Rep. Fue Lee

Maddy summaryHF 3624 appropriates $5,392,000 from the general fund for Minnesota's food shelf programs in fiscal year 2027. The funding, added to the base allocation, supports existing food shelf operations under Minnesota Statutes section 142F.14, administered by the state agency for children, youth, and families. This bill directly affects community food shelves that provide emergency food assistance to Minnesotans in need, without changing program eligibility or creating new requirements. The measure focuses solely on providing dedicated state funding for current food shelf services.

Maddy summaryHF 3586 establishes a $10 million annual grant program for regional food banks and Minnesota Tribal governments in Minnesota, funded through the general fund for fiscal years 2027-2029. The program distributes funds based on poverty and unemployment data in each area, requiring grantees to use money for purchasing, transporting, and distributing food and hygiene products (like diapers) at no cost to recipients. Funds cannot cover staff salaries or other ineligible expenses, and grantees must report spending and maintain records for oversight. This bill directly supports food banks serving low-income individuals and families by expanding access to essential food and hygiene supplies.

Maddy summaryHF 1073 requires pipeline owners in Minnesota to follow specific steps when abandoning pipelines. Pipeline owners must notify landowners 60 days before ceasing operations and remove all abandoned pipelines, equipment, and infrastructure within 90 days after certifying the pipeline is purged of materials. They are also responsible for restoring land by replacing topsoil, establishing vegetation, and controlling invasive species for five years. Landowners can request removal or ask to leave pipelines in place by submitting written requests to pipeline owners and state agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale and use of paraquat dichloride, a pesticide, in Minnesota. Starting January 1, 2027, no one can sell or distribute this product, and by January 1, 2028, its use is also banned. The commissioner of agriculture must collect and dispose of any remaining stock of this pesticide and submit a report on its historical use and current supply chain status by January 1, 2028. The law directly affects pesticide sellers, distributors, and agricultural users who currently handle or apply this chemical.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the zoning authority of local governments in Minnesota by requiring them to allow certain housing types in specific areas. It applies primarily to municipalities with populations over 1,000 in the metropolitan area, while smaller communities are largely exempt. The law mandates that cities and towns permit mixed housing such as duplexes, triplexes, and townhouses in commercial districts and other zones that allow such development. Additionally, it requires municipalities to establish a standardized administrative review process for approving multifamily residential developments, ensuring consistent handling of housing requests across jurisdictions. These changes aim to increase housing options by reducing local restrictions on building types and streamlining approval procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals previous tax exemptions that allowed certain preferred seats and amenities at athletic events to be sold without sales tax. It also provides funding for safe harbor shelter and housing grants to support individuals experiencing homelessness. By removing the exemptions, the legislation ensures that these specific stadium seats and related amenities are now subject to standard sales tax like other retail items. The funding provision aims to allocate state money directly to organizations assisting with shelter and housing needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for meat processing training and retention incentive grant recipients to complete their projects, providing them with additional time to fulfill program requirements. It directly affects agricultural organizations and businesses that received funding under Minnesota's meat processing training and retention incentive programs. The legislation amends existing state law to modify the timeline for project completion without changing the funding amounts or eligibility criteria. This adjustment aims to accommodate potential delays in project implementation while maintaining the original financial support structure for these agricultural initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of state bonds to fund community tree-planting grants through the Metropolitan Council in Minnesota. It appropriates up to $5,000,000 from bond proceeds to support these grants, which will help communities plant trees. The bill requires the commissioner of management and budget to sell and issue state bonds following established legal procedures. Funding becomes available immediately after the bill is enacted, allowing the Metropolitan Council to distribute grants to eligible communities for tree-planting projects.

Maddy summaryHF 3478 appropriates $12.5 million in bond proceeds for demolition, design, and site preparation at the Centennial Office Building to prepare for future redevelopment, and $1.5 million from the general fund for mechanical and electrical upgrades at the Freeman Building to relocate cellular and fiber optic infrastructure. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $12.5 million in bonds to fund the Centennial improvements, repaid through bond proceeds. These provisions directly affect state operations at the Capitol complex by enabling preparatory work for two specific building sites. The funding focuses on concrete infrastructure changes to support future redevelopment plans, without specifying the final redevelopment project.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota bill creates a $100 million relief program to help small businesses that experienced significant revenue declines between July 2024 and February 2026, which the bill attributes to federal enforcement activity. The program provides grants to operators of indoor retail or food market spaces with at least 25 small tenant businesses, requiring that most funds be used to offer rent forgiveness to existing tenants. To qualify, businesses must be Minnesota-based, have fewer than 50 employees, operate from a physical location, and show at least a 20 percent drop in revenue or sales during the specified period. Grant applications will be processed through a lottery system, with funds usable for payroll, rent, utilities, inventory, and other operational expenses, and the state must report on the program's outcomes by December 2026.