Rep. Jay Xiong

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for impersonating a police officer in Minnesota. It upgrades the base offense to a felony (up to 2 years in jail or $4,000 fine) and creates a new crime for impersonating while carrying a firearm (up to 10 years in jail or $20,000 fine). The bill also requires anyone pretending to be a law enforcement officer to identify themselves when asked and imposes harsher penalties if they commit other crimes while impersonating an officer (e.g., a misdemeanor becomes a gross misdemeanor). It directly affects individuals who falsely pose as police officers, including those using fake uniforms, vehicle markings, or equipment to mimic law enforcement.

Maddy summaryHF 3741 modifies Minnesota's educational assistance program for veterans' families, providing an annual $750 stipend for eligible children and spouses of veterans. It affects children and spouses of deceased veterans (including those who died in service), prisoners of war, or missing in action personnel who meet residency requirements and maintain satisfactory academic progress at Minnesota public institutions. The bill specifies the stipend cannot be used by individuals who have already earned a bachelor's degree. It updates definitions to clarify eligibility criteria and repeals an outdated provision, ensuring funds are directed to qualifying family members pursuing higher education in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Business Regulation and Land Ownership within Minnesota's Department of Agriculture. The office will investigate monopolies and consolidation in agriculture-related businesses, such as those producing food, seeds, and chemicals, while also tracking how agricultural land is being bought by individuals, corporations, and other organizations. To carry out these tasks, the office will employ a director with expertise in antitrust and property law, along with staff including lawyers and economists, and must submit biennial reports to state legislators. The legislation also authorizes funding from the state's general budget to establish and operate this new office.

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 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 requires bail enforcement agents in Minnesota to obtain a license from the Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services, which will also be responsible for setting rules regarding their training and conduct. It prohibits bail bond companies from hiring unlicensed agents and establishes criminal penalties for violations, while also mandating that licensed agents keep specific records. Additionally, the legislation explicitly forbids licensed bail enforcement agents from enforcing civil immigration laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies how Minnesota school districts and charter schools receive state library aid based on student enrollment. It specifies that regular school districts get aid equal to the greater of $16.11 per student or $40,000, while charter schools receive the greater of $16.11 per student or $20,000. The change retroactively applies to fiscal year 2024 and future years, ensuring consistent funding calculations. This directly affects all public school districts and charter schools eligible for state library aid under Minnesota Statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new state wealth tax in Minnesota that would apply to individuals and trusts with taxable wealth exceeding $10 million. The tax would be calculated as one percent of the amount above that threshold, based on the total value of all property owned within Minnesota minus any debts owed by the taxpayer. Property values would be determined using the same valuation methods used for federal estate taxes, and the tax would apply to both residents and nonresidents who own property in the state. The legislation would take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and would be collected in addition to existing state taxes.

Maddy summaryHF 3403 allocates $44 million for counties and $6 million for Tribal governments in fiscal year 2026 to provide emergency rental assistance. It requires counties and Tribal governments to use these funds solely for rental assistance to eligible households meeting three criteria: income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, Minnesota residency, and homelessness or imminent housing crisis. Funds must be distributed within 15 days of the bill's effective date and spent within 180 days, with unspent money returned to the state general fund. This one-time appropriation directly supports low-income renters facing housing instability across Minnesota.