Rep. Kim Hicks

Maddy summaryHF 3643 establishes Melissa and Mark Hortman Memorial State Park in Ramsey County, specifically within St. Paul, as a new public park. The bill designates precise boundaries for the park using 18 directional points in St. Paul and requires that no park permit or entry fee be charged. It directs the commissioner of natural resources to manage the park under standard state park rules, while specifying that the commissioner of administration and Minnesota Historical Society retain authority over existing buildings and monuments within the park. The legislation also appropriates funds for the park’s establishment, directly affecting public access to this newly designated green space in the city.

Maddy summaryHF 44 requires food manufacturers and brand owners to test packaged food products for ortho-phthalates and report detailed results to Minnesota's Commissioner of Agriculture. Specifically, companies must submit written notices within 30 days before selling or distributing products in Minnesota, including chemical names, quantities detected, testing methods, and laboratory details. This applies to most packaged foods (excluding retail-packaged bakery items, meat, and produce) and includes reporting requirements for each product's UPC barcode. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, with testing laboratories required to meet ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows restaurants and breweries in Minnesota to create designated dog parks on their property. It amends state law to permit these establishments to set up areas where dogs can be off-leash while keeping the rest of the dining area restricted. The legislation requires clear signage and mandates that employees cannot touch the dogs, food service areas remain dog-free, and patrons must clean up waste immediately. This change directly affects business owners who want to offer dog-friendly spaces and customers who wish to bring their pets to these venues.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals previous sales tax exemptions for preferred seating and amenities at athletic facilities, meaning these items will now be subject to sales tax when purchased with event tickets. It also provides funding for safe harbor shelter and housing grants to support homeless assistance programs. The legislation defines various retail sales for tax purposes, including bundled transactions and promotional items, while appropriating money for the housing grants.

Maddy summaryHF 3423 modifies definitions related to provider enrollment in Minnesota's medical assistance program. It clarifies who qualifies as a "controlling individual" for healthcare providers, including officers, compliance officers, and managerial staff with decision-making authority over program operations. The bill updates specific statute references (replacing older sections with current ones) to standardize these definitions across medical assistance regulations. This directly affects healthcare organizations and their key personnel who must meet enrollment requirements under Minnesota's medical assistance program. The changes focus on defining roles for compliance purposes, without altering benefit eligibility or funding.

Maddy summaryHF 3433 bans the possession of specific semiautomatic firearms designated as "military-style assault weapons," including models like AK-47s, AR-15s, and weapons with features such as folding stocks or pistol grips. The bill defines banned weapons to cover both listed models (e.g., Colt AR-15) and similar firearms with minor modifications like enhanced magazines or barrel attachments. It amends Minnesota statutes to impose criminal penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment, for violating the possession ban. This law directly affects individuals who own these specific firearms, requiring them to comply with the new restrictions.

Maddy summaryHF 3402 bans the possession, manufacture, import, and transfer of large-capacity ammunition magazines in Minnesota. It defines these as feeding devices holding more than ten rounds (with exceptions for permanently modified devices, .22 caliber tubes, and lever-action tubular magazines). The law takes effect July 1, 2026, requiring current owners to surrender, modify, permanently alter, or remove their magazines by July 1, 2027. Violations carry felony penalties of up to five years in prison or $25,000 in fines. Law enforcement, military personnel, and licensed dealers are exempt under specific conditions.

Maddy summaryHF 2998 establishes a legal process for terminally ill Minnesota adults with a prognosis of six months or less to obtain medication for medical aid in dying. It requires two physician confirmations (an attending provider and a consulting provider), a mental health evaluation by a licensed consultant to confirm capacity, and mandates that patients self-administer the medication. The law prohibits providers from directly administering the medication and classifies related patient data as confidential. Violations of the process could result in criminal penalties, while providers following the law are granted immunity.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new state trust fund to temporarily hold federal money when the governor believes it has been unfairly suspended, delayed, or withheld. The fund is designed to protect state programs and local services from disruptions while ensuring the money remains dedicated to its original federal purpose. State officials can place funds in the trust and release them once the federal government confirms the money is available again or when holding it risks legal problems. The bill also requires regular reports to the legislature on how much money is held and why, while explicitly stating the state cannot collect federal taxes or take on federal legal liabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates how medical assistance eligibility is reviewed for employed people with disabilities in Minnesota. It requires the state to send renewal forms at least 60 days before a coverage period ends and allows an extra 30 days for those with good cause who cannot respond on time. The law also ensures that coverage cannot be cut off until enrollees receive a termination notice that explains their right to appeal. These changes aim to prevent accidental loss of benefits by giving more time for the renewal process and protecting against immediate termination.