Rep. Jess Hanson

Maddy summaryHF 3453 amends Minnesota Statutes section 152.027 to raise the legal age for possessing kratom from 18 to 21 years. It makes it a gross misdemeanor to sell kratom to anyone under 21 and a misdemeanor for anyone under 21 to possess it. The bill directly affects minors under 21 and businesses selling kratom, prohibiting sales to this age group and restricting their possession. The change applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2026. This is a substantive policy change altering age restrictions under Minnesota's controlled substances law.

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 summaryHF 1606 prohibits websites, apps, software, or programs from allowing users to access, download, or use technology that alters images or videos to reveal private body parts (defined as "nudification"). It directly affects platform operators who host such tools and individuals whose images are altered without consent. The bill creates civil lawsuits for victims, allowing them to seek triple damages, punitive penalties, and attorney fees, while imposing $500,000 civil penalties per violation on violators. It becomes effective August 1, 2025, targeting the unauthorized use of image-altering technology that could harm individuals' privacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the reporting requirements for Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management by establishing specific studies and an annual market analysis. The Office must conduct studies on industry growth, the illicit cannabis market, and impaired driving incidents, while also performing an annual review of license availability, market stability, and supply levels. These reports will be submitted to the legislature by January 15 each year, with an initial deadline of January 15, 2025, and may include public input from consumers and industry stakeholders. The legislation directly affects the Office of Cannabis Management and the regulated cannabis industry by formalizing data collection and analysis procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota calculates registration taxes for passenger automobiles and hearses, directly affecting vehicle owners and dealers. It establishes a new tax rate of 1.575 percent based on the manufacturer's suggested retail price for vehicles registered on or after November 16, 2020, while maintaining a slightly lower rate for older registrations. The legislation introduces a tiered tax devaluation schedule that reduces the taxable value of a vehicle by a specific percentage each year it remains in use, with the reduction amount varying depending on the vehicle's price range. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the tax calculation excludes the cost of optional accessories and destination charges, except for pre-2020 registrations.

Maddy summaryHF 3024 establishes a "Foster Youth Bill of Rights" in Minnesota for children and youth in foster care, including those up to age 21 in extended foster care. It guarantees specific rights, such as receiving care matching what non-foster youth peers receive, protection from abuse (including verbal harassment and hate speech), access to belongings, and culturally appropriate services. The bill explicitly prohibits physical discipline, chemical restraints, excessive medication, group punishment, and neglect that denies these rights. These provisions aim to standardize care quality and ensure foster youth receive support aligned with their age, development, and cultural background.

Maddy summaryHF 2380 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in services, programs, or activities receiving state funding in Minnesota. It directly affects public and private entities (like schools, hospitals, and businesses) that receive state money. The bill requires these entities to provide reasonable accommodations and bans exclusion or denial of benefits due to disability. It also specifically prohibits businesses from banning service animals or charging extra fees for them, defining "disability" broadly to include conditions substantially limiting major life activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurance plans in Minnesota from covering conversion therapy for minors under 18 and vulnerable adults, effective January 1, 2027. It also requires the commissioner of human rights to take appropriate actions to protect Minnesotans from conversion therapy, including investigating complaints against mental health practitioners who engage in such practices. The legislation defines conversion therapy using existing state law definitions and directs the commissioner to prioritize investigating discriminatory practices related to this issue. Health plans offered, sold, issued, or renewed to Minnesota residents after the effective date must comply with these coverage restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a legal cause of action allowing individuals who were minors when they underwent conversion therapy to sue mental health professionals for harm caused by those practices. It defines conversion therapy as attempting to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, and specifies that psychological harm includes conditions like depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. If a lawsuit is successful, the court can award damages, order the professional to stop the practice, and require payment of at least $50,000 to the injured person or their guardian. The law also allows parents or guardians to file suits on behalf of minors or when the affected individual is deceased or unable to participate.

Maddy summaryHF 2904 requires certain Minnesota school employers - including school districts, charter schools, and vocational education centers - to join the state's public employees insurance program. It establishes an "educator group insurance program" specifically for school employees, mandating coverage tiers that match existing school employee pool options and including high-deductible plans. The bill creates a labor management committee with 12 members (including seven from Education Minnesota and representatives from unions and school administrators) to study program issues like cost efficiency. It also requires mutual agreement between the commissioner and the committee before changing cost-sharing plans. This bill directly affects school employees and their employers by integrating them into the state's insurance framework with specific administrative structures.