, possession, transportation, and use of psilocybin for Minnesotans aged 21 or older, removing criminal penalties for these activities. The bill establishes a Psychedelic Medicine Board to oversee implementation, creates public education and harm reduction programs, and authorizes civil actions for related issues. It amends Minnesota’s controlled substances laws (specifically sections 152.021, 152.022, and 152.024) to exclude psilocybin from possession crime classifications for adults 21+. The legislation also appropriates funding for these programs and sets up rulemaking authority for the new framework.

Maddy summaryHF 2549 authorizes the issuance of $44.66 million in housing infrastructure bonds specifically for the St. Paul Port Authority’s The Heights housing development project. The funds must be used for affordable housing meeting income limits set in Minnesota law (section 462A.33, subdivision 5). The bill adds a new provision to Minnesota Statutes allowing this bond authorization and requires annual transfers from the general fund to support debt service on these bonds. This bill directly affects the St. Paul Port Authority and residents of The Heights development, which is intended to provide housing for low-to-moderate-income households.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota House resolution (H.R. No. 1) condemns President Trump's January 20, 2025, pardon of individuals convicted of violent crimes related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. It specifically targets the pardon of 400 people, including members of extremist groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, who had been found guilty of assaulting law enforcement with weapons. The resolution expresses the Minnesota House's disapproval of erasing these convictions, arguing the pardon undermines justice and devalues law enforcement sacrifices. As a non-binding resolution, it has no legal effect but formally rejects politicizing public safety.

Maddy summaryHF 2585 authorizes St. Paul's housing and redevelopment authority to establish up to three tax increment financing districts in the downtown area (City Planning District 17). It allows these districts to include noncontiguous parcels and waives standard requirements if 50% of buildings in the district need renovation due to issues like vacancy, obsolescence, or safety hazards. The bill permits tax revenue from these districts to clear buildings for public parks and exempts certain financial restrictions for projects within the designated downtown area. The special rules expire June 30, 2030, for new requests and June 30, 2034, for existing districts.

Maddy summaryHF 2423 appropriates $5 million from the state fund for fiscal year 2026 to help a specific biomass energy plant in Shakopee purchase equipment for disposing of wood infested with emerald ash borers. The funding is directed through the Pollution Control Agency to support the plant's use of waste heat from electricity generation during malting to process infested wood. This bill directly affects the Shakopee biomass facility by providing targeted financial support for disposal equipment, without creating new regulations or broad policy changes. It is a funding measure focused solely on enabling a single facility to manage emerald ash borer-infested tree waste.

Maddy summaryHF 1093 directs Minnesota's Commissioner of Human Services to create a centralized prescription drug purchasing program for medical assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees (who receive state-funded health coverage). The program requires the commissioner to negotiate lower drug prices, develop a preferred drug list, manage pharmacy participation, and coordinate prescription benefits. It mandates the commissioner to seek federal approval for implementation (effective January 2027) and submit expansion recommendations by December 2027 to include health plan companies administering drug benefits. The bill focuses on lowering costs for covered individuals through coordinated purchasing and price negotiations.

Maddy summaryHF 701 appropriates funds from Minnesota's renewable development account to construct an anaerobic digestor energy system in Louisville Township. The bill specifically provides money for Recycling and Energy, in partnership with Dem-Con HZI Bioenergy, LLC, to build a facility that converts food and organic waste into renewable natural gas and biochar. This funding applies to fiscal years 2025 and 2026, with the system designed to process local organic waste streams. The bill directly affects Louisville Township residents and the designated companies by enabling this specific renewable energy project. The funding mechanism is a grant from the renewable development account to support the construction of the facility.