Rep. Kim Hicks

Maddy summaryHF 2377 requires all Minnesota public, private, and charter school staff - including teachers, administrators, and support personnel - to have access to annual, evidence-based relationship-building and de-escalation training. The training focuses on fostering inclusive school cultures, preventing conflicts, and responding appropriately to escalated situations, with specific components covering positive student relationships, restorative discipline, and recognizing escalation stages. The bill appropriates $ for fiscal year 2026 to fund grants for school districts and charter schools implementing this training, prioritizing districts that meet state requirements. Schools adopting the training may receive priority for state professional development funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the wage calculation framework for staff working in family residential services in Minnesota, directly affecting service providers and employees in this sector. It establishes specific formulas for determining base wages for various staff roles, such as supervisors, nurses, and direct care workers, by tying their pay to median wages for comparable occupations. The legislation also introduces a temporary lower wage rate for asleep-overnight staff that applies until 2027 or federal approval, while other staff categories receive wage calculations based on weighted percentages of median wages for related job classifications.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a previous requirement that assumed a $250 million reduction in special education funding for the 2027-2028 biennium and subsequent years. Under the new provisions, the state commissioner of management and budget will no longer be required to forecast this specific funding cut when preparing revenue and expenditure forecasts. The legislation also removes the mandate that the legislature must identify enacted provisions from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Special Education to offset the assumed funding reduction. If savings from those provisions fall short of $250 million, the commissioner of education would no longer be required to reduce the special education cross subsidy aid factor to make up the difference. The changes take effect the day following final enactment of the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates state money from the general fund for fiscal year 2027 to support mobile crisis services and nonemergency medical transportation providers in Minnesota. The commissioner of human services will distribute these funds as mobile crisis grants and start-up grants for protected transport. Specifically, the money can be used to purchase or configure vehicles that meet protected transport requirements. The measure impacts organizations providing crisis intervention and medical transportation services to the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new trust fund to manage income benefits, such as Social Security and veteran payments, for children currently in foster care and those who recently left the system. It allows the agency responsible for the child to act as the payee for these funds during the child's placement, ensuring the money is used specifically for the child's care rather than being commingled with general agency funds. The law also mandates that children aged 13 and older, along with their guardians and legal representatives, receive clear written notice about how these benefits are being handled. Additionally, the bill requires state agencies to track and report data on the number of children receiving these benefits and the total amounts collected.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state of Minnesota to use a lease-purchase agreement and the sale of certificates of participation to fund improvements or replacement of its MAXIS system. Under this plan, the state would lease the project from a vendor or financing source and pay for it in installments over a period of up to ten years. The legislation establishes specific rules for how the state must manage the funds, including requirements for insurance, liability, and financial reporting within a dedicated project fund. It also allows the state to transfer money from its general fund to cover expected costs before the financing proceeds are received.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the number of covered physical therapy visits for children under Minnesota's medical assistance program. Currently, the limit is 14 visits per year, but the bill raises this to 30 visits for children recovering from hospital-based surgeries while keeping the 14-visit limit for other situations. The new higher limit takes effect on January 1, 2027, or later if federal approval is required. Additionally, the bill clarifies reimbursement rates for physical therapy assistants, paying them the full rate when working on-site with a therapist and 65% of that rate when working remotely under a therapist's direction.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new state general levy specifically for residential homestead property in Minnesota, which will be collected starting with taxes payable in 2027. The legislation creates a formula where the amount levied on homeowners is calculated to ensure cities receive a specific level of state aid, replacing the previous method that excluded homesteads from this specific tax pool. Additionally, the bill modifies how state aid is distributed to cities by guaranteeing that each city receives an amount equal to its unmet need or its prior year's certified aid, whichever is greater. These changes aim to adjust the funding structure for local governments while introducing a dedicated tax source for residential properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the creation of a new 30-bed secure psychiatric residential treatment facility operated by Direct Care and Treatment in Minnesota. To fund the project's initial planning and design phases, it directs the state to issue up to $7 million in bonds from the bond proceeds fund. The legislation provides $7 million in state funding specifically for the commissioner of administration to conduct predesign and design work for the facility. This action is intended to establish the financial and administrative framework necessary to move forward with building the new treatment center.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires high-risk medical assistance providers in Minnesota to complete compliance training focused on drug and alcohol policies before employees or volunteers have direct contact with program participants. It also mandates that applicants disclose any consultants used to prepare their license applications and strengthens requirements for identifying controlling individuals during the licensing process. The legislation updates application procedures to include stricter timelines for commissioner responses, clearer documentation requirements, and provisions for electronic communication with the licensing authority. These changes aim to improve transparency and oversight for organizations providing medical assistance services under state regulation.