Rep. Mary Franson

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.5 million from state transportation bond funds to Douglas County for planning an interchange between Interstate 94 and County State-Aid Highway 17. The funds will cover preliminary engineering and final design work for the project. The state will issue bonds to finance this appropriation, following standard state bond procedures. The direct beneficiary is Douglas County, which will use the funds to advance the interchange project's design phase. This is a funding measure for planning, not construction, and does not change existing highway operations.

Maddy summaryHF 3134 modifies Minnesota's school CPR/AED instruction law to include the Health and Safety Institute as an approved provider alongside the American Heart Association and American Red Cross. The bill amends statute 120B.236 to allow school districts to use training materials developed by the Health and Safety Institute, which must include hands-on practice. This change directly affects Minnesota public schools serving grades 7-12, as they may now incorporate this organization's curriculum into required CPR/AED instruction. The bill does not alter existing requirements but expands the list of qualified organizations authorized to develop the training materials.

Maddy summaryHF 1914 appropriates state funds for three key human services programs in Minnesota. It provides emergency services grants for immediate crisis support, county grants to address homelessness gaps (prioritizing Tribal Nation partnerships and interventions like 24/7 shelters), and funding for provider capacity-building collaboratives. The capacity-building program helps service providers access stable funding streams, including Medicaid waivers and housing support programs. These funds are allocated for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with unspent first-year money rolling over to the second year. The bill directly affects counties, service providers, and people experiencing homelessness by expanding access to crisis support and housing-focused services.

Maddy summaryHF 2242 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Human Services to select a single state pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) through a competitive bidding process. This PBM will handle all prescription drug claims for Minnesota's Medicaid (medical assistance) and MinnesotaCare programs, replacing the current system where multiple PBMs might be used. The bill mandates a master contract with this single PBM, specifies rules for drug coverage and reimbursement, and requires the commissioner to report on the program's operation. It also includes strict transparency requirements during procurement, such as disclosing potential conflicts of interest and financial ties between the PBM and pharmacies or drug manufacturers.

Maddy summaryHF 1340 amends Minnesota law to allow housing infrastructure bonds to fund adaptive reuse projects (converting existing buildings like offices or stores into housing) for permanent and supportive housing. It directly affects low-income households earning 50% or less of the area median income (AMI) and housing developers seeking bond financing. The bill expands existing bond program uses to specifically include adaptive reuse for these affordable housing projects, requiring new construction to meet accessibility standards (e.g., roll-in showers, sensory-accessible units). This change to Minnesota Statutes 462A.37, section 2, broadens the program’s scope without creating new funding.

Maddy summaryHF 1419 modifies how Minnesota reimburses nursing facilities for elderly care services. It introduces a "known cost change factor" based on the average annual minimum wage increase for nursing home workers approved by the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board. This factor adjusts reimbursement rates by multiplying facility costs by the factor before calculating payments per resident day. The changes apply to facilities licensed as nursing homes or both nursing homes and boarding care homes, affecting their state reimbursement rates starting January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 2371 requires healthcare providers to obtain written, informed consent before performing pelvic, breast, urogenital, or rectal examinations on patients who are anesthetized or unconscious. This applies to most situations, with limited exceptions for emergencies, exams within a previously consented-to procedure, or court-ordered evidence collection. Violating this requirement is a gross misdemeanor and may lead to disciplinary action by the provider's licensing board. The law takes effect August 1, 2025, directly affecting patients under anesthesia/unconsciousness and healthcare professionals performing such exams.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota law to clarify and limit optometrists' authority to prescribe or administer certain drugs. It specifically sets new time limits: oral antivirals may not be prescribed for more than 10 days, oral steroids for more than 14 days (requiring physician consultation), and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors for more than seven days. These changes apply directly to licensed optometrists in Minnesota who prescribe medications for eye conditions under the Board of Optometry's rules. The bill maintains existing restrictions on intravenous injections, invasive surgery, and Schedule II/III oral drugs.

Maddy summaryHF 1215 modifies how Minnesota's Department of Human Services handles licensing violations for providers operating multiple home or community-based services under Chapter 245D. It requires correction orders and conditional licenses (temporary restrictions) to apply only to the specific service site or program where violations occurred, not all sites operated by the same provider. The bill also mandates annual reports to legislators detailing the number of such orders, locations, staffing, and efforts to improve compliance. These changes aim to make enforcement more precise while adding requirements for providers to access legal assistance and for the department to partner with culturally specific organizations.

Maddy summaryHF 2843 appropriates $4.7 million from the state general fund for fiscal year 2026 to support a nonprofit organization in Roseville, Minnesota, to build a regional emergency disaster services center in Ramsey County. The center will provide facilities for strategic stockpiling of emergency supplies, multiagency disaster response coordination, and training for natural disasters, pandemics, and other emergencies. The state funds are contingent on securing at least 67% of the project costs from nonstate sources before disbursement. This bill directly affects Roseville residents and regional emergency response capabilities by enabling a dedicated facility for large-scale disaster management.