Rep. Liz Lee

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax in Minnesota that targets individuals and organizations convicted of fraud or those identified by the state revenue commissioner as having obtained money through deceitful means. The tax requires anyone who has successfully defrauded state programs to pay back 100 percent of the stolen amount, regardless of any existing fines or restitution already ordered by courts. The state revenue commissioner is tasked with investigating suspected fraud, setting up a system to collect these payments, and ensuring the recovered funds are used specifically for income and property tax relief. The law applies retroactively to fraud cases determined after December 31, 2019, and also covers people who were paid to help commit the fraud.

Maddy summaryHF 3419 removes the ability of most Minnesota entities - including businesses, nonprofits, cooperatives, and foreign entities operating in Minnesota - to spend money on elections or ballot measures. The bill retracts this power for all entities except registered political committees that exist solely for political activity and claim no entity benefits (like limited liability). It also voids any organizational documents allowing political spending. This change does not affect regular business operations or charitable work, only political activity.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new grant program in Minnesota to help small businesses that suffer negative impacts from major road construction projects. The program provides one-time financial assistance to qualified businesses located within 300 feet of a construction site that experience issues with access, parking, or visibility. To receive funding, a business must employ no more than 25 employees and use the money for payroll or operating expenses, while prohibiting use for bonuses or capital improvements. The funds are financed by allocating one percent of the total budget for each eligible road project, and a designated business liaison will be assigned to communicate with affected owners and inform them about the grant opportunity. Additionally, the bill requires state officials to submit annual reports detailing every grant awarded, including the names and addresses of the recipient businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new state general levy specifically for residential homestead property in Minnesota, which will be collected starting with taxes payable in 2027. The legislation creates a formula where the amount levied on homeowners is calculated to ensure cities receive a specific level of state aid, replacing the previous method that excluded homesteads from this specific tax pool. Additionally, the bill modifies how state aid is distributed to cities by guaranteeing that each city receives an amount equal to its unmet need or its prior year's certified aid, whichever is greater. These changes aim to adjust the funding structure for local governments while introducing a dedicated tax source for residential properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the previous cap on how much money can be deposited into Minnesota's consumer protection restitution account, allowing the Attorney General to deposit 50% of all recovered funds from consumer enforcement actions. It also establishes new rules for distributing these funds, requiring that payments be made first to consumers with the oldest unpaid claims. Additionally, the bill sets a limit on individual payouts, capping the full amount at $50,000 or 50% of any amount exceeding that threshold. These changes directly affect the state's process for handling recovered funds and the compensation received by eligible consumers in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Minnesota Department of Health to join the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network. The commissioner must identify the necessary application process by September 1, 2026, and submit the application by December 1, 2026. This action aims to integrate the state's health response capabilities with a global system for monitoring and addressing disease outbreaks. The legislation does not alter existing funding or staffing but establishes a specific timeline for this international partnership.

Maddy summaryHF 3409 prohibits Minnesota public schools from denying students access to free K-12 education based on the student's or their parent's immigration status or citizenship. It requires schools to stop collecting unnecessary immigration information, avoid threatening to share such details with law enforcement, and ensure no student or parent is excluded from school activities due to immigration status. The bill also creates a legal remedy, allowing students or parents who face such denial to file a civil lawsuit for redress.

Maddy summaryHF 3698 prohibits publishers from including certain restrictive terms in license agreements for libraries' electronic books and digital audiobooks. It directly affects Minnesota public libraries, school libraries, and the Minitex network by banning clauses that prevent libraries from lending digital materials - such as restrictions on interlibrary loans or limiting how materials can be shared. The law requires contracts to allow libraries to perform standard lending functions, including loaning materials via digital systems. It becomes effective 60 days after Minnesota’s secretary of state confirms other states with at least 7 million combined population have similar laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a sales and use tax on advertising services in Minnesota, expanding the state's existing sales tax framework to include this category of service. The legislation directly affects businesses that provide advertising services, such as marketing agencies, media companies, and digital advertising platforms, requiring them to collect and remit tax on these services. Key provisions amend Minnesota Statutes 297A.61 to explicitly list advertising services as taxable, while maintaining existing exemptions for services performed by employees for employers and certain affiliated business arrangements. The bill clarifies that the tax applies to the furnishing of advertising services for consideration, without specifying particular rates or collection deadlines in the provided text. This change aligns advertising services with other taxable services like laundry, lawn care, and security services already included in the state's sales tax code.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals previous sales tax exemptions for preferred seating and amenities at athletic facilities, meaning these items will now be subject to sales tax when purchased with event tickets. It also provides funding for safe harbor shelter and housing grants to support homeless assistance programs. The legislation defines various retail sales for tax purposes, including bundled transactions and promotional items, while appropriating money for the housing grants.