Rep. Joe Schomacker

Maddy summaryHF 729 expands Minnesota's medical assistance program to cover face-to-face care evaluations for home care planning, directly benefiting seniors and disabled residents needing home care services. The bill modifies payment rates for homemaker services, home health agencies, and home care nursing, while establishing a grant program to train home care professionals. It requires counties to report on implementation and appropriates funding for these changes. These updates aim to improve access to personalized home care assessments and support service providers through revised reimbursement structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the creation of a centralized online portal and database for tracking certified payrolls on all state projects that must follow prevailing wage rules. Contractors working on these projects will need to submit detailed payroll information, including worker classifications, hours worked, and wage rates, which will be publicly accessible and searchable. The system will use electronic forms with digital signatures, and submitting through this portal will satisfy existing reporting requirements, while the state will allocate funding to cover the costs of developing and maintaining the system.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Minnesota's Department of Human Services to temporarily stop medical assistance payments to providers while investigating allegations of kickback fraud, without requiring prior notice or a hearing. It expands the state's definition of fraud to explicitly include illegal kickbacks and requires the department to update its rules to reflect this change. The legislation also mandates that providers receive written notice within five days of any payment suspension, explaining the general reasons while protecting ongoing investigation details, and outlines procedures for appealing the decision. Additionally, the bill authorizes the department to impose fines for incomplete documentation and requires forfeited payments to go to the state or managed care organizations when fraud is proven.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's North Star Promise scholarship program by adding new eligibility requirements and obligations for recipients. It limits scholarships to students pursuing degrees in high-demand Minnesota industries and occupations, which will be reviewed every three years based on employment data. The bill also requires scholarship recipients to live and work in Minnesota for five years after graduation, with provisions for loan conversion if they fail to meet this requirement, along with options for waivers and deferments under specific circumstances.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary exception to Minnesota's standard assisted living facility requirements for two specific buildings in Otter Tail and Hennepin Counties. It allows a three-story building in Otter Tail County and a four-story building in Saint Anthony to apply for assisted living licenses despite not meeting typical site, physical environment, and fire safety standards. The exception for the Otter Tail County facility expires on December 31, 2025, while the Hennepin County exception expires on December 31, 2026. This legislation directly affects the two named facilities by permitting them to operate under modified regulatory conditions.

Maddy summaryHF 3378 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Human Services to immediately release unredacted initial reports produced by Optum, Inc. under contract with the Department of Human Services. These reports, defined as those announced in a February 6, 2026 department news release, must be made public without edits or redactions - except for limited redactions requested by Optum to protect proprietary information. The bill directly affects the Department of Human Services' reporting obligations and ensures public access to these documents. It takes effect 14 days after final enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies rules for assisted living facilities in Minnesota that can house six or fewer residents, requiring them to be located at least 650 feet away from similar existing facilities unless specific exceptions apply. It also updates licensing procedures by requiring the commissioner to review an applicant's past compliance history before granting licenses and mandates that local governments receive notice 30 days before new small facilities are licensed. Additionally, the bill allows health and human services commissioners to delegate inspection authority to county agencies and adjusts reporting requirements for maltreatment cases involving vulnerable adults. These changes aim to improve oversight and coordination while maintaining flexibility for small residential care programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's mortgage foreclosure process to allow for online sales and the use of private selling officers, directly affecting homeowners, lenders, and foreclosure professionals. It requires foreclosure notices to include specific details about online sale websites and private officer contact information, while also clarifying rules for calculating damages when notice requirements are not properly followed. The legislation updates statutory language to reflect these new sale methods and ensures foreclosure advice notices clearly inform homeowners about their options and available help resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $11 million for fiscal year 2026 and $11 million for fiscal year 2027 from the state general fund to support senior nutrition programs under Minnesota Statutes §256.9752. It directly provides funding for existing programs that serve older Minnesotans, such as meal delivery and congregate dining services. The bill does not change program rules but ensures dedicated state funding for these services over two fiscal years. The funding will help maintain access to nutrition support for seniors, particularly those with limited income or mobility.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates state funding to the Minnesota health professional education loan forgiveness program specifically for physicians specializing in obstetrics and gynecology who practice in designated rural areas. The funds, appropriated for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, will be used to repay education loans for eligible OB/GYN physicians working in rural communities. If there are not enough qualified OB/GYN applicants to use all the allocated money, any unused funds will be carried over to the next biennium and distributed among other eligible medical professions. The legislation modifies existing state distribution rules to prioritize this specific specialty group in rural settings.