Sen. Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger

Maddy summarySF 3980 modifies debt financing rules for Minnesota school districts, counties, and port authorities. School districts can now issue bonds for facilities without counting toward debt limits (with public notice of bond amounts and current debt required). Counties gain streamlined bond issuance (no election needed) but must include projects in capital improvement plans and provide public notice 10-28 days before hearings. Port authorities must set bond maturity so the first payment is due within three years and the last within 30 years. These changes aim to simplify local government borrowing while maintaining transparency and planning requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 974, the Equal Access to Broadband Act, updates Minnesota's broadband laws by defining key terms like "broadband" (meeting FCC standards for high-speed internet), "underserved areas" (lacking 100/20 Mbps wired service), and "broadband infrastructure." The bill requires broadband providers to coordinate with local governments when placing infrastructure in public rights-of-way, including notifying them before installation to minimize future disruptions. It preserves local governments' authority to require franchises from broadband providers, while excluding electric cooperatives and satellite-only providers from these requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 211 provides $4.8 million in state funding to expand the East Metro Public Safety Training Facility in Maplewood. The bill appropriates money from bond proceeds to cover design and engineering costs for new training buildings, infrastructure, parking, stormwater management, and land acquisition. It authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $4.8 million to finance this expansion, which directly affects Maplewood city and the facility's public safety training operations. The funds will support specific facility improvements, including upgrades to existing fire training burn buildings.

Maddy summaryHF 1944 amends Minnesota law to require all state agencies, counties, cities, and towns to use federal standard time (not daylight saving time) year-round starting in 2025. It changes how time is referenced in state law to align with federal standards, meaning state government operations and references to time must follow federal rules. The bill automatically expires if federal law ever permits states to adopt year-round "advanced standard time." It directly affects all Minnesota local and state government entities that reference time in their operations or laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill would ban the possession of specific semiautomatic military-style assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines in Minnesota, directly affecting firearm owners and dealers. It defines prohibited weapons by listing specific models like AK-47s and AR-15s, while also including firearms with certain features such as pistol grips, folding stocks, or magazines holding more than ten rounds. The law establishes criminal penalties for violating the ban and amends existing state statutes to clarify what constitutes a prohibited weapon.

Maddy summarySF 932 would establish the Minnesota Health Plan, a state-run health care program requiring all Minnesota residents to be covered. The plan mandates comprehensive coverage for medical, dental, vision, mental health, prescription drugs, and long-term care, with no co-pays and premiums based on income. It creates new entities including the Minnesota Health Board and Health Fund to manage the plan, and requires providers to accept the plan without restricting care. The bill directly affects all Minnesota residents, including temporary out-of-state residents and border community visitors, while allowing existing retiree benefits to continue.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's personal property tax rules to exempt certain affordable housing tenants from being taxed on property they lease. It directly affects lessees of properties owned by public charity institutions that provide housing for low-income individuals and qualify for property tax exemptions. Under the new provisions, such leased property would not be considered the lessee's property for tax purposes, meaning tenants would not be responsible for personal property taxes on these assets. The changes apply to the assessment year 2026 and all subsequent years.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires cannabis business license applications in Minnesota to be available in both English and Spanish, making the application process more accessible to Spanish-speaking applicants. The law amends existing statutes to mandate that all required application forms and supporting documents be translated into Spanish, ensuring non-English speakers can fully understand and complete the licensing requirements. The provision takes effect on January 1, 2027, and applies to all new and renewing cannabis business license applications. The bill does not change the substantive requirements for obtaining a license but focuses on language accessibility in the application process.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public utilities in Minnesota to create detailed plans for building thermal energy networks, which distribute heat and hot water through underground pipes. The legislation applies to utility companies that operate or control equipment for furnishing thermal energy services to the public, but excludes municipalities, cooperatives, and small providers serving fewer than 25 people. Under the new requirements, utilities must submit plans that include project descriptions, cost estimates, construction schedules, and strategies for using local labor and apprenticeship programs. The plans must also address customer transition strategies if the network replaces existing gas service and describe how the utility will seek financial incentives to offset project costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Minnesota's grants management rules by expanding the commissioner's duties to create statewide policies, oversee agency compliance, and maintain a central contact point for reporting issues. It allows agencies to let specific grant recipients spend funds up to 60 days before official accounting records are updated, provided there is an approved work plan and budget. The legislation also broadens the definition of who counts as a grant recipient for criminal conviction clauses to include key personnel and anyone with fiduciary responsibility over grant funds. These changes aim to improve oversight, streamline administrative processes, and clarify accountability across state grant programs.