Rep. Ethan Cha

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules for the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association and adjusts pension funding for Independent School District No. 625. It increases the pension adjustment rate for ISD 625 to 5.95% for fiscal year 2027 and later, while setting a lower rate of 1.25% for other districts starting in 2025. Additionally, the legislation raises employee contribution rates for the basic program to 11.25% in 2026 and 11.5% thereafter, and adjusts employer contribution rates for coordinated members. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026, with specific provisions for pension revenue calculations beginning in fiscal year 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $1.5 million from the arts and cultural heritage fund to the City of Minneapolis to create a public memorial honoring Renée Good and Alex Pretti. The memorial will feature statues, educational exhibits, and a space for community reflection, focusing on their deaths and the broader issues of civil rights and immigration enforcement. The project requires a collaborative planning process involving local residents, civil rights groups, artists, and historians, with oversight provided by a partnership including city officials and state legislators. While the state provides the initial funding, the city is permitted to seek additional private donations and partnerships to cover design, programming, and long-term maintenance costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Minnesota to permit residents to consume and display alcoholic beverages under specific conditions. The changes require that alcohol be consumed only by residents during resident-focused activities, with no one under 21 allowed to drink and all staff serving alcohol being at least 18 years old. Additionally, the bill prohibits selling alcohol or treating it as part of a commercial transaction within these facilities. The legislation directly affects nursing home operators, assisted living facility managers, and the residents who live in these care settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new 100% tax on money obtained through fraud by individuals or organizations, regardless of whether they have already paid fines or restitution. It applies to those convicted by a court, those identified by the state revenue commissioner as having committed fraud, and anyone paid to help facilitate such fraudulent activities. The revenue collected from this tax must be used exclusively to provide relief for state income or property taxes. The law takes effect retroactively for fraud cases determined after December 31, 2019.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota bill creates a $100 million relief program to help small businesses that experienced significant revenue declines between July 2024 and February 2026, which the bill attributes to federal enforcement activity. The program provides grants to operators of indoor retail or food market spaces with at least 25 small tenant businesses, requiring that most funds be used to offer rent forgiveness to existing tenants. To qualify, businesses must be Minnesota-based, have fewer than 50 employees, operate from a physical location, and show at least a 20 percent drop in revenue or sales during the specified period. Grant applications will be processed through a lottery system, with funds usable for payroll, rent, utilities, inventory, and other operational expenses, and the state must report on the program's outcomes by December 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota state agencies to pay certain interns at least $15 per hour. It applies specifically to interns who qualify for federal Pell Grants based on financial need and are enrolled full-time (nine semester credits or equivalent) in school. The law excludes interns already eligible for unpaid positions under federal labor rules. It defines "state intern" broadly to include those working in executive, legislative, or judicial branch roles. The policy directly affects student interns in state government positions meeting these financial and enrollment criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's film production tax credit program to encourage more local hiring and production outside the state's seven-county metro area. It directly affects film and television production companies operating in Minnesota by changing eligibility requirements and credit amounts. The key changes include increasing the base tax credit from 25% to 40%, with an additional 5% credit available for projects that hire Minnesota residents in key creative roles, film outside the metro area, or employ a majority of local crew members. The bill also lowers the minimum project spending threshold from $1 million to $400,000 for general film projects and $150,000 for television commercials, while maintaining a total annual credit cap of approximately $25 million.

Maddy summaryHF 1531 permanently removes the June 30, 2025, expiration date from Minnesota's law allowing crossbow hunting and fishing during regular archery seasons. This change affects hunters targeting deer, bear, turkey, common carp, or native rough fish using crossbows during designated seasons. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 97B.037 by deleting the sunset provision, making the crossbow allowance permanent. Hunters must still meet standard requirements, including valid licenses and crossbow specifications under section 97B.106.

Maddy summaryHF 3564 extends deadlines for specific parks and trails grants awarded under Minnesota's parks and trails fund. It extends funding availability for five projects: the Mesabi Trail (St. Louis/Lake Counties), Oxbow Park (Olmsted County), Kraemer Lake/Wildwood County Park (Stearns County), Plum Creek Park (Redwood County), and Robinson Quarry Park (Sandstone) through June 30, 2027 or 2028. The bill also modifies the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission's structure, including changing how its chair is elected from annual to biennial and updating reporting requirements. These changes ensure existing grant projects can continue using allocated funds beyond their original deadlines.

Maddy summaryHF 3571 allows watershed districts in Minnesota to cover their own employee health insurance costs (excluding life insurance) instead of purchasing group policies, a change previously limited to cities, counties, and school districts. The bill requires these self-insurance plans to meet state certification standards, provide all legally required benefits, and involve consultation with employee representatives before implementation or dissolution. It also permits multiple watershed districts to jointly self-insure under shared rules and clarifies that employees represented by unions may opt into the district’s plan at their own expense. The legislation updates existing statutes to include watershed districts in these health benefit options while maintaining key safeguards for employees.