Rep. Ben Bakeberg

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Minnesota's tax laws to align with recent federal changes regarding the deduction for business interest expenses. It directly affects Minnesota businesses and individual taxpayers by modifying how state tax calculations reference federal tax code provisions. The legislation amends Minnesota Statutes section 290.01 to include specific federal public law sections related to business interest deductions and clarifies that these changes apply retroactively to match federal effective dates.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota handles background checks and maltreatment investigations for child care centers. It requires the state commissioner to notify child care license holders when a background study reveals an individual has been responsible for maltreating a minor, even if the person is not disqualified from working with children. Additionally, the bill makes child care center directors and license holders responsible for systemic maltreatment that occurs over more than one month or in more than two instances, requiring written documentation of these findings. The legislation also clarifies notification procedures for when individuals pose risks of harm, specifying different requirements based on the level of risk and whether continuous supervision is needed.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the operation and promotion of online sweepstakes games in Minnesota, which are defined as internet-based games that use a dual-currency payment system allowing players to exchange currency for prizes or cash equivalents while simulating gambling. It directly affects game operators, payment processors, financial institutions, and other service providers by banning them from supporting these activities within the state. The bill also requires the commissioner of public safety and attorney general to deny operations to anyone accepting revenue from these prohibited games and to enforce penalties for violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as Harvey's Law, requires licensed child care centers in Minnesota to install video security cameras in public and shared areas under specific conditions. Centers must have cameras if they are required to post a maltreatment investigation memorandum, with compliance needed within six months and maintained for four years. Additionally, starting in 2027, centers receiving certain state child care funding must also install and maintain these cameras. The law applies to facilities with public access areas and aims to enhance safety oversight through video monitoring requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 3542 requires Minnesota's Human Services and Children, Youth, and Families agencies to disclose within 30 days of a request whether they have reduced, suspended, or withheld payments related to an investigation of possible overpayments to service providers or recipients. This applies specifically to decisions about payment actions, not the full investigative details. The bill mandates this disclosure unless the agency determines it would compromise the ongoing investigation. It directly affects service providers and recipients who may have payments withheld during agency investigations.

Maddy summaryHF 3602 requires all Minnesota public schools (K-12) to develop and adopt evidence-based school safety plans by May 2028, with the Minnesota School Safety Center reviewing and approving these plans. The bill establishes a School Safety Advisory Council, appropriates funding for the Center to create a model safety plan, and mandates that schools include mental health support and positive climate efforts in their plans. Schools failing to adopt approved plans must notify parents and staff by August 2028, and the Center must publicly report on compliance by December 2028. The law defines "evidence-based" using research standards like experimental studies or strong research rationale, and requires the Center to employ at least two mental health professionals.

Maddy summaryHF 12 restricts participation on female-designated sports teams in Minnesota K-12 schools to students identified as female at birth, based on specific medical criteria. It requires students in disputes about sex to provide a physician's statement confirming their sex using three factors: reproductive anatomy, natural testosterone levels, and chromosome analysis. The bill directly affects public and private schools offering girls' sports teams and students seeking to join them. It amends Minnesota education law to take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1434 requires commercial websites sharing material harmful to minors (defined as content with sexual depictions lacking artistic value for minors) to verify users are 18+ if 25% or more of the site’s pages contain such material. It mandates age verification using approved methods like commercial databases, prohibits retaining user identifying information, and creates a private right of action for parents to sue violators. The Minnesota Attorney General can enforce the law through civil actions, and commercial entities face $25,000 penalties per violation. This bill directly affects websites meeting the 25% harmful content threshold and targets operators of commercial platforms accessible to Minnesota residents.

Maddy summaryHF 2685 requires Minnesota schools to designate interscholastic, intramural, or club athletic teams as "males," "females," or "coed" based solely on students' biological sex at birth. The bill specifically mandates that teams designated for "females" must only include participants who were biologically female at birth. This amendment to Minnesota Statutes section 123B.49 directly affects all public and private school athletic programs in the state. The policy change replaces existing team designation practices with a requirement tied to sex assigned at birth, impacting transgender and intersex student-athletes seeking to participate on teams matching their gender identity.

Maddy summaryHF 3127 modifies Minnesota's pass-through entity tax election process, allowing certain businesses (like partnerships and S corporations) to file a single tax return instead of requiring each owner to file individually. It specifies that qualifying entities must meet ownership thresholds (over 50% of qualifying owners) to elect this tax, and the election is irrevocable for the tax year. The bill clarifies that the tax amount equals each qualifying owner's income multiplied by Minnesota's highest individual tax rate, without allowing standard deductions. This directly affects pass-through business owners and entities filing under Minnesota Statutes 289A.08 and 290.06. The changes streamline tax filing for these entities while maintaining the tax calculation method.