Rep. Cal Warwas

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates state funding in fiscal year 2027 to the Pollution Control Agency to conduct a study on critical materials found in Minnesota's waste stream. The study will estimate the volume of products containing these materials, measure how much is currently recovered through recycling, and assess the total amount present in waste. The commissioner must complete the research and submit the findings to legislative committees by October 1, 2028. "Critical materials" are defined as specific resources listed by the U.S. Department of Energy that are essential for national security and economic stability.

Maddy summaryHF 3767 allocates $35 million in state bond proceeds to fund Minnesota town roads and bridges, with $25 million specifically for road improvements and $10 million for bridge projects. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $35 million to cover this funding, which will be distributed by the commissioner of transportation under existing state law. This provides direct financial support for local infrastructure maintenance and upgrades across Minnesota towns. The funding mechanism is procedural, focusing on capital investment rather than changing eligibility or eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing Minnesota law to update the local sales tax authorization for the City of Virginia. It allows the city to collect up to one percent in sales tax revenue specifically to fund the renovation of the Miner's Memorial recreation complex and the conversion of the city's steam system. The legislation also permits the city to issue up to $30 million in bonds to help pay for these projects without needing a separate voter approval. The tax is set to expire on December 31, 2055, or earlier once the city has collected enough funds to cover all project costs and bond interest.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Minnesota School Safety Center to create and distribute evidence-based model safety plans for K-12 schools, requiring districts to adopt similar plans by May 2028. It establishes strict criteria for what counts as "evidence-based," mandating that safety strategies be backed by strong research or well-designed studies before they are implemented. The legislation also enables anonymous threat reporting systems in schools and requires the safety center to consult with licensed mental health professionals when developing these plans. Additionally, the bill modifies grant programs for school buildings and cybersecurity while increasing funding for safe schools initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's gross receipts tax law to explicitly include hospitals and health care providers as taxable entities while excluding licensed chiropractors from the list of providers subject to the tax. The legislation defines "health care provider" to include various medical service providers such as doctors, dental professionals, and ambulance services, while listing specific exclusions like pharmacies, nursing homes, and home health agencies. A new provision adds licensed chiropractors to the list of excluded providers, clarifying that they will not be required to pay the gross receipts tax on their services. The changes will take effect for gross revenues received after December 31, 2026, and apply to the state's existing gross receipts tax framework.

Maddy summaryHF 168 creates an advance homestead credit for qualifying seniors in Minnesota, allowing them to receive 50% of their prior year's homestead tax refund upfront. Seniors who already qualified for the standard homestead credit can apply for this advance, which is applied directly to their first-half property tax payment each year. The state reimburses counties and school districts for the tax reductions by October 31 (for non-school districts) or through the Department of Education (for school districts). This policy, effective for 2027 property taxes, aims to ease annual tax burdens for eligible seniors by providing earlier access to their refund amount.

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 summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota calculates registration taxes for passenger cars and hearses by lowering the tax rate based on the vehicle's manufacturer's suggested retail price. It changes the tax calculation for new vehicles registered on or after November 16, 2020, and reduces the percentage of the vehicle's value taxed for each subsequent year of ownership. The legislation also establishes a process to transfer money from the state's general fund to the highway user tax distribution fund to cover any revenue shortfall caused by these tax reductions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-time property tax refund program for Minnesota property owners who paid eligible taxes in 2026, affecting residential, agricultural, and commercial property classifications. The program allocates $4 billion from the state general fund to provide refunds based on a percentage calculated by the Department of Revenue, with applications accepted between July 15 and September 15, 2026. Any unclaimed refund amounts will automatically be converted into property tax credits for 2027 on the properties where no refund was requested. The legislation defines specific property categories eligible for the refund and sets clear deadlines for application processing and payment distribution.

Maddy summaryHF 3564 extends deadlines for specific parks and trails grants awarded under Minnesota's parks and trails fund. It extends funding availability for five projects: the Mesabi Trail (St. Louis/Lake Counties), Oxbow Park (Olmsted County), Kraemer Lake/Wildwood County Park (Stearns County), Plum Creek Park (Redwood County), and Robinson Quarry Park (Sandstone) through June 30, 2027 or 2028. The bill also modifies the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission's structure, including changing how its chair is elected from annual to biennial and updating reporting requirements. These changes ensure existing grant projects can continue using allocated funds beyond their original deadlines.