Rep. Pete Johnson

Maddy summaryHF 3148 allows cities of the first class (like Minneapolis and St. Paul) to issue "social district licenses" that permit public consumption of alcohol in designated outdoor areas contiguous to licensed venues, but not sales. It requires strict rules: alcohol must be in non-glass containers (max 16 oz) with specific labeling, districts must have clear signage showing hours/days, and licensees must follow container requirements. The city must maintain safety plans online, post boundaries, and report to the legislature within 24 months on community impact, challenges, and public safety. This directly affects cities, licensed businesses, and residents/businesses near designated social districts.

Maddy summaryHF 2921 appropriates $300,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $300,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to create a pilot program for the Rural Cancer Institute. The program directly affects rural cancer care providers and health care students by funding a community-based initiative to expand oncology clinical staffing in underserved rural areas. Key provisions include increasing cancer care clinicians in rural districts and training students in rural cancer care challenges through a community-based model. This is a one-time appropriation focused on addressing the specific shortage of cancer care workers in rural Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state aid program for local fire protection and emergency medical services (EMS) special taxing districts in Minnesota. It provides state funding equal to 50% of each district's certified annual levy for fire/EMS services, paid annually by July 20 starting in 2026. The aid is funded through an annual appropriation from the general fund, with payments calculated and certified by the commissioner of revenue before August 1 each year. This directly affects existing districts formed under specific Minnesota statutes (e.g., 144F.01, 1987 ch.402, 1993 ch.375, or 2009 ch.88).

Maddy summaryHF 1999 restricts how people can request public data from Minnesota school districts. It requires requesters to provide their identity (no anonymous requests) and pay for costs if they fail to appear to inspect the data in person. The law applies to all public data requests to school districts under Minnesota's government data practices law, but does not affect requests made by students under separate privacy rules. These changes take effect 24 hours after the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryHF 3125 appropriates $8,856,000 from state bond proceeds to fund a community engagement center in Duluth specifically for people experiencing homelessness. The bill authorizes the sale of state bonds to cover this cost and directs funds toward predesign, construction, and equipment for facilities including a commercial kitchen, warming center, health services, classrooms, and hygiene spaces. The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Duluth will receive the grant to develop and operate the center, with potential lease or management agreements for program operations. This funding is effective upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 2065 increases annual state funding for library online databases by $2.9 million for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The bill appropriates these funds to the Department of Education to maintain statewide licenses for online research databases. These licenses directly benefit school media centers, public libraries, state government agency libraries, and college/university libraries across Minnesota. The funding ensures continued access to digital resources without requiring additional local spending.

Maddy summaryHF 3154 appropriates $200,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to provide grants to the Rural Policy and Development Center. The funds are allocated through the commissioner of agriculture under Minnesota Statutes section 116J.421. This bill directly affects the Rural Policy and Development Center by providing dedicated funding for its operations and grant programs in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 1383 establishes the "Great Start Affordability Scholarship" program to help low-to-moderate income families pay for child care. It directly affects families with children from birth to kindergarten entry who earn under 150% of Minnesota's median income. The bill requires the program to limit child care costs to no more than 7% of a family's annual income, transitions existing child care assistance into this new system by July 2028, and mandates participating child care providers to meet quality standards through Minnesota's rating system. Families must renew scholarships annually, and providers must use scholarship funds to supplement, not replace, existing federal funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's definition of a "debt buyer" to clarify that businesses purchasing charged-off medical debts for collection purposes are considered debt buyers, while excluding nonprofits buying for charitable reasons. It appropriates $5 million from the general fund for a one-time grant to the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to relieve medical debt for eligible residents who couldn't pay after hospitals completed reasonable collection efforts. The grant must be used by June 30, 2028, and Undue Medical Debt must report recipient demographics to state agencies. The bill directly affects low-income Minnesotans with unpaid medical bills and hospitals that previously pursued collections.

Maddy summaryHF 2355 modifies Minnesota school district requirements for sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention programs. It mandates that all public school districts develop programs including medically accurate curriculum covering abstinence until marriage, updated prevention materials, coordination with health agencies, and parent/community involvement. The bill requires districts to collaborate with health departments and community organizations to target high-risk adolescents. These programs must align with existing health curriculum standards and be implemented by school districts across Minnesota.