Rep. Ben Bakeberg

Maddy summaryHF 2113 exempts small Minnesota employers with 50 or fewer employees from the state's paid leave requirement. This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 268B.01, to explicitly exclude such employers from the paid leave mandate. Small businesses that currently meet the 50-employee threshold will no longer be required to provide paid leave under this law. Employers with 50 or fewer employees may still choose to opt into the paid leave program if they wish. The bill directly affects small business owners and their employees in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires drivers to stop at least 20 feet away from a school bus displaying flashing red lights while children are boarding or exiting. It directly affects all drivers approaching school buses on Minnesota roads, mandating they remain stopped until the red lights cease flashing. The bill also adds a new provision warning drivers that amber lights indicate red lights will soon activate, requiring them to prepare to stop. These changes aim to improve safety for children near school bus stops. The bill is currently pending passage after committee approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill temporarily suspends the hospital surcharge that Minnesota hospitals must pay to the state's medical assistance account. It amends existing state law to prohibit the 1.4 percent to 1.56 percent fee starting July 1, 2026, through July 1, 2027. The surcharge applies to most Minnesota hospitals but excludes federal Indian Health Service facilities and regional treatment centers. The change is set to take effect immediately upon final enactment of the legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Minnesota commissioner to create rules mandating that schools implement comprehensive, multilayered security systems to protect students from armed attacks. The law directs that specific security measures be finalized through a rulemaking process and may include bullet-resistant doors and windows, ballistic wall panels, remote lock-down systems, unified emergency communication networks, and access control systems for first responders. Schools would also need classroom duress alarms, staff training on emergency protocols, and secure electronic access controls for building entrances and distribution rooms. The bill directly affects school districts and the Minnesota commissioner responsible for state fire code regulations.

Maddy summaryHF 3650 establishes a voluntary framework for Minnesota public schools to connect high school students with career-focused learning experiences like internships, job shadowing, and employer-engaged projects. It requires coordination between schools, workforce agencies, and colleges to align programs with job market needs, using personalized learning plans as a foundation for career exploration. Participation is optional for school districts and charter schools, with the state providing centralized resources and guidance to support implementation. A report on the framework’s progress must be submitted to the legislature.

Maddy summaryHF 3421 requires Minnesota teacher preparation programs to provide a supervised early literacy field experience for teacher candidates who will teach early literacy, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year. The field experience must align with evidence-based reading practices, be integrated with reading instruction, and occur primarily during school hours with structured feedback. The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must develop rules defining which teaching areas require this experience and ensuring its effective implementation. The bill also appropriates funds for this rulemaking process, effective July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a grant program in Minnesota to fund safety improvements at public and private schools, including day care centers. The program allows schools to apply for money to upgrade physical safety features like bullet-resistant doors, remote lock-down systems, and emergency communication tools. A state safety center will manage the grants and maintain a list of approved vendors to ensure quality installations. Public schools can only use bond proceeds for major building improvements, while other entities may access funds for both capital and non-capital safety projects. The bill also requires schools to submit detailed applications explaining their safety needs and project costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires social media platforms to report behavioral threat assessments to educational facilities and religious institutions in Minnesota when users pose a potential threat of targeted violence. The legislation defines key terms such as social media platforms, user-generated content, and targeted violence to establish clear boundaries for compliance. Platforms must implement systems to identify and report threats while protecting user privacy and maintaining existing safety protocols. The bill directly affects social media companies operating in Minnesota and institutions that receive threat reports, creating a new reporting framework for potential violence scenarios.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the amount of property value that can be excluded from Minnesota estate taxes to $4 million for estates of people who die after December 31, 2025. It directly affects Minnesota residents who own property located in the state and are required to file an estate tax return. The law raises the threshold for when a return must be filed and adjusts the tax calculation to allow for a larger subtraction from the taxable estate. These changes align Minnesota's estate tax rules with updated federal standards and apply to estates of decedents dying after the end of 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 3396 establishes a property tax task force to investigate rising property taxes across Minnesota counties, cities, and school districts. The task force, composed of 6 members including legislators, local government leaders, and the state revenue commissioner, will study causes of tax increases and recommend ways to improve transparency in local government budget reporting. It must submit a report with these recommendations to the legislature by January 15, 2027, which will then require a public hearing during the next legislative session. This bill creates a process for studying property tax issues but does not change current tax laws or rates.