Rep. Xp Lee

Maddy summaryHF 3741 modifies Minnesota's educational assistance program for veterans' families, providing an annual $750 stipend for eligible children and spouses of veterans. It affects children and spouses of deceased veterans (including those who died in service), prisoners of war, or missing in action personnel who meet residency requirements and maintain satisfactory academic progress at Minnesota public institutions. The bill specifies the stipend cannot be used by individuals who have already earned a bachelor's degree. It updates definitions to clarify eligibility criteria and repeals an outdated provision, ensuring funds are directed to qualifying family members pursuing higher education in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 5149 restricts law enforcement from making civil immigration arrests at court facilities and surrounding areas to protect individuals attending legal proceedings. The bill defines 'civil arrest' as taking someone into custody for immigration violations and explicitly prohibits this action within courthouses, parking lots, and nearby sidewalks. It also establishes protections for court companions, such as family members and advocates, by extending these arrest restrictions to anyone accompanying a person to court. Additionally, the legislation modifies laws related to concealing identity and expands investigations into police use of force.

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 summaryThis bill introduces new regulations in Minnesota to restrict the ownership and sale of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, while also banning the sale of binary trigger systems. It expands criminal penalties for possessing dangerous weapons in schools and for negligently storing firearms, and it specifically criminalizes the manufacture and sale of untraceable "ghost guns." Additionally, the legislation strengthens the state's extreme risk protection order system, requires law enforcement to report firearm discharges more comprehensively, and allocates funding to support public awareness campaigns and mental health services.

Maddy summaryHF 3024 establishes a "Foster Youth Bill of Rights" in Minnesota for children and youth in foster care, including those up to age 21 in extended foster care. It guarantees specific rights, such as receiving care matching what non-foster youth peers receive, protection from abuse (including verbal harassment and hate speech), access to belongings, and culturally appropriate services. The bill explicitly prohibits physical discipline, chemical restraints, excessive medication, group punishment, and neglect that denies these rights. These provisions aim to standardize care quality and ensure foster youth receive support aligned with their age, development, and cultural background.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Minnesota to cover cancer screenings for breast, colorectal, prostate, cervical, and lung cancers in accordance with current American Cancer Society guidelines. The law mandates that these plans provide coverage for all recommended examinations and follow-up tests without imposing any cost-sharing requirements, such as co-pays, deductibles, or coinsurance. Effective January 1, 2027, the provisions will apply to any health plan that is offered, issued, or renewed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Minnesota Business Recovery Loan Program to provide financial assistance to businesses that have suffered revenue losses exceeding 30% due to staffing shortages or disruptions caused by increased immigration enforcement activities. The program allocates $100 million in one-time funding, with $18 million designated for zero-interest loans to businesses in greater Minnesota and $82 million for zero-interest loans to businesses in the seven-county metropolitan area through nonprofit lenders. To qualify, businesses must be Minnesota-based, in good standing, and demonstrate that their revenue decline stems from immigration-related events between the bill's enactment and December 1, 2025. Loan amounts vary by business size and location, ranging from $25,000 to $200,000, and funds must be used exclusively for business operations within Minnesota rather than debt repayment or real estate investment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires a ten percent reduction in state aid to any Minnesota county or city that displays a state flag different from the design certified by the State Emblems Redesign Commission. To enforce this penalty, local governments must notify the commissioner of revenue by December 31 each year if they have used the incorrect flag, and the aid reduction applies to payments made in the following year. The law takes effect for aid distributed in 2027, directly impacting local municipalities that choose to fly a flag other than the officially certified version.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals previous tax exemptions that allowed certain preferred seats and amenities at athletic events to be sold without sales tax. It also provides funding for safe harbor shelter and housing grants to support individuals experiencing homelessness. By removing the exemptions, the legislation ensures that these specific stadium seats and related amenities are now subject to standard sales tax like other retail items. The funding provision aims to allocate state money directly to organizations assisting with shelter and housing needs.