Rep. Jim Joy

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summaryHF 3298 establishes a reimbursement program for owners of underground petroleum storage tank systems to replace outdated pressurized single-walled steel piping. This directly affects property owners and operators of gas stations or similar facilities with these specific piping systems. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to add a new provision (115C.09, subdivision 3l) allowing reimbursement from the existing petroleum tank release cleanup fund for the cost of replacing this piping. The program covers eligible piping between storage tanks and dispensers, excluding the tanks themselves or other site improvements. This creates a concrete financial mechanism to address a known safety and environmental risk associated with this aging infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3637) clarifies that optometrists, like physicians, may issue prescriptions authorizing medical window tinting for vehicles. It amends Minnesota law to allow prescriptions specifying medical needs (e.g., light sensitivity), including required details like the minimum light transmittance percentage, temporary/permanent status, and a two-year expiration. This directly affects drivers who require medically necessary window tinting for health conditions. The change ensures optometrists can legally support such prescriptions, aligning with existing medical exemption rules for vehicle windows.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's gambling laws by increasing the maximum cash prize for paddle tickets from $70 to $200 and raising the maximum ticket price from $2 to $5. It directly affects gambling organizations that sell paddle tickets, which are a type of lottery game. The changes are made to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 349.211, subdivision 2b, which governs paddlewheel prizes.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies prize and ticket limits for paddlewheel gambling in Minnesota. It directly affects organizations that operate paddlewheel games by changing the maximum cash prize to $70 and setting a merchandise prize limit at $200 fair market value. The legislation also increases the maximum ticket price from $2 to $5. These changes update Minnesota Statutes 349.211, subdivision 2b to reflect the new gambling regulations.

Maddy summaryHF 1849 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit Minnesota's governor and lieutenant governor to two terms each. If approved by voters in 2026, the amendment would change the state constitution to state that no person may be elected more than twice to either office. The amendment requires a statewide vote at the 2026 general election with a specific ballot question asking voters to approve term limits beginning in 2030. This change would affect all future governors and lieutenant governors, but would not apply to terms served before 2030.

Maddy summaryThis bill temporarily suspends the state motor fuels tax in Minnesota for a specific period in 2026, directly affecting drivers, fuel retailers, and businesses that purchase gasoline and diesel. Under the legislation, the tax rate is set to zero cents per gallon or per thousand cubic feet for all fuel types during the designated timeframe, which begins shortly after the bill is enacted and ends in early September 2026. To offset the lost revenue from this suspension, the state will transfer money from its general fund to the Department of Transportation to cover the costs that would have been collected from fuel taxes. The bill also allocates a one-time appropriation to the Department of Revenue to cover the administrative expenses required to implement this temporary tax pause.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota counties and cities to lose state funding if they reject development projects that would have increased their local property tax base. Under the law, the state Department of Revenue would calculate a penalty equal to the lost tax growth and cut the affected government's financial aid for the following year. Local officials must report the details of denied projects to the state by July 1, and the funding penalty continues until the jurisdiction's tax capacity grows enough to offset the lost value. The measure is designed to financially discourage local governments from blocking projects that expand the tax base, with an effective date of June 30, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that optometrists, in addition to physicians, can issue prescriptions for tinted vehicle windows when medically necessary. It directly affects drivers and passengers who need specific window glazing materials to address vision-related medical conditions. The key provision allows optometrists to specify the minimum light transmittance percentage and expiration dates for such prescriptions, with provisions for relying on prescriptions issued to family members or dependents. The changes apply retroactively to July 1, 2025, and update Minnesota's vehicle safety statutes regarding tinted windows.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $1 million in state funding to counties, municipalities, and townships to help them plan and develop regional drinking water systems. The money can be used for planning activities like feasibility studies, engineering analyses, and community engagement to support shared water infrastructure projects. Local governments must contribute at least 25% of the grant amount in matching funds, and each recipient can receive up to $300,000 per year. The state health commissioner must create an application process by November 2026 that prioritizes projects addressing aging infrastructure, water quality, affordability, or economic development, and submit a progress report by January 2027.