Rep. Della Belatti

Maddy summaryHB 942 allocates state funds to the Department of Health for contracting health care services with community-based organizations. This bill directly affects local health organizations that provide services to residents, particularly in underserved communities. The key provision establishes a funding mechanism requiring the Department of Health to use these resources to partner with such organizations for service delivery. The bill was introduced on January 21, 2025, and referred to relevant committees for review.

Maddy summaryHB 913 allocates state funds to create new staff positions within the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources. This bill directly affects the division by enabling it to hire additional personnel for managing aquatic resources. It is a procedural funding measure with no policy changes, solely providing resources for staffing. The bill was introduced on January 21, 2025, and passed its first reading on January 23, 2025.

Adds psychology, physician assistant, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, clinical social worker, rehabilitation counselor, and school counselor students to the definition of "eligible student" under the qualifications for the healthcare preceptor tax credit. Amends the definition of "preceptor" by adding psychologists, physician assistants, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, clinical social workers, rehabilitation counselors, and school counselors to the list of preceptors eligible to receive the tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025.

Maddy summaryHB 887 requires human services providers (such as home care or childcare agencies) to pay workers the prevailing wage rate for similar work in their area. This means providers must pay standard local wages, not lower rates, for services like personal care or early childhood education. The bill directly affects agencies employing these workers by mandating fair compensation based on regional wage standards. It is a new legislative requirement currently pending introduction.

Adopts the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to allow a person authorized to practice psychology in a compact state in which the person is not licensed.

Maddy summaryHB 822 requires certain employers in the state to provide reproductive loss leave for their employees. This leave is specifically for employees experiencing pregnancy loss, such as miscarriage or stillbirth, and directly affects workers at covered employers. The bill establishes a new leave provision, mandating that eligible employers allow employees to take time off for this purpose without penalty or loss of benefits. The policy change focuses on creating a formal leave entitlement for reproductive loss events, separate from existing medical or family leave policies.

Prohibits the resetting of lease rents for long-term commercial leases above a level that is economic for the lessee's actual use of the property. Requires that a lessee whose long-term commercial lease has been terminated be compensated for the value of buildings, infrastructure, and businesses created by the lessee that will be retained by the lessor. Allows a lessee the right to purchase the property at fair market value.

Exempts the tax collected on the sale of groceries that are eligible under the supplemental nutrition assistance program or special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, regardless of the means of purchase and the program eligibility of the purchaser.

Maddy summaryHB 355 creates a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for homeowners who pay to retrofit their residences with wind-resistant devices. It directly affects taxpayers who incur expenses for qualifying storm-resistant home improvements. The credit reduces the homeowner's state income tax liability dollar-for-dollar based on eligible retrofit costs. This policy change provides a financial incentive for residential storm safety upgrades without generating tax refunds.

Maddy summaryHB 87 requires all public schools in the state to provide free breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill allocates state funds to cover the cost of these meals, ensuring schools can implement the program without additional local funding burdens. This policy directly affects all public school students and their school districts, which must adopt the universal meal program using the designated state appropriations. The legislation creates a concrete, statewide change in school nutrition access without specifying eligibility criteria.