Rep. Athena Hollins

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new safe storage standards for firearms in Minnesota and creates criminal penalties for failing to meet those standards. It requires firearm owners to store guns either unloaded with a locking device or locked in a secure storage unit or locked gun room, except when the firearm is under direct physical control. The law defines specific terms like "firearm storage unit" and "gun room" and sets up escalating penalties ranging from petty misdemeanors to felonies depending on whether a child or prohibited person accesses the firearm. The bill includes several exceptions for situations like hunting, shooting sports, and law enforcement duties, and it will take effect on August 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new stewardship program for covered batteries in Minnesota and prohibits the use of mercury in batteries, affecting manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of battery products. It creates clear definitions for terms like "covered battery," "brand," and "distribute" to clarify which products and businesses fall under the program's requirements. The legislation authorizes the state to create rules for battery collection and recycling, while also modifying existing provisions related to lead acid batteries and rechargeable consumer products. Additionally, the bill appropriates funds to support the implementation of these environmental protections and sets specific effective dates for various provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state of Minnesota to issue up to $95 million in bonds to fund road and utility infrastructure improvements at the Sears site in St. Paul. The funds will support construction of sanitary sewer and clean water systems, public utilities, streets, sidewalks, lighting, and streetscape improvements needed to prepare the area for future development. The legislation also defines the Sears site boundaries and establishes the legal framework for managing bond proceeds, including provisions for environmental remediation and demolition of existing structures. This measure is designed to provide necessary infrastructure support for the redevelopment of the former Sears property.

Maddy summaryHF 3801 adds a voluntary tax donation checkoff option for Minnesota taxpayers to support crime victims. The bill requires tax preparers to notify individual and corporate clients filing income tax returns or property tax refund claims about designating $1 or more to be added to their tax payment or deducted from their refund. This donation would fund the Minnesota Victims of Crime Account, with notifications included alongside tax preparation documents. The provision becomes effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2027. It directly affects taxpayers who file Minnesota income or property tax returns.

Maddy summaryHF 2317 appropriates $1 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to the Pollution Control Agency to fund a pilot program capturing waste heat from wastewater treatment facilities. The program requires identifying feasible sites across Minnesota, quantifying available heat energy, and funding engineering studies for one project in the seven-county metro area and one outside it. By December 2027, the agency must report to legislators on identified sites, challenges and benefits of heat capture systems, and potential future funding sources. This bill directly affects wastewater treatment facilities statewide by exploring a new method to repurpose waste heat for community heating systems.

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 requires health care facilities in Minnesota to limit access to their premises by law enforcement agents conducting civil immigration enforcement unless the agent presents a valid judicial warrant. It mandates that facilities notify their leadership and legal representatives whenever such agents enter the property and must only grant access to areas specified in the warrant. Additionally, the bill requires facilities to develop written policies outlining procedures for verifying law enforcement identity and authority, documenting interactions, and designating staff members to handle immigration-related situations on site. The law applies to hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other licensed health care providers operating in the state.

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 establishes a new state aid program that will provide Ramsey County with $5 per square foot of state-owned buildings in the Capitol Area, starting in 2027. The funding is intended to compensate the county for the loss of tax revenue caused by state property ownership and the disproportionate impact of these buildings on local property taxes. The money must be used specifically to reduce current year property taxes levied on net tax capacity within Ramsey County, with annual funding appropriated from the state's general fund. This measure directly affects Ramsey County residents and the state's property tax system by creating a new revenue transfer mechanism between state and local governments.

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.