Rep. Joe Schomacker

Maddy summaryHF 2299 modifies how Minnesota's Medicaid program pays for enteral nutrition equipment (like feeding tubes) and other medical supplies. It requires the state to establish individualized payment rates for specific items - including customized tracheostomy tubes, electric patient lifts, and durable medical equipment repair - instead of using standard rates. This change directly affects medical equipment providers and the state's Medicaid program, which will now set separate reimbursement amounts for these items. The bill also clarifies that Medicare competitive bidding does not influence these new payment rates for Medicaid-covered services.

Maddy summaryHF 2160 sets statewide payment rates for day training and habilitation services for people with disabilities, effective January 2026. It requires case managers to conduct annual in-person evaluations to ensure individuals receive clear information about service options and make informed choices, including annual face-to-face visits. The bill also mandates that contracted case management services meet cultural responsiveness standards, ensuring care respects diverse backgrounds, values, and communication needs. These changes directly affect people receiving human services, county agencies, and service providers operating under Minnesota’s waiver programs. The bill amends specific sections of Minnesota Statutes to implement these rate-setting and evaluation requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 2038 modifies Minnesota's Waiver Reimagine program, which provides community-based services for people with disabilities under 65. It establishes a new Legislative Task Force on Waiver Reimagine (including legislators, waiver recipients, disability advocates, and agency staff) that must review and approve the commissioner's plan before federal submission. The bill requires the commissioner to submit a detailed report by December 2026 on Phase II plans, including individual budget adjustments based on need (not location), and mandates a six-month public input period for waiver recipients. This directly affects people receiving waiver services, their case managers, and county social services administrators by restructuring the approval process and transition to a needs-based budget system.

Maddy summaryHF 2213 updates Minnesota's Children's Mental Health Act by setting new qualifications for case managers and case manager associates working with children with severe emotional disturbances. It requires case managers to have specific education (like a bachelor's in behavioral sciences) or experience, plus annual supervision (38 hours) and continuing education (30 hours every two years). The bill also codifies an existing intermediate school-linked behavioral health grant program into law, ensuring its permanent funding. These changes directly affect county human services staff, schools, and children receiving mental health services under the program. The bill focuses on standardizing professional requirements to improve service coordination for at-risk youth.

Maddy summaryHF 2050 establishes a temporary $12.35 per resident day payment increase for nursing facilities in Minnesota that receive state reimbursement under Chapter 256R of Minnesota Statutes. This rate add-on applies from July 1, 2025 (or after federal approval, whichever is later) through June 30, 2026. The bill directly affects nursing facilities providing long-term care services, increasing their reimbursement rates during this specific period. The change is a temporary funding adjustment with no ongoing policy impact beyond the specified expiration date.

Maddy summaryHF 2250 removes the Minnesota Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board's authority to use expedited rulemaking for updating workforce standards. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 181.213, subdivision 3, and related sections to eliminate the board's ability to adopt new rules or adjust existing ones through the faster "expedited rulemaking process" under section 14.389. This change requires the board to follow standard rulemaking procedures for any updates to minimum nursing home employment standards, including wage rules and worker training requirements. As a result, future revisions to these standards will likely take longer to implement.

Maddy summaryHF 1166 creates a $500,000 annual grant program (for fiscal years 2026-2030) to expand access to assistive technology and remote support services for Minnesotans with disabilities. The grant is awarded to nonprofit organizations meeting specific criteria, requiring them to fund training for service providers, schools, and individuals with disabilities; support advocacy groups; and develop accessible resources. Recipients must submit annual reports by June 30 detailing training participants, impacts on quality of life and safety, and final evaluations after the grant period ends. This bill directly affects disability service providers, advocacy organizations, and people with disabilities by improving technology access and community participation.

Maddy summaryHF 1924 exempts sales and use tax on construction materials purchased for Cottonwood County's Public Works Maintenance Facility in Windom, effective retroactively from December 20, 2024, through December 31, 2026. Purchasers pay the tax upfront but receive a full refund from the state's general fund, with refunds delayed until after June 30, 2025. This directly affects Cottonwood County for this specific project by reducing construction costs.

Maddy summaryHF 1937 establishes Minnesota's Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), creating a new service model for seniors aged 55+ who qualify for Medicaid or specific home care waiver programs. It allows PACE providers to coordinate both Medicare and Medicaid services under one program, replacing traditional home-based waiver services for eligible participants. The bill sets Medicaid rates for PACE providers to not exceed current fee-for-service costs and requires voluntary enrollment for participants. This directly affects elderly Minnesotans seeking integrated care and providers who may operate PACE programs.

Maddy summaryHF 819 establishes the Minnesota Sustainable Foraging Task Force to develop science-based recommendations for foraging regulations on state lands. The task force, composed of 16 diverse members including Indigenous knowledge holders, scientists, conservation representatives, and foraging advocates, must gather data on foraging impacts, review current rules, and create guidelines balancing public access with ecological protection. It is required to produce a report with specific, actionable recommendations - including a permitting model allowing volunteer options - by December 1, 2026. The bill directly affects Minnesotans who forage on public lands and aims to guide future regulations through data-driven, inclusive processes.