Rep. Ben Davis

Maddy summaryHF 897 amends Minnesota law to prohibit exposing children and vulnerable adults to fentanyl, methamphetamine, or related substances in specific locations. It makes it illegal for anyone to knowingly cause or permit such exposure in places like homes, public buildings, or overnight accommodations where children or vulnerable adults might be present. The bill adds criminal penalties for violations, including for exposing individuals to fentanyl (newly specified in the amendment) or methamphetamine-related materials. This directly affects caregivers, property owners, and anyone in environments where children or vulnerable adults could be present.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's wildlife commissioner to establish an annual open season for wolf hunting after wolves are delisted from federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. It directly affects state wildlife managers, hunters, and livestock owners by creating a mandatory yearly process for setting hunting seasons. Key provisions include requiring the commissioner to consult with the agriculture commissioner and USDA's animal health agency before determining seasons, and to review data on wolf attacks on livestock and human conflicts. The bill mandates public comment opportunities for all proposed seasons, ensuring transparency in the annual decision-making process.

Maddy summaryHF 2447 establishes a dedicated account for financial assurance funds collected from gas development permits. It requires the commissioner of natural resources to deposit these funds into an account managed by the State Board of Investment, with earnings credited back to the account. The funds can only be used for financial assurance purposes related to specific gas permits under chapters 93 and 103I of Minnesota Statutes. This bill directly affects gas development permit applicants and the commissioner's office, creating a new mechanism for handling and investing these required funds.

Maddy summaryHF 4 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Minnesota to return budget surplus funds to taxpayers. If approved, it would create a "Minnesota tax relief account" funded by revenue exceeding 105% of projected spending, using those funds to refund or reduce property and income taxes. Taxpayers would receive direct refunds or tax reductions, but only up to the amount they owe in taxes, with the account funded annually from the state's general fund surplus. The amendment must be voted on by voters in the 2026 general election.

Maddy summaryHF 1496 requires Minnesota voters applying for absentee ballots to verify their identity before the ballot is mailed. The bill amends election law to mandate that applicants provide a Minnesota driver's license number, state ID number, or last four Social Security digits. The secretary of state must verify this information against government databases before county auditors can mail ballots. This applies to all absentee ballot applicants except those in town elections held in March. The law aims to prevent fraudulent applications by confirming voter identities prior to ballot delivery.

Maddy summaryHF 28 amends Minnesota energy law to add a specific exemption for data centers. It defines "emergency backup generator" and creates a new exemption (section 216B.243, subdivision 8(12)) allowing data centers to install combinations of backup generators totaling 50,000 kilowatts or more without undergoing certain regulatory reviews. This directly affects large data center operators by streamlining approval for their critical backup power systems. The bill modifies existing exemption rules to explicitly cover these high-capacity generator setups, reducing regulatory hurdles for data center infrastructure projects.

Maddy summaryHF 1380 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Human Services to set a minimum $1,800 per day rate for Clay County's psychiatric residential treatment facility. It appropriates $1 million in fiscal year 2026 for Clay County to cover equipment and remodeling costs to convert a juvenile center into an 18-bed facility for youth under 21. The bill also allocates $1 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1 million for 2027 to fund start-up and capacity-building grants for psychiatric residential treatment facilities statewide, with $200,000 specifically designated for Clay County's new facility. These are one-time appropriations, available until June 2029.

Maddy summaryHF 1845 expands Minnesota's definition of "veteran" to include two specific groups: (1) Hmong veterans naturalized under the federal Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act of 2000, and (2) individuals who served honorably with secret guerrilla units or irregular forces operating from Laos in support of U.S. forces between February 28, 1961, and May 14, 1975. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 197.447 to add these categories to the existing definition, ensuring these veterans qualify for state benefits. It also creates an advisory task force of veterans, experts, and community members to help determine eligibility under the new definition. This change directly affects Hmong veterans and Laotian-based veterans who previously may not have met Minnesota's veteran criteria.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's legislature has passed a resolution requesting Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The resolution asks for proposed amendments to impose budget rules on federal spending, reduce federal government authority over states, and limit terms for federal officials and members of Congress. This is a procedural step - Minnesota is formally petitioning Congress, not creating new laws. The resolution serves as Minnesota's ongoing application for such a convention, pending similar actions by two-thirds of states.

Maddy summaryHF 24 amends Minnesota Statutes section 145.423 to require that infants born alive during an abortion be immediately recognized as human persons under the law and receive medical care. The bill mandates that medical personnel take "all reasonable measures consistent with good medical practice" to preserve the life and health of such infants, including compiling appropriate medical records. It directly affects healthcare providers performing abortions in Minnesota by establishing specific medical care obligations for infants born alive. The proposed changes would have taken effect the day after enactment, though the bill was not passed.