Rep. Dave Baker

Maddy summaryHF 3687 modifies Minnesota's medical assistance and MinnesotaCare coverage for chiropractic services. The bill removes the previous age restriction (limiting coverage to those under 21) and establishes new rules: chiropractic care for spinal pain, chronic conditions, and related services is covered for all ages, but limited to 24 visits per year without prior authorization. It also restricts x-ray coverage to specific spine examinations necessary for diagnosing subluxation. This affects all MinnesotaCare and medical assistance recipients seeking chiropractic care, changing coverage from age-limited to broadly applicable with visit and x-ray restrictions. The changes take effect January 1, 2027, or after federal approval.

Maddy summaryHF 12 restricts participation on female-designated sports teams in Minnesota K-12 schools to students identified as female at birth, based on specific medical criteria. It requires students in disputes about sex to provide a physician's statement confirming their sex using three factors: reproductive anatomy, natural testosterone levels, and chromosome analysis. The bill directly affects public and private schools offering girls' sports teams and students seeking to join them. It amends Minnesota education law to take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would exempt Minnesota local governments and school districts from complying with state mandates unless the state provides funding to cover the costs of compliance. The bill defines a state mandate as any requirement that affects daily operations, changes resource allocation, or alters spending priorities for these entities. If passed, it would allow local governments to formally refuse compliance through a resolution if they believe funding is insufficient, while also creating a process for agencies to contest these decisions through hearings. The amendment would be submitted to voters at the 2026 general election and would take effect on January 1, 2027, if approved.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Minnesota's drug overdose prevention program to include eight specific strategies for addressing substance use across different populations. It requires the state health commissioner to expand services for people experiencing homelessness, improve workplace support for recovery, enhance surveillance systems, and create targeted programs for pregnant individuals and their children. The legislation also establishes a new Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative to encourage employers to adopt policies that support employees struggling with substance use disorders.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases medical assistance reimbursement rates for complex outpatient visits in Minnesota, specifically targeting chronic and intractable pain care. The legislation adds a new provision that raises payment rates by ten percent starting January 1, 2027, for outpatient evaluation and management visits that include a specific coding designation for chronic pain. This change applies to physician and professional services billed through medical assistance programs and requires managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans to adjust their capitation payments accordingly. The bill directly affects healthcare providers treating chronic pain conditions and the state's medical assistance program budget.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Minnesota workforce development board to create a subcommittee that reviews applications from nonprofit organizations and recommends which ones should receive funding from the workforce development fund. The subcommittee must conduct outreach to inform nonprofits about the application process and evaluate applicants based on their legal standing, financial transparency, past funding history, employee compensation, and track record of success. After reviewing applications, the subcommittee must submit a report to the legislature by January 1 of each odd-numbered year starting in 2027, detailing recommended funding amounts and purposes grouped by service type. The bill amends existing state law to establish this new reporting and review process for workforce development fund appropriations.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the membership composition of two Minnesota advisory councils: the Explore Minnesota for Business Council and the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council. The changes update who can serve on these councils, including adding specific industry representatives, adjusting the number of members, and incorporating new categories like Dakota and Ojibwe representatives on the business council. The tourism council membership is reduced from 35 to 25 voting members, while the business council membership is adjusted to include more small business and startup representatives. Both councils will continue to advise state agencies on promoting Minnesota's economic and tourism interests, with updated requirements for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in their advisory roles. The bill also adjusts meeting frequency requirements and clarifies provisions for conducting meetings using electronic means.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $200,000 from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to provide a grant to Helping Paws, Inc. for breeding, training, and placing service dogs for individuals with physical disabilities, veterans and first responders with service-related PTSD, and professionals working in courthouse, educational, and mental health settings. The funding is designated as a one-time honorarium in memory of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. The commissioner of health may also accept private donations to supplement the state appropriation, with all such funds deposited in a dedicated account that expires on July 1, 2028.

Maddy summaryHF 485 amends Minnesota law to allow the Public Utilities Commission to issue certificates of need for new nuclear power plants with a maximum capacity of 300 megawatts. This change permits the construction of smaller-scale nuclear facilities, which were previously prohibited under existing statute. The bill specifically modifies Minnesota Statutes section 216B.243 to add this exception while maintaining the ban on larger nuclear projects. It directly affects nuclear developers seeking to build these smaller plants and the commission responsible for reviewing such applications.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Minnesota's commissioner of health to award grants for peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs and training that prepares high school students to serve as peer mentors. The program targets students in grades 9 through 12 and allows grants to go to school districts, charter schools, alternative schools, and nonprofit organizations. Funded programs must be research-based and supervised by qualified adults, with trained students engaging in supportive conversations, identifying warning signs of mental health crises, and referring peers to trusted adults when needed. The bill also requires training on recognizing suicide risk, active listening skills, and how to connect students with appropriate support resources.