Rep. Mary Franson

Maddy summaryHF 490 appropriates $25 million from state bond proceeds to fund Phase One improvements for the Alexandria Lake Area Sanitary District's (ALASD) regional water reclamation facility. The funds will cover design, engineering, construction, and equipment for upgrades to the facility. The state will issue bonds to raise the required funds, with the money granted to ALASD through the Public Facilities Authority. This directly affects ALASD's infrastructure operations and service delivery to its community.

Maddy summaryHF 437 repeals a Minnesota law that prohibited the use of air admittance valves (AAVs) in plumbing venting systems. AAVs are small mechanical devices that allow air into drain pipes without requiring traditional roof vents. The bill removes this restriction from the state's plumbing code, permitting plumbers and builders to use AAVs in new construction and renovations. This is a technical code change affecting plumbing standards, not a broader policy shift.

Maddy summaryHF 418 creates a grant program for small Minnesota cities with populations under 2,000 that maintain fire service contracts with other municipalities and handle at least 50 annual fire/rescue calls. The grants fund the design, construction, and equipment of shared facilities housing city services (including firefighting) in one building, or the installation of air handling systems to address vehicle exhaust in fire dispatch buildings. The state will appropriate money from bond proceeds to fund these grants, authorizing the sale of state bonds to cover costs. This bill directly affects eligible small cities seeking to improve municipal facility infrastructure through targeted funding.

Maddy summaryHF 414 reduces the filing fee for complaints about government data practices in Minnesota from $1,000 to $200. This bill directly affects individuals or organizations filing formal complaints alleging violations of Minnesota's data practices laws against government entities. The key change is the reduced fee requirement for submitting a written complaint under Minnesota Statutes § 13.085, which must detail factual claims of legal violations. The bill does not alter complaint procedures, deadlines, or other requirements beyond the fee amount. This change aims to lower barriers for those seeking to address potential government data misuse.

Maddy summaryHF 345 establishes a legal right for patients or residents in Minnesota healthcare facilities to have one chosen support person present during care. It requires licensed providers (like hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities) to allow this without restrictions, except for clinically necessary reasons, and to provide written policies explaining any limitations. Key provisions include ensuring minors' support persons aren't restricted by visitation hours, accommodating family during end-of-life care, and requiring virtual options if in-person visits aren't possible. Violations carry a $500 daily civil penalty. The bill directly affects patients/residents, their chosen support persons, and all licensed healthcare facilities in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HF 139) increases annual cost-of-living adjustments for retirees in Minnesota's Public Employees Police and Fire Retirement Plan and State Patrol Retirement Plan. It raises the standard adjustment from 1% to up to 1.5% annually (based on federal Social Security COLA), and shortens the required waiting period from 36 months to 12 months for full benefits. Retirees receiving benefits for less than 12 months will now get a pro-rated increase based on months served. The changes take effect for adjustments starting January 1, 2026, and apply automatically unless retirees opt out in writing.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota law updates family court rules to ensure unmarried parents are treated the same as married couples when determining child custody and parenting time. The bill mandates that courts prioritize scheduling expedited hearings within 30 days if a parent is denied access to their child for 14 consecutive days or faces financial hardship during a legal dispute. It also establishes new rights and responsibilities regarding assisted reproduction and directs the state to modernize legal terminology used in family law statutes. These changes aim to support children's relationships with both parents while providing faster relief for urgent situations involving access or support.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the professional dispensing fee for pharmacies in Minnesota from $10.77 to $11.55 for specific prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The change applies to legend drugs, compounded intravenous solutions, and certain over-the-counter medications dispensed in quantities equal to or greater than the manufacturer's original package. The legislation also clarifies how payment rates are calculated based on drug costs, outlines rules for billing long-term care facilities, and sets standards for specialty pharmacy products.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Bail Abatement Nonprofit Exclusion (BANE) Act to prohibit nonprofit organizations from using their funds to pay bail on behalf of individuals arrested. Under the new law, nonprofits are barred from organizing or registering specifically to make payments to courts to satisfy bail conditions. The measure directly affects charitable groups and other nonprofit entities by restricting their ability to engage in bail-related financial activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $1.9 million in bonds to fund improvements at the Pope-Douglas Solid Waste Management materials recovery facility. The funds will be used by the joint powers board to purchase and install capital equipment and other infrastructure upgrades for recycling operations. This financial support is intended to supplement previous grants provided in 2020 and 2023 for the same facility. The legislation takes effect immediately upon final passage by the legislature.