Rep. Zack Stephenson

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $200,000 from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to provide a grant to Helping Paws, Inc. for breeding, training, and placing service dogs for individuals with physical disabilities, veterans and first responders with service-related PTSD, and professionals working in courthouse, educational, and mental health settings. The funding is designated as a one-time honorarium in memory of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. The commissioner of health may also accept private donations to supplement the state appropriation, with all such funds deposited in a dedicated account that expires on July 1, 2028.

Maddy summaryHF 3455 renames Minnesota's State Office Building at 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in St. Paul as the "Melissa Hortman State Office Building." The bill requires the revisor of statutes to update all official references to the building in Minnesota Statutes and Rules. This is a ceremonial renaming with no policy changes or direct impact on residents or government operations.

Maddy summaryHF 970 requires original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of farm equipment to provide independent repair shops with necessary tools, parts, and documentation on fair and reasonable terms. It directly affects Minnesota farmers and independent repair providers by ensuring they can access repair resources without being forced to use manufacturer-approved services or pay excessive fees. Key provisions include prohibiting OEMs from imposing unreasonable restrictions (like requiring repair shops to become authorized dealers) or charging more for parts/tools than they offer to their own authorized providers. The bill amends Minnesota law to define terms like "authorized repair provider" and "fair and reasonable terms" to clarify these requirements. This applies specifically to digital electronic farm equipment, aiming to increase repair options and reduce costs for farmers.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's HF 1269 requires health insurance plans to cover all FDA-approved medical services and prescription medications for treating dementia, including diagnostic tests to assess treatment effectiveness. It also prohibits health plans from using "step therapy" (requiring patients to try cheaper drugs first) for dementia treatments. The bill modifies prior authorization rules for certain medications, ensuring automatic 60-day coverage for brand-name mental health drugs when generics become available, and streamlines approval for oral liquid drugs used with feeding tubes. These changes apply to health plans offered in Minnesota starting January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 63 modifies Minnesota school board membership by requiring public school districts to select two student members starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Student members must be enrolled in grades 9-12, reside in the district, and be chosen through a process allowing all eligible students to vote. These student members gain voting rights on all board matters, serve two-year terms, and may serve no more than two terms. The bill directly affects all Minnesota public school districts and their student populations, aiming to increase student voice in school governance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires sellers of emotional support dogs to provide written notice to buyers stating that the dog is not a service animal and does not have the special training required for service dogs. The notice must be printed in bold 12-point type and included on the purchase receipt or a separate document, informing buyers that the dog is not entitled to the legal rights and privileges granted to service animals. Additionally, the bill increases criminal penalties for intentionally misrepresenting an emotional support dog as a service dog, raising the offense from a petty misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor for repeat violations. These changes apply to all sales of emotional support dogs and take effect on August 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 3739 names Minnesota's Trunk Highway 610 as the "Hortman Memorial Highway." This bill requires the state transportation commissioner to install signs identifying the highway by its new name, replacing or adding the name to existing route signage. It directly affects travelers on Highway 610 and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, which must implement the signage changes. The bill does not alter highway maintenance, funding, or traffic rules - only the official name displayed on signs. This is a commemorative naming bill with no substantive policy changes beyond signage.

Maddy summaryHF 2516 requires Minnesota public school districts and charter schools to adopt cell phone use policies by March 2025, prohibiting phones and smartwatches for K-8 students and restricting them to classrooms for grades 9-12 starting in 2026-2027, with exceptions for medical needs or disability accommodations. The bill appropriates funds for a statewide awareness campaign about screen overuse (2026-2027) and provides one-time grants to schools for implementing the policy, covering only one-time expenses like equipment, not staff salaries. It directly affects all Minnesota K-12 public schools and students, aiming to address concerns about cell phone impacts on behavior and academic performance. The funding mechanisms include specific annual appropriations for campaign costs and school implementation grants.

Maddy summaryMinnesota bill HF 1855 requires veterans benefits service providers (who charge fees) to be federally accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It prohibits these providers from guaranteeing specific benefits or benefit amounts to veterans or their families. The bill mandates written disclosure statements and fee agreements before services are provided, and establishes civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation for noncompliance. This directly affects veterans seeking assistance with benefits appeals and the service providers offering those services.

Maddy summaryHF 2819 provides $3.3 million in one-time funding from the general fund to build wastewater infrastructure on the Red Lake Reservation. The bill directs the Public Facilities Authority to grant this money to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians for constructing a wastewater stabilization pond and associated water/sewer lines in the Little Rock District. This funding directly supports the reservation's water infrastructure needs and is available until the project is completed. The appropriation is effective upon final enactment and aligns with existing state infrastructure grant procedures.