Rep. Paul Novotny

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's organized retail theft law to explicitly include gift card fraud as a form of retail theft. It defines "retail merchandise" to cover all gift cards (both physical and digital) and specifies that the "value" of stolen gift cards includes their full face value. Retailers and law enforcement will now have a clearer legal framework for prosecuting gift card fraud under existing organized retail theft statutes. The change takes effect August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1410 amends Minnesota's Peace Officers Discipline Procedures Act to explicitly include local correctional officers under the existing disciplinary framework. The bill changes definitions in Minnesota Statutes to clarify that "correctional officer" means someone employed in a security role at a local correctional or detention facility, and specifies that the discipline procedures apply to these local facilities. This means local correctional officers will now be covered by the same disciplinary processes that currently apply to state and municipal peace officers. The change ensures consistency in how disciplinary actions are handled for all security personnel working in correctional settings across Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies eligibility requirements for noncommercial radio stations to receive state grants in Minnesota and provides a one-time appropriation of $165,000 for fiscal year 2027. The legislation updates staffing requirements from two full-time employees to 1.5 full-time or equivalent part-time staff, adjusts minimum daily broadcasting hours based on the station's year of eligibility, and clarifies that stations with primarily religious or in-school programming do not qualify. The funds will be distributed through the Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations to support member stations with resources, software, training, and assistance for consolidating expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's laws regarding employment and occupational licensing restrictions for people with criminal convictions. It requires hiring and licensing authorities to consider evidence of rehabilitation, including military honorable discharge, release orders, and documentation showing compliance with probation or parole. The legislation also mandates that when an applicant is denied employment or a license due to a criminal record, the authority must provide written notice explaining the reasons and outlining the process for reapplication. These changes aim to create a more structured framework for evaluating applicants with prior convictions while maintaining transparency in the decision-making process.

Maddy summaryHF 1082 establishes the Minnesota Victims of Crime Account, funded by increased fees/penalties from criminal cases and additional general fund transfers. It appropriates specific funds for fiscal years 2026-2027 to provide grants to organizations that received crime victim service grants in 2024. These grants must support direct services for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and general crime - including client assistance, housing supports, culturally responsive programming, and prevention efforts like restorative justice. The bill requires services to prioritize underserved communities and reflect Minnesota’s diversity, with up to 10% of funds allowed for grant administration.

Maddy summarySF 3868 prohibits the placement or operation of virtual currency kiosks (physical machines for buying/selling cryptocurrency) within Minnesota. It directly affects businesses that operate such kiosks by banning their activity statewide. The bill creates a new legal provision (Minnesota Statutes § 53B.691) explicitly stating this prohibition and repeals all existing statutes (53B.69-53B.75) that previously defined virtual currency kiosk operations and related terms. This represents a complete ban on physical cryptocurrency kiosks in Minnesota, replacing the prior regulatory framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota law to allow county commissioners to enter into agreements with other government units for services that those units are authorized to provide themselves, even if the county does not currently have the specific power to perform that service. The legislation also mandates that county sheriffs must sign agreements with federal agencies to carry out authorized federal functions without needing prior approval from the county board. By creating these exceptions to the usual requirement that all parties in an agreement must share common powers, the bill expands the ability of local governments to collaborate on service delivery and fulfill federal mandates.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's rules on employment and licensing disqualifications for people with criminal convictions by shifting from an automatic ban to a case-by-case assessment of rehabilitation. It requires employers and licensing agencies to consider evidence such as honorable military discharges, release orders, time served without new convictions, and letters of reference when deciding whether to hire or license someone with a criminal record. Additionally, the bill mandates that if an applicant is denied a job or license due to their criminal history, the authority must provide written notice explaining the reasons, the appeal process, and the earliest date they can reapply. These changes aim to create a more individualized evaluation process while maintaining accountability through required documentation and notification procedures.

Maddy summaryHF 482 establishes "Choose Life" special license plates for Minnesota motor vehicle owners. To obtain these plates, applicants must pay a $25 initial fee and $25 annual contribution to a dedicated "Choose Life account," in addition to standard registration fees. Funds collected are deposited into this account and distributed by Choose Life Minnesota, Inc., to non-profit agencies within each county that assist pregnant women making adoption plans - excluding any agencies involved in abortion services or charging fees for services. The bill also specifies plate design requirements (featuring the "Choose Life" logo and inscription) and limits administrative costs for the program to 15% of funds. The program becomes effective January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 3452 classifies kratom as a Schedule II controlled substance in Minnesota, subjecting it to strict state regulations similar to opioids. The bill adds mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (the active compounds in kratom) to Schedule II, making unauthorized possession or sale illegal without a prescription. It repeals a prior law that only set penalties for selling kratom to minors or for minors possessing it. This change directly affects individuals who use or sell kratom, including businesses that currently sell kratom products, by applying full Schedule II restrictions.