Rep. Pete Johnson

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 summaryThis bill allocates $1.5 million from the arts and cultural heritage fund to the City of Minneapolis to create a public memorial honoring Renée Good and Alex Pretti. The memorial will feature statues, educational exhibits, and a space for community reflection, focusing on their deaths and the broader issues of civil rights and immigration enforcement. The project requires a collaborative planning process involving local residents, civil rights groups, artists, and historians, with oversight provided by a partnership including city officials and state legislators. While the state provides the initial funding, the city is permitted to seek additional private donations and partnerships to cover design, programming, and long-term maintenance costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how early retirement reductions are calculated for teachers in Minnesota's Teachers Retirement Association, affecting educators who retire before reaching normal retirement age. It changes the reduction rate from one-quarter of one percent per month to a more gradual decrease, while also maintaining a special provision for members with 30 or more years of service credit who can retire without age-based reductions. The legislation also adjusts pension adjustment revenue for school districts, setting specific contribution rates for different years and allowing cooperative units to qualify for funding like regular districts. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and aim to provide more predictable retirement benefits for teachers while managing state pension costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal framework in Minnesota to create an interstate agreement called the Interstate Fiscal Sovereignty Compact, which would allow member states to hold federal taxes in a state-controlled escrow fund rather than sending them directly to the federal government. The legislation defines key terms such as "member state" and "triggering event," and sets up a process where employers would deposit withheld federal income, Social Security, and unemployment taxes into this new state treasury fund once the compact is officially activated. Currently, no action is required from employers or the state until a governing body issues an order to start the escrow operations, meaning the bill does not immediately change how taxes are collected or paid. By creating a separate escrow fund, the bill aims to give states more control over federal tax revenue, though it requires other states to pass similar laws and join the agreement for the system to function.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota school districts and charter schools to adopt evidence-based safety plans that are developed with input from students, parents, teachers, and law enforcement. It establishes a new anonymous threat reporting system and creates a School Safety Center at the Department of Public Safety to provide model plans and consulting services to schools. The legislation also modifies rules regarding when firearms are allowed on school property and provides additional funding for student support personnel.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Minnesota Public Safety Radio Communications Funding and Interoperability Act, removes the requirement for Minnesota counties to pay for the expansion and maintenance of the ARMER public safety radio network. Instead, the legislation creates a new state-funded account to cover these costs, ensuring that local governments are not forced to use property taxes for this infrastructure. The law also establishes a voluntary program where the state and local jurisdictions can share project costs on an equal basis, with the state covering at least 75 percent of any such expenses. Additionally, the bill sets up a framework to improve interoperability, allowing different law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical agencies to communicate effectively across jurisdictional lines. A new reporting requirement mandates that the commissioner of public safety annually update the legislature on how the funds are being used and the progress of the network.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-time $2 million grant program to help Minnesota law enforcement agencies hire and train investigative specialists. The funding is intended for agencies that struggle with high rates of unsolved crimes or lack sufficient staff to investigate cases effectively. These specialists will support detectives by handling administrative tasks and conducting investigations, but they will not have the full powers of peace officers. To receive funds, agencies must create specific job roles, training programs, and performance goals, and they are required to report on how the specialists impact crime-solving rates.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands survivor benefits in Minnesota to include public safety officers who die from exposure-related cancers linked to their work. It defines specific cancers covered, such as lung, breast, and leukemia, and establishes criteria requiring exposure to occur during duty with a minimum five-year service period before diagnosis and a maximum 15-year window after leaving active service. The legislation creates a legal presumption that such deaths result from line-of-duty exposure unless medical evidence proves otherwise, while also defining carcinogens based on international research classifications. These changes directly affect public safety officers and their families by broadening eligibility for benefits under existing state statutes.

Maddy summaryHF 3352 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Minnesota to issue bonds and incur public debt specifically for public information technology systems, licenses, and infrastructure. If approved by voters in 2026, the amendment would add this purpose to the state constitution's list of authorized uses for public debt. The bill does not change current law but requires voter approval to permit state borrowing for these technology-related capital costs. This affects state government operations by enabling new funding mechanisms for IT infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHF 3771 changes the annual reporting deadline for Minnesota's disaster assistance contingency account from January 15 to January 31. The bill requires the commissioner of management and budget to submit an annual report detailing state disaster funding appropriations and expenditures to the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee by the new deadline. This report covers spending under the disaster account, which funds state cost-sharing for federal disaster aid, public disaster assistance, and emergency watershed programs. The change is procedural and does not alter the account's funding mechanisms or eligibility for assistance.