Rep. Sandra Feist

Maddy summaryHF 3454 modifies Minnesota's social work licensing rules to clarify when professionals can use titles like "social worker." It requires county social workers without a social work degree or license to stop using those titles in public by July 1, 2026, unless they were already employed by the county before July 1, 2027. The bill also mandates that all social workers using public-facing titles must display their license designation (e.g., LSW, LISW) and prohibits misleading claims about their qualifications. These changes directly affect county agency social workers and ensure title usage aligns with licensing status.

Maddy summaryHF 309 amends Minnesota Statutes §84.523 to tighten mining restrictions in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) and Rainy River headwaters. The bill requires the commissioner of natural resources to determine that proposed mining (for taconite, sand, gravel, or granite) in the Rainy River headwaters would not harm the BWCA before any permits are issued. This modifies existing law by adding this specific assessment step, directly affecting mining operations seeking approval in these areas. The change maintains the general prohibition on mining without legislative approval but adds a new administrative requirement for the commissioner to evaluate environmental impacts. The bill focuses on protecting the BWCA's wilderness character through stricter permitting conditions.

Maddy summaryHF 1420 allocates $20 million from state bond proceeds to fund a public realm project over Shepard Road in St. Paul, including adjacent rail lines and related infrastructure. The funds will be granted to Ramsey County for predesign, design, construction, and equipment of this public space. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $20 million in bonds to cover this appropriation, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law. This project directly affects Ramsey County and residents of St. Paul by creating new public infrastructure along Shepard Road.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires insurance companies in Minnesota to accept an individual taxpayer identification number instead of a Social Security number when processing new coverage applications. The law mandates that insurers must explicitly state on their application forms that they accept these alternative numbers if they ask for identification. This change takes effect on January 1, 2026, and applies to any insurance policies offered, issued, or renewed on or after that date. The primary impact is on consumers who may prefer or need to use an individual taxpayer identification number rather than a Social Security number for their insurance records.

Maddy summarySF 2691 establishes clear standards for rent, utility charges, and fees in Minnesota manufactured home parks. It requires uniform rent rates (except for lot size/location or special services), prohibits fees based on household size, guests, home size, or occupancy, and mandates itemized billing for utilities. The bill also requires park owners to address safety hazards like dangerous trees within 14 days of resident notice and gives residents 60 days' written notice before rent increases. These changes directly affect manufactured home park residents and owners by increasing transparency and limiting arbitrary charges.

Maddy summaryHF 3459 makes technical clarifications to Minnesota's Common Interest Ownership Act, primarily affecting condominiums, cooperatives, and planned communities. The bill clarifies which provisions apply to older communities, provides exemptions for small planned communities (with 2-13 units created before August 2006), sets specific director requirements for certain associations, and clarifies insurance policy standards. It does not create new rights or obligations but updates existing rules to resolve ambiguities in how the law applies to different community types. These changes aim to improve consistency in governing common interest communities under Minnesota law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Metropolitan Airports Commission to increase transparency regarding flights at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport that transport detained immigrants. Specifically, it mandates that the airport operator notify the commission whenever U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrives or departs with passengers being held in restraints. The legislation also requires the commission to install a live-streaming camera to record these flights and to submit monthly reports detailing the number of detained individuals, including minors, on each trip. These measures are designed to provide the public and state officials with real-time data and regular updates on immigration-related air traffic at the airport.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for using certain grant funds allocated to the Office of Justice Programs, specifically allowing the Crossover and Dual-Status Youth Model Grants to remain available until December 31, 2026. The legislation amends existing state laws to clarify the timeframes for various public safety and victim services programs, ensuring that money designated for initiatives like restorative practices and youth intervention can be utilized as intended. Directly affecting the Office of Justice Programs and its grant recipients, the measure provides administrative flexibility to complete ongoing projects without the pressure of earlier expiration dates. By adjusting these specific dates, the bill aims to support continued service delivery to crime victims, survivors of violence, and youth involved in the justice system.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state rapid start program to help Minnesota treat people living with HIV by ensuring they begin antiretroviral therapy quickly after diagnosis. It requires health plans to cover HIV treatment and prevention services without prior authorization, step therapy protocols, or cost-sharing requirements like co-pays and deductibles. The state will oversee local programs, provide grants to support treatment access, and report on program outcomes to improve care delivery.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota bill creates a $100 million relief program to help small businesses that experienced significant revenue declines between July 2024 and February 2026, which the bill attributes to federal enforcement activity. The program provides grants to operators of indoor retail or food market spaces with at least 25 small tenant businesses, requiring that most funds be used to offer rent forgiveness to existing tenants. To qualify, businesses must be Minnesota-based, have fewer than 50 employees, operate from a physical location, and show at least a 20 percent drop in revenue or sales during the specified period. Grant applications will be processed through a lottery system, with funds usable for payroll, rent, utilities, inventory, and other operational expenses, and the state must report on the program's outcomes by December 2026.