Rep. Kristin Bahner

Maddy summaryHF 2561 expands the authority for Minnesota state universities to offer applied doctoral degrees in specific professional fields. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to allow these universities to grant such degrees in education, business, psychology, physical therapy, audiology, nursing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and other emerging workforce areas. This change directly affects state universities (like Minnesota State universities) and students seeking professional doctoral programs in these fields. The Board of Trustees will determine additional qualifying areas, but the University of Minnesota retains its existing authority to offer all doctoral degrees.

Maddy summaryHF 1957 appropriates $1 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Minnesota Technology Association. The funds support the SciTech internship program, which matches college students (including graduate students) in STEM fields with paid internships at small Minnesota tech companies (under 250 employees worldwide). The grant reimburses employers for 50% of intern wages, capped at $3,000 per intern, and requires efforts to increase participation from women and other underserved groups. This one-time funding directly supports students seeking STEM internships and small employers hiring them.

Maddy summaryHF 2591 establishes a new fifth tax bracket for Minnesota individual income tax, targeting high earners to replace revenue lost from federal Medicaid funding changes. The bill amends tax law to create a top income bracket (applying to income over $1.667 million for married couples filing jointly) with a rate set by the commissioner of revenue. This rate must be calculated to generate revenue equal to the amount of federal Medicaid funds Minnesota lost, as certified by the commissioner of management and budget. The new tax rate applies to taxable years 2026 and 2027, affecting only taxpayers in the highest income bracket.

Maddy summaryHF 2475 reduces the percentage Minnesota homeowners must pay toward their homestead credit property tax refunds. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 290A.04 by lowering the "co-pay" rate for qualifying homeowners, decreasing the claimant's required payment from 12% to as low as 1.0% of property taxes for the lowest income brackets. This change directly affects homeowners with household incomes up to $135,409 who claim the homestead credit, increasing their state refund amount by reducing their out-of-pocket share. The state refund maximum remains $3,500 for most income levels, but the reduced co-pay means homeowners retain more of their property tax refund.

Maddy summaryHF 2429 authorizes Minnesota government entities to share data about suspected or confirmed fraud in public programs (like state or federal benefit programs involving public funds) with other government agencies, federal entities, or law enforcement. It specifically allows this sharing when it protects public resources, maintains program integrity, or aids law enforcement investigations. The bill overrides existing legal restrictions on data sharing for these specific fraud-related purposes. It directly affects state and local agencies managing public programs by enabling new data-sharing protocols to combat fraud. The key provision is Section 1.20, which creates this exception to data-sharing prohibitions for fraud investigations.

Maddy summaryHF 1100 requires Minnesota's human services commissioner to establish a $4.50 per prescription payment to eligible community pharmacies in rural or underserved areas. This payment, added to existing fees, must be paid by managed care plans, county health programs, and pharmacy benefit managers to qualifying pharmacies that serve medically underserved populations or share ownership with 12 or fewer Minnesota pharmacies. The bill appropriates funds for this program in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with the payment ending if federal approval isn't obtained. It explicitly states this payment cannot replace or reduce other fees paid to pharmacies.

Maddy summaryHF 1485 requires Minnesota health insurers and medical assistance programs to cover over-the-counter (OTC) contraceptive drugs, devices, and products without cost-sharing (like co-pays or deductibles). It applies directly to health plans and enrollees, mandating coverage of all FDA-approved OTC contraceptives at the point of sale without prescription requirements or quantity limits. The bill also requires health plans to list covered contraceptive services accessibly and cover provider-recommended methods based on medical necessity. This law takes effect January 1, 2026, for health plans offered, issued, or renewed after that date.

Maddy summaryHF 2416 modifies how counties pay for mental health care in state facilities. Counties now pay 0% for the first 30 days of care, 20% for days 31 and beyond if clinically appropriate, and 100% when discharge is deemed appropriate. The bill temporarily (until June 30, 2025) exempts counties from paying for certain clients awaiting transfer to another facility under specific conditions. It also requires a public dashboard showing waitlist data for mental health services, including average wait times and referral metrics, to increase transparency. These changes affect counties, mental health facilities, and individuals receiving care in Minnesota's state-operated mental health programs.

Maddy summaryHF 1895 prohibits websites, apps, software, or programs from allowing users to access, download, or use "nudification technology" - defined as altering images or videos to reveal intimate parts or make them appear realistic enough to suggest such depiction of an identifiable person. The bill directly affects platform operators and users who might employ this technology, protecting individuals whose images could be misused. Key provisions ban such access, allow victims to sue for up to three times actual damages plus attorney fees, and impose civil penalties of at least $500,000 per violation. The law takes effect August 1, 2025, applying to incidents occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state grant program to support community care hubs that connect health care providers with organizations addressing basic needs like food insecurity, housing instability, and transportation access. It appropriates $8.9 million for the grant and $1 million for evaluation, requiring grantees to coordinate social care services, centralize administrative operations, and report outcomes. Eligible applicants must already be recognized federal community care hubs with contracts to provide services to health plan members. The program begins July 1, 2025, aiming to create sustainable pathways for addressing health-related social needs across Minnesota.