Rep. Matt Bliss

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 1849 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit Minnesota's governor and lieutenant governor to two terms each. If approved by voters in 2026, the amendment would change the state constitution to state that no person may be elected more than twice to either office. The amendment requires a statewide vote at the 2026 general election with a specific ballot question asking voters to approve term limits beginning in 2030. This change would affect all future governors and lieutenant governors, but would not apply to terms served before 2030.

Maddy summaryThis bill temporarily suspends the state motor fuels tax in Minnesota for a specific period in 2026, directly affecting drivers, fuel retailers, and businesses that purchase gasoline and diesel. Under the legislation, the tax rate is set to zero cents per gallon or per thousand cubic feet for all fuel types during the designated timeframe, which begins shortly after the bill is enacted and ends in early September 2026. To offset the lost revenue from this suspension, the state will transfer money from its general fund to the Department of Transportation to cover the costs that would have been collected from fuel taxes. The bill also allocates a one-time appropriation to the Department of Revenue to cover the administrative expenses required to implement this temporary tax pause.

Maddy summaryHF 3540 amends Minnesota's Human Rights Act to explicitly protect veterans from discrimination. It adds "veteran or military status" to the list of protected characteristics in employment, housing, public accommodations, public services, and education. The bill defines "veteran or military status" to include active/reserve military members and veterans as defined in federal law. This means employers, housing providers, and public services cannot discriminate against individuals based on their military service or veteran status. The change makes existing anti-discrimination protections apply to veterans in all covered areas of Minnesota law.

Maddy summaryHF 3532 expands eligibility for burial in Minnesota state veterans cemeteries to include honorably discharged National Guard members and other reserve component veterans, along with their spouses and dependent children. It modifies existing rules to explicitly cover these new groups while maintaining fee-free burial for active-duty service members and veterans as defined by federal law. The bill also establishes a fee schedule for the new eligibility group and requires the Veterans Affairs commissioner to create a policy for waiving fees for indigent applicants. These changes directly affect National Guard/reserve veterans and their families seeking burial in state cemeteries.

Maddy summaryHF 3684 establishes rules for Minnesota's competitive grants administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. It requires nonprofits applying for these grants to be Minnesota-based, operating for at least five years, in good standing with the Attorney General, and with a current IRS Form 990. Grants can only fund services for Minnesota veterans, their immediate family members (spouses or children under 22), or families of veterans who died in service, with priority given to veterans with health disabilities. Nonprofits must report annually starting in 2027 on services provided, program outcomes, and financial details, while the commissioner may withhold funds for fraud or misconduct.

Maddy summaryHF 1333 requires Minnesota to issue at least two moose hunting licenses annually through a public lottery and two through a public auction, with all applicants paying a $25 nonrefundable fee. The bill creates a "moose research account" funded by license fees and auction revenue, which must be used to study moose mortality, calf survival, disease, and habitat needs. It restricts lottery eligibility to Minnesota residents who haven't held a moose license since 1991, while auctions are open to all eligible applicants. The legislation amends existing statutes to implement these license distribution methods and direct funds toward specific moose conservation research goals. This directly affects residents seeking moose hunting permits and funds state wildlife management efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Minnesota laws to clarify how state funds for off-highway motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and all-terrain vehicles can be used. It allows money from specific accounts to be granted to organizations that help maintain trails, enforce safety rules, and educate the public on responsible vehicle operation. The legislation also requires these organizations to train participants on identifying and reporting invasive species while working on public lands. Additionally, the bill ensures that all funding distributions for trail construction and maintenance align with the state's comprehensive outdoor recreation plan.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state of Minnesota to issue up to $7,267,000 in bonds to fund a waste management project for the Prairie Lakes Municipal Solid Waste Authority, which serves five counties. The funds will be used to build an ash recovery and recycling plant that processes ash from landfills into road construction materials and recovers metals, as well as a waste transfer station to handle municipal and demolition waste. The money comes from the bond proceeds fund and will be distributed through the Pollution Control Agency to Otter Tail County, which manages the joint powers board for the authority. This legislation focuses on funding infrastructure improvements for regional waste management rather than changing existing regulations or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill cancels a specific funding allocation of $0 from the state's general fund that was originally designated for veterans under the 2025 budget. The cancellation takes effect immediately upon the bill's final passage and remains in force until June 30, 2026. As a procedural measure, the legislation does not alter any existing programs or services but simply removes a previously approved line item from the budget.