Rep. Kim Hicks

Maddy summaryHF 1148 establishes a state grant program to provide prepared meals for Minnesotans experiencing food insecurity who have difficulty cooking due to limited mobility, disability, or financial constraints. The program funds nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Minnesota tribes that prepare culturally tailored meals in licensed kitchens, prioritizing groups serving racially, ethnically, and geographically diverse communities at high risk of food insecurity. Grants require 50% of meal ingredients to come from Minnesota producers or donated/wasted food, and grantees must serve individuals aged 18-60 and their dependents while avoiding duplication with other meal programs. The bill appropriates unspecified funds for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with grantees required to report on fund usage and retain expenditure records.

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 updates policies and training requirements for assisted living facilities in Minnesota, directly affecting facility operators and unlicensed staff members who work there. It mandates that facilities maintain updated policies covering staff training, emergency procedures, infection control, and supervision of unlicensed personnel performing delegated tasks. The legislation also strengthens penalties for violations by allowing commissioners to assess investigation-related costs and increase fines for serious injuries or deaths caused by egregious conduct. Additionally, the bill requires facilities to ensure emergency-trained personnel are available 24 hours a day and to provide residents with clear information about their rights and facility procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's child care assistance program rules regarding how providers are reimbursed for days when enrolled children are absent. It maintains a standard limit of 25 absent days per child per year but creates exemptions for children with documented medical conditions, young parents pursuing education, and families affected by extraordinary events like natural disasters. The legislation also clarifies how partial-day absences are counted, establishes notification requirements for families about their absent day usage, and allows parents to substitute cultural or religious holidays for standard state and federal holidays.

Maddy summaryHF 3800 sets a 10% maximum annual reduction limit on individual budgets for people receiving home and community-based services under Minnesota's waiver reimagine phase II program. It directly affects current waiver recipients assessed as needing nursing home-level care. The bill requires the human services commissioner to apply this limit unless a recipient's documented needs decrease in their assessment, and mandates an annual cost-of-living adjustment for all recipients' budgets. These changes ensure budget stability for participants while aligning with the program's goal of supporting community-based care choices.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands medical assistance coverage to individuals who were in foster care and remain in the system past age 18, extending eligibility up to age 26 for those who were enrolled in Medicaid while in care. It modifies the definition of "child in foster care" to include youth for whom permanent custody is transferred to relatives after age ten, and requires social services agencies to notify children in foster care six months before their 18th birthday about extended care options. The legislation also updates eligibility requirements for continuing in foster care past 18, allowing youth to remain in the system until age 21 if they are completing education, participating in employment programs, working at least 80 hours monthly, or have a medical condition preventing them from meeting other criteria. Additionally, the bill mandates that independent living plans be updated for youth in foster care immediately before their 18th birthday and allows individuals who left foster care before age 18 to reenter the system with support services up to age 21.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how the City of Rochester can use local sales tax revenue collected from a specific tax extension. It directs that up to $195 million in tax funds be allocated to four specific projects: an economic vitality fund, street reconstruction, flood control and water quality improvements, and a sports and recreation complex. The legislation also limits the ability to collect funds for the sports complex after June 30, 2026, and adjusts the total bonding authority for these projects from $205 million to $140 million. These changes update existing statutes to clarify spending priorities and financial limits for the city's infrastructure initiatives.

Maddy summaryHF 3485 modifies Minnesota school crisis management policies to require districts and charter schools to address the unique needs of students with disabilities during crisis drills. The bill adds a specific provision mandating that crisis management policies accommodate students with mobility restrictions, sensory needs, developmental or physical disabilities, mental health needs, and auditory or visual limitations. Existing requirements for five lockdown drills, five fire drills, and one tornado drill remain unchanged. This policy change directly affects all Minnesota public school districts and charter schools developing their crisis response plans.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota bill restricts state and local government participation in federal civil immigration enforcement efforts, prohibiting agencies from using resources to investigate, detain, or arrest individuals for immigration violations. It defines civil immigration enforcement to exclude criminal law enforcement and clarifies that cooperation with federal authorities on criminal matters remains permitted. The legislation also establishes a cause of action for constitutional rights violations related to immigration, prohibits denying education based on immigration status, and requires hospitals to create policies for interactions with law enforcement. Additionally, the bill appropriates funding to support these provisions and amends existing state statutes regarding immigration-related activities.

Maddy summaryHF 3422 requires Minnesota's commissioner of administration to establish standardized grants management policies for all state agencies, directly affecting agencies that distribute or manage state grants. Key provisions include mandating specific monitoring frequencies based on grant size (e.g., annual in-person visits for grants $50k-$250k, biannual for over $250k) and requiring financial reconciliations before final payments (quarterly for grants over $500k). The bill creates a central oversight point for fraud reporting, best practices, and a single public listing of grant opportunities. It applies to all grant agreements executed or amended on or after August 1, 2026.