Rep. Jeff Backer

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for special agricultural homestead tax classifications in Minnesota by adding new qualifying relatives beyond the current list. It allows grandparents, grandchildren, children, stepchildren, siblings, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, parents, and stepparents to qualify as active farmers for homestead purposes if they meet specific ownership and residency requirements. The legislation maintains existing rules for noncontiguous land and flood-damaged properties while clarifying that qualifying relationships can be established through blood or marriage. Property owners must still meet acreage thresholds and residency distance limits to receive the tax benefits associated with agricultural homestead classification.

Maddy summaryHF 3553 authorizes a pilot project for automated vehicle platoons (groups of connected vehicles operating with minimal human control) on specific roads in Wilkin and Grant Counties, Minnesota. It requires applicants to submit detailed plans to both county road authorities and the state transportation commissioner for approval, including safety details, vehicle specifications, and operating times. The bill mandates counties to consult with law enforcement on safety concerns before approving projects and sets a 60-day timeline for decisions. The pilot is limited to defined routes between cities like Nashua, Breckenridge, Wolverton, and Foxhome, with a requirement to submit a final report after the project concludes.

Maddy summaryHF 3669 reduces Minnesota's watercraft licensing fees for most boat owners and operators. It cuts standard watercraft fees from $59 to $27, rental boat fees from $14 to $9, personal watercraft fees from $85 to $37.50, and dealer license fees from $142 to $67.50, among other reductions. The bill affects recreational boaters, rental businesses, nonprofit safety programs, and boat dealers by lowering their annual licensing costs. These changes take effect July 1, 2026, and repeal an outdated definition of "other commercial operation" in the statutes.

Maddy summaryHF 2516 requires Minnesota public school districts and charter schools to adopt cell phone use policies by March 2025, prohibiting phones and smartwatches for K-8 students and restricting them to classrooms for grades 9-12 starting in 2026-2027, with exceptions for medical needs or disability accommodations. The bill appropriates funds for a statewide awareness campaign about screen overuse (2026-2027) and provides one-time grants to schools for implementing the policy, covering only one-time expenses like equipment, not staff salaries. It directly affects all Minnesota K-12 public schools and students, aiming to address concerns about cell phone impacts on behavior and academic performance. The funding mechanisms include specific annual appropriations for campaign costs and school implementation grants.

Maddy summaryHF 7 modifies multiple public safety laws in Minnesota. It requires law enforcement agencies to make bail/bond information public and mandates county attorneys to publicly report reasons for dismissing charges. The bill establishes mandatory minimum sentences for certain sex trafficking offenses and requires individuals subject to stays in sexual conduct cases to register as predatory offenders. It also increases penalties for assaulting police officers, obstructing highway/airport traffic, and expands law enforcement's use of tracking devices on fleeing vehicles. These changes apply directly to law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and individuals involved in criminal cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's "Read Act" to require literacy instruction based on "science of reading" research, emphasizing evidence-based methods like phonics and decoding while explicitly excluding the three-cueing system. It establishes a new Office of Achievement and Innovation within the Department of Education to support literacy implementation and creates a statewide school performance reporting system. The bill also allows school boards to opt out of complying with certain recently enacted state education laws or rules and authorizes fund transfers for education programs through fiscal year 2029. These changes directly affect all Minnesota public school districts, educators, and students by reshaping literacy instruction requirements and school accountability systems.

Maddy summaryHF 1618 shortens the timeframe for county auditors and the secretary of state to provide voter list copies to registered Minnesota voters from 10 to two business days after a written or electronic request. Registered voters must pay reproduction costs for copies, but public access to voter lists remains free without cost. This amendment to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 201.091, aims to improve timely access to voter information while maintaining existing restrictions on using voter list data for non-election purposes.

Maddy summaryHF 1617 requires Minnesota election officials to test voting systems at least 10 days before absentee ballots are used. The bill mandates specific testing procedures to verify systems correctly mark ballots (including with assistive technology) and count votes for all candidates and questions, including testing for invalid votes. Public notice of test times must be given 5 days in advance, tests must be observed by two election judges from different major parties, and results must be available for public inspection within 24 hours. This bill directly affects county election officials and ensures transparency in pre-election voting system verification for Minnesota elections.

Maddy summaryHF 1619 amends Minnesota law to improve how voter registration status is maintained. It requires county auditors to post voting history within six weeks ten days after each election, and the secretary of state to change registration status to "inactive" for voters who haven’t voted in four years. This directly affects voters whose status changes, requiring them to re-register before voting in future elections. The bill clarifies that late or rejected mail ballots count for maintaining registration but not for public voting history lists. It ensures voter lists remain accurate by removing inactive voters while maintaining eligibility for those who re-register.

Maddy summaryHF 21 would require a three-fifths supermajority vote in both the Minnesota House and Senate to extend a peacetime emergency declaration beyond 14 days. Currently, such extensions beyond 14 days could be approved by the Executive Council, but this bill would shift that authority to the legislature. The bill directly affects governors seeking to prolong emergency powers and the legislative process for reviewing those requests. It does not change the initial 14-day emergency declaration period or the governor's authority to declare emergencies under existing criteria. Note: This bill was introduced but not passed during the 2025 legislative session.