Rep. Steve Gander

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities. The funding supports the Council's work to preserve and raise awareness about the history of Minnesotans with developmental disabilities. It will be used for activities like creating exhibits, videos, print materials, and traveling displays. The direct beneficiaries are Minnesotans with developmental disabilities and the Council's efforts to document their history. The bill makes no changes to eligibility or services, solely providing funding for historical preservation.

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 363 establishes a $5 per acre property tax credit for agricultural land certified under Minnesota's agricultural water quality program in specific counties (Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha, and Winona). This credit directly affects farmers who have land certified by the Department of Agriculture under the water quality program in those counties. The credit reduces property taxes payable to local governments, with the state reimbursing counties and school districts through annual appropriations from the general fund. Payments for the credit will begin for property taxes due in 2026.

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 487 appropriates $600,000 total ($300,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027) from the state general fund to provide a grant to Wellness in the Woods. The funding supports daily peer support and special sessions for three specific groups: individuals in substance use recovery, people transitioning out of incarceration, and those who have experienced trauma. The grant is administered through the commissioner of human services. This is a direct funding mechanism for community-based mental health and recovery services.

Maddy summaryHF 381 modifies how Minnesota calculates rates for home and community-based waiver services and increases room and board rates for individuals receiving these services. It requires service providers to submit detailed data (like staffing hours, ratios, and transportation miles) to a central rates management system, with lead agencies required to approve rates within 30 business days or pay a 10% late penalty. The bill also creates an exception process for individuals with "exceptional needs" that cannot be met under standard rate formulas, allowing for alternative payment rates. These changes directly affect service providers, lead agencies (like county human services departments), and individuals receiving home and community-based care, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 2658 creates a refundable sales and use tax exemption for construction materials used in two specific East Grand Forks projects: the Civic Center Sports Complex and the VFW Memorial Arena. Businesses purchasing qualifying materials for these projects between November 30, 2025, and December 31, 2029, will pay the tax upfront but receive a full refund. The exemption applies to materials used in construction, reconstruction, expansion, or renovation of these facilities. Funding for the refunds comes from the state general fund, as specified in the bill.

Maddy summaryHF 2211 allocates $3.6 million from the general fund for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Minnesota Commissioner of Health. This funding is specifically for grants to local and Tribal health departments to support substance misuse prevention, education, and recovery programs under Minnesota Statutes §144.197, subd. 4. The bill directly affects health departments that will receive these grants to expand community-based services. It does not create new requirements but provides dedicated funding for existing program frameworks focused on addressing substance misuse.

Maddy summaryHF 2598 appropriates $1,936,000 from the health care access fund to the Commissioner of Human Services for one-time grants to navigator organizations. These are organizations with active MNsure grant services contracts that helped enroll people in medical assistance or MinnesotaCare during Q2 2025. The grant amount for each organization is based on the number of successful enrollments they assisted during that period. Funds are available until June 30, 2027, and are specifically for organizations currently serving as MNsure navigators.