Rep. Lucy Rehm

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's school bus regulations by updating the definition of school buses to include vehicles used for employee training, clarifying weight classifications for different bus types, and requiring USDOT identification numbers on all school buses. It also adjusts first aid kit requirements for school buses and authorizes the use of school buses on public roads for training purposes under specific conditions. Additionally, the bill maintains existing safety rules requiring vehicles to stop at least 20 feet away from stopped school buses with flashing red lights and prohibits non-school buses from being painted yellow or equipped with school bus markings.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for impersonating a police officer in Minnesota. It upgrades the base offense to a felony (up to 2 years in jail or $4,000 fine) and creates a new crime for impersonating while carrying a firearm (up to 10 years in jail or $20,000 fine). The bill also requires anyone pretending to be a law enforcement officer to identify themselves when asked and imposes harsher penalties if they commit other crimes while impersonating an officer (e.g., a misdemeanor becomes a gross misdemeanor). It directly affects individuals who falsely pose as police officers, including those using fake uniforms, vehicle markings, or equipment to mimic law enforcement.

Maddy summarySF 3210 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by public or private entities receiving state funding in Minnesota. The bill requires these organizations to provide reasonable accommodations and ensures people with disabilities cannot be excluded from services or denied benefits due to their disability. It specifically bans the denial of access to service animals in public places like restaurants and hotels, and prohibits charging extra fees for service animals. This law directly affects state-funded organizations and individuals with disabilities across Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to modify how Minnesota's permanent school fund is invested, managed, and distributed to school districts. The key change would require the fund to be managed as a perpetual resource that preserves its purchasing power over time while providing annual distributions to support schools without raising individual taxes. The amendment establishes a board of investment led by the governor, state auditor, secretary of state, and attorney general, and prohibits the use of state funds to underwrite municipal securities. If approved by voters in 2026, the new policy would take effect on July 1, 2027, with specific rules for calculating distributable amounts and handling investment gains and losses.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the state Public Utilities Commission from issuing route permits for carbon dioxide pipelines that are longer than 1,000 feet or that cross, go under, or pass through public waters. It directly affects companies seeking to build or operate these pipelines in Minnesota by requiring them to obtain a permit for any project, while simultaneously banning applications for exemptions from standard route selection procedures. The legislation defines a carbon dioxide pipeline as any line transporting the substance in liquid, gaseous, or supercritical states within the state and sets these specific restrictions into law immediately upon enactment.

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 summaryThis bill establishes a price ceiling for specific prescription drugs in Minnesota that are subject to federal Medicare drug price negotiations. It requires drug manufacturers to stop accepting payments higher than the federal "maximum fair price" for these medications, while also ensuring pharmacies receive at least that amount or the national average cost, whichever is higher. To enforce these rules, the law prohibits manufacturers from removing drugs from the market to evade price limits unless they provide advance notice, and it mandates that health plans and pharmacy benefit managers share detailed financial data with the state's Prescription Drug Affordability Board. The provisions will take effect on January 1, 2027, impacting drug manufacturers, health insurance plans, pharmacy benefit managers, and pharmacies operating in the state.

Maddy summaryHF 2354 strengthens Minnesota's response to Medicaid fraud by expanding the Attorney General's authority to subpoena records from entities like phone companies, financial institutions, and healthcare providers. It establishes criminal penalties for submitting false Medicaid claims, including fines up to $100,000 and up to 20 years in prison for fraud exceeding $35,000, with lesser penalties for smaller amounts. The bill directly affects Medicaid providers and individuals who submit fraudulent claims for medical assistance funds. Key mechanisms include new subpoena powers for investigations and tiered penalties based on the value of the fraudulent claims. The law amends existing statutes (256B.12, 609.467) and repeals outdated provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for filing vehicle title transfers in Minnesota from 10 days to 20 days, giving car buyers and dealers more time to complete paperwork after a sale. It also updates eligibility requirements for rental vehicle license plates by defining auto rental companies as businesses that primarily rent at least 50 vehicles at daily rates. The legislation clarifies that dealers must submit title applications and related taxes within 20 days of selling a vehicle to Minnesota customers, while exempting sales to out-of-state buyers. These changes apply to vehicle owners, dealers, and rental companies operating under Minnesota law.

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.