Rep. Jim Piwowarczyk

Maddy summaryAB 124 prohibits individuals convicted of a violent crime from changing their name, with violations punishable as a Class H felony. The bill amends existing state laws to explicitly block all name change requests - whether through court orders or vital records updates - for people with such convictions. This applies to all name change processes, including those for birth records, marriage records, or court-ordered changes. The law does not affect name changes for individuals without violent crime convictions.

Maddy summaryAB 292 allows courts to use artificial intelligence or machine-assisted translation services instead of or alongside human interpreters in both civil and criminal court proceedings. It also updates rules to permit telephone or live audiovisual interpretation in criminal trials (beyond just non-trial stages) and clarifies that using AI translation does not require a waiver that would normally be needed for alternative interpretation methods. This bill directly affects court proceedings involving language barriers, expanding options for language assistance without mandating AI use. The law amends specific statutes to implement these changes, focusing on procedural flexibility for courts.

Maddy summaryAB 300 creates a state grant program to help local law enforcement agencies purchase automated license plate reader systems (high-speed cameras that scan plates and convert data for law enforcement use). The program requires at least half of the grant funds to go to agencies in rural areas (defined as cities/towns under 20,000 population, at least 15 miles from larger cities). Agencies must submit a spending plan to the Department of Justice for review before receiving grants, which are limited to public safety and crime prevention purposes. The bill does not apply to state-level agencies or require specific outcomes, focusing solely on funding access for local rural and urban law enforcement.

Maddy summaryAB 40 establishes a competitive grant program to fund school safety improvements and security training for school personnel. It allocates $30 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year to public, private, and tribal schools, with a maximum grant of $20,000 per school. The program prioritizes schools that have not previously received similar grants under Section 165.88 and requires annual reports to the Joint Committee on Finance. Grants must be awarded by June 30, 2027, after which no new funding will be issued.

Maddy summaryAB 230 requires physical retail stores to accept cash payments during face-to-face transactions with customers. It directly affects brick-and-mortar businesses selling goods or services in person, unless other laws prohibit cash acceptance. Retailers violating this rule face fines of $200 to $5,000 per violation, or court-ordered injunctions to stop the violation. The law does not apply to online sales or situations where cash acceptance is legally restricted.

Maddy summaryAJR 8 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the governor's partial veto power on budget bills. It would prevent the governor from rejecting small parts of a bill (like single words or sentences) and require that any vetoed section must be a complete, standalone law that can function independently. The bill specifically targets appropriation bills, restricting the governor to vetoing entire sections that are capable of separate enactment. This is a proposed constitutional change, not a law, and would need voter approval to take effect. The amendment aims to reduce the governor's ability to alter budget bills through partial vetoes.

Maddy summaryAB 27 expands eligibility for state veterans' benefits to include individuals who served in Laos supporting U.S. forces during the Vietnam War and were naturalized under the federal Hmong Veterans Naturalization Act of 2000. The bill updates state statutes to define these veterans as qualifying for property tax exemptions (under 36.27) and other benefit programs (under 38.24 and 45.01). It specifically adds them to eligibility criteria for benefits previously limited to other veteran categories. This change directly affects Hmong veterans residing in the state who meet the federal naturalization requirements. The bill passed committee unanimously and is now pending in the Rules committee.

Maddy summaryAB 172 creates a new consumer data protection law by defining key terms like "personal data," "biometric data," "sale of personal data," and "consumer" in section 100.80 of the statutes. This bill directly affects businesses that collect or process personal data of state residents, requiring them to follow standardized handling practices for such data. The law includes penalty provisions for violations, though specific penalty amounts and enforcement details are not provided in the available bill text.

Maddy summaryAB 303 creates a new state grant program to fund crisis intervention services for people contacting the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline from within the state. The bill requires the state department to award grants to organizations providing crisis care coordination to individuals who call or text 988. This directly affects crisis service providers that serve callers within the state's geographic boundaries. The key mechanism is a state-funded grant program administered by the department to support these organizations, ensuring consistent access to crisis care for 988 users. The bill does not change the 988 hotline's operation but provides state funding to support local crisis response services.

Maddy summaryAB 260 establishes a two-year pilot program providing school-centered mental health services to at-risk students and families in two schools per year (one rural, one urban/suburban). The program requires schools to already offer some behavioral health resources and agree to surveys/data sharing. It funds full-time therapists and family coaches to deliver year-round, evidence-based services - including in-school therapy, family coaching on mental health support, and connections to community health resources - while measuring impacts on students' mental health symptoms, academic performance, and basic needs like housing or food. A report on outcomes must be submitted to the legislature after the pilot ends.