Rep. Josiah Hill

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota calculates financial aid given to local governments when coal, nuclear, or natural gas power plants are retired or switch fuel sources. It directly affects counties, cities, towns, and school districts that currently receive this transition assistance. The law updates the rules for determining which areas qualify for aid and changes the formula used to calculate the payment amount, including new requirements for utilities to notify the state before retiring a plant. Additionally, the bill adjusts the timeline for when aid payments begin and sets specific conditions under which a local government might stop receiving funds if its overall tax capacity grows significantly.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $1.5 million from the state's general fund to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system for fiscal year 2027. The money is designated for purchasing and maintaining automated identity verification software to detect and prevent enrollment fraud. This funding will support the acquisition, implementation, ongoing support, and maintenance of systems that verify student identities during the enrollment process. The legislation directly affects the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees and the institutions within the system.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $1,000,000 from the state's general fund to hire eight additional school safety specialists at the Minnesota School Safety Center for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The funding is designated as a one-time appropriation that can be used until fully spent, with no restrictions on how the money is distributed among the new positions. This legislation directly affects the Minnesota School Safety Center and the public safety system by increasing the number of available safety personnel. The bill takes effect immediately upon final passage by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health plans in Minnesota that offer maternity benefits to cover infertility treatment and standard fertility preservation services for their enrollees. It defines infertility based on medical criteria and specifies that coverage must match the cost-sharing terms applied to maternity care, including limits on oocyte retrievals but unlimited embryo transfers. The legislation also mandates that health plans cannot impose additional restrictions, waiting periods, or benefit maximums on these services beyond what applies to maternity coverage. Additionally, the state will reimburse health plans for the costs of providing these new benefits, but only for services that would not have been covered without this law.

Maddy summaryHF 1758 requires all health plans covering maternity benefits in Minnesota to provide comprehensive coverage for infertility diagnosis/treatment and standard fertility preservation services. It applies to private health plans, MinnesotaCare, and medical assistance programs, effective January 1, 2026. The law mandates no cost-sharing beyond what's required for maternity coverage (e.g., no extra deductibles), prohibits benefit limits specific to fertility care, and allows up to four completed oocyte retrievals per year. The state will reimburse health plans for coverage costs that wouldn’t have been provided without this law, using funds appropriated annually. This directly affects Minnesotans seeking infertility care through qualifying health insurance.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal tool in Minnesota that allows the state Attorney General to sue firearm industry members for public nuisance if their conduct harms public safety. It directly affects companies involved in selling, manufacturing, distributing, or marketing firearms and related products like ammunition. To comply, these businesses must implement reasonable controls to prevent sales to prohibited individuals, stop thefts, and ensure adherence to existing laws. If a company violates these rules, the Attorney General can seek court orders to stop the behavior, force cleanup costs, demand financial restitution, and collect damages.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $15 million for the 2026 fiscal year and $13 million for 2027 to support teacher retention and improve educational systems in Minnesota. The funds will be distributed to the Department of Education, service cooperatives, and school districts to implement the MTSS framework and COMPASS school improvement model. A specific $2 million allocation in 2027 will contract with an entity experienced in improving workplace conditions and organizational culture to address teacher burnout and turnover through data-driven initiatives. The legislation also provides $5 million annually for grants to schools for hiring coordinators, professional learning, and piloting streamlined reporting systems, while $3 million supports mathematics instruction through regional training networks.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies contribution rates for the Minnesota General Employees Retirement Plan, affecting both public employees and their employers. It lowers employee contributions from 6.5% to 5.5% of salary for school employees starting July 1, 2026, while employer contributions for the same group decrease from 6.5% to 7.5% over the same period. The changes apply only to coordinated members of the retirement plan, with basic members maintaining their current 9.10% contribution rate. The legislation updates Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 353.27, to reflect these new contribution percentages for different employee categories.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits large meat retailers from owning stakes in livestock dealers or meat packing companies and from signing exclusive contracts that require those suppliers to sell only to them. It defines a "dominant retailer" as a company selling over $18 billion in meat annually with locations in at least 20 states, including Minnesota. The law requires these retailers to divest any existing ownership interests by January 1, 2028, with a possible 180-day extension if they show good faith efforts to comply. The attorney general will identify which retailers fall under this definition starting in 2027, and violators could face daily fines of $25,000.

Maddy summaryHF 3701 prohibits long-term care, life, and disability insurers in Minnesota from denying coverage, changing premiums, or requiring genetic testing based on an individual's genetic information. The bill bans insurers from using genetic test results to make coverage decisions or forcing applicants to undergo genetic testing as a condition for obtaining or renewing policies. It allows insurers to access existing genetic information in medical records only with the individual's separate, written consent, and permits consideration of medical diagnoses (even if based on genetic tests) without requiring consent. The law takes effect August 1, 2026, for new or renewed policies.