Rep. Patty Mueller

Maddy summaryHF 3676 strengthens Minnesota's Safe at Home program, which provides confidential addresses for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The bill expands eligibility to include emancipated minors, requires court orders for guardianship applications, and clarifies that entities must use the program's confidential address exclusively for mail. It also establishes criminal penalties for knowingly disclosing a participant's real address or violating program confidentiality. This directly affects victims using the Safe at Home program by enhancing their safety protections and legal safeguards.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a permanent Commanders Task Force to advise Minnesota's governor, legislature, and Department of Veterans Affairs on issues affecting veterans and their families. The task force will be made up of elected leaders from eight specific veteran service organizations operating in Minnesota, including the American Legion, VFW, and Disabled American Veterans. Members will meet regularly, elect their own leadership, and serve as a communication bridge between state government and veteran organizations without receiving state compensation. The group will focus on providing recommendations related to veterans' services and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Maddy summaryHF 3489 establishes new safety rules for school field trips in Minnesota, requiring that school staff, contractors, or volunteers never be alone with students during any field trip (including overnight trips), effective July 1, 2026. The bill also adds "grooming" (defined under Minnesota Statute 609.352) as a specific criminal offense that automatically triggers license revocation for educators without a hearing if convicted. Additionally, it mandates school districts to report certain educator terminations or suspensions related to misconduct to licensing boards within 10 days. This bill directly affects school staff, school districts, and educator licensing boards by changing field trip protocols, expanding automatic license revocation grounds, and requiring new reporting procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to modify how Minnesota's permanent school fund is invested, managed, and distributed to school districts. The key change would require the fund to be managed as a perpetual resource that preserves its purchasing power over time while providing annual distributions to support schools without raising individual taxes. The amendment establishes a board of investment led by the governor, state auditor, secretary of state, and attorney general, and prohibits the use of state funds to underwrite municipal securities. If approved by voters in 2026, the new policy would take effect on July 1, 2027, with specific rules for calculating distributable amounts and handling investment gains and losses.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's gambling laws by increasing the maximum cash prize for paddle tickets from $70 to $200 and raising the maximum ticket price from $2 to $5. It directly affects gambling organizations that sell paddle tickets, which are a type of lottery game. The changes are made to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 349.211, subdivision 2b, which governs paddlewheel prizes.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies prize and ticket limits for paddlewheel gambling in Minnesota. It directly affects organizations that operate paddlewheel games by changing the maximum cash prize to $70 and setting a merchandise prize limit at $200 fair market value. The legislation also increases the maximum ticket price from $2 to $5. These changes update Minnesota Statutes 349.211, subdivision 2b to reflect the new gambling regulations.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 1943 prohibits pet shops (physical retail stores selling animals to the public) from selling or transferring ownership of cats and dogs, effective August 1, 2026. The bill allows pet shops to provide space for nonprofit animal shelters, humane societies, or 501(c)(3) rescue groups to offer animals for adoption, but pet shops cannot own the animals or charge fees for this space. It does not affect breeders, direct sales from breeders, or nonprofit adoption organizations themselves. The law aims to shift pet sales toward adoption-focused organizations while maintaining transparency requirements for pet dealers.

Maddy summaryHF 2627 prohibits pet shops (defined as physical retail stores selling animals to the public) from selling, offering to sell, or transferring ownership of cats or dogs. The bill directly affects retail pet shops operating in Minnesota, requiring them to stop selling these animals by August 1, 2026. However, pet shops may still host nonprofit animal rescues or shelters (501(c)(3) organizations) for adoption events, provided the shops don’t own the animals or charge fees for the space. The law does not restrict breeders, shelters, or adoption centers, only retail pet shops selling cats and dogs directly to customers.

Maddy summaryHF 3490 authorizes Minnesota to participate in a federal tax credit program by establishing rules for scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs). These SGOs must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits that spend at least 90% of funds on student scholarships, verify household income, prioritize returning students/siblings, and avoid targeting specific students. Organizations must report annually to the Minnesota Department of Education, which will post a public list of approved SGOs. The bill clarifies it does not grant schools additional control over nonpublic schools or their students.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of up to $5 million in state bonds to fund the Bioimaging Center at the Hormel Institute in Austin. The money will be used to design, build, and equip a renovated space dedicated to STEM and bioimaging education, workforce training, and K-12 engagement. The Austin Port Authority will manage the project, while the state's commissioner of management and budget handles the bond sale process. Once enacted, the funds will come from the state's bond proceeds fund to support these educational and training initiatives.