Rep. David Gottfried

Maddy summaryHF 2765 modifies Minnesota's optometry scope of practice by adding specific restrictions to the existing law. The bill directly affects licensed optometrists by prohibiting them from administering prescription medications via injection (except for anaphylaxis treatment), performing invasive surgeries (including laser procedures), prescribing certain strong oral medications (like Schedule II/III drugs or steroids), and extending the duration of some prescriptions (limiting oral antivirals to 10 days and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors to 7 days). These changes clarify the boundaries of optometric practice under Minnesota Statutes 148.56. The bill does not alter optometrists' core duties like vision testing, lens prescribing, or diagnosing eye conditions.

Maddy summaryHF 1030 requires schools in Minnesota to include student attendance data in annual state assessment reports. Specifically, individual student reports must show the number and percentage of days a student was absent during the previous school year. This applies to all public schools, school districts, and charter schools that provide these assessment reports to parents and school staff. The requirement takes effect on July 1, 2025, and does not change existing attendance policies or tracking methods.

Maddy summaryHF 1481 requires biofuel plants in Minnesota to monitor ethanol, biodiesel, and advanced biofuel production for neonicotinoid pesticides and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the fuel, air emissions, wastewater, and byproducts like dried distillers grains. It mandates that plants maintain permanent records of these tests and make them available to the public and regulators. The bill also provides for voluntary biomonitoring of biofuel plant employees to assess workplace exposure to these chemicals, with $250,000 appropriated to the Department of Health for this purpose. The law appropriates a total of $1.1 million across state agencies for implementation, including $500,000 for wastewater and air monitoring under the Pollution Control Agency.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates funding for Minnesota's Local Food Purchasing Assistance Grant Program, which provides grants to organizations buying and distributing food within the state. Eligible groups include nonprofits, businesses, tribal governments, and schools, with preference given to those sourcing 100% of food from Minnesota, prioritizing farmers with limited market access, and distributing food at no cost in communities with low supermarket access or high need. The program aims to support local agriculture and improve food access in underserved areas, including food deserts and communities with significant aging or disabled populations. Funding is allocated for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the state general fund.

Maddy summaryHF 1168 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Revenue to create an online system for individuals to claim refunds on political contributions. It modifies the existing refund program to allow electronic data sharing between the Campaign Finance Board and the Department of Revenue, including contributor names, contribution amounts, and unique receipt validation numbers. All shared data is classified as nonpublic, protecting contributor privacy while enabling streamlined refund processing. This change affects political contributors seeking refunds, political parties/candidates issuing refund receipts, and the agencies managing campaign finance data, replacing paper-based processes with digital systems effective January 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 2036 provides $450,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund employment services for people with disabilities through Minnesota Diversified Industries (MDI), and $250,000 for career skills programming in 2026. The bill funds inclusive job opportunities, virtual and in-person career classes using virtual reality tools, and employer outreach for individuals with disabilities. MDI must report by January 15, 2028, on program participation, demographics, service hours, and recommendations. This one-time funding directly supports people with disabilities seeking employment and MDI’s service delivery model.

Maddy summaryHF 775 requires Minnesota school districts to create written policies ensuring parents of children with disabilities can fully participate in their child's education. Specifically, districts must establish processes for providing free language assistance (like interpreters or translated documents) for non-English-speaking parents and reasonable accommodations (such as sign language interpreters or modified meeting formats) for parents with disabilities, without requiring health information disclosure. These policies must be posted in multiple languages on district websites, shared annually with parents, and kept confidential. The bill directly affects school districts and parents interacting with special education programs, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 855 appropriates $1.5 million from the general fund to the Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture for a study on microplastics in meat and poultry sold in Minnesota. The study, to be conducted in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and the University of Minnesota, must be completed by February 1, 2026, with findings reported to relevant legislative committees. This bill directly affects state agencies (Agriculture, Health) and the University of Minnesota, which will conduct the research. The funding is a one-time appropriation, and the bill does not establish new regulations but requires a factual assessment of microplastic presence in food products.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's HF 1150 requires the Pollution Control Agency to study AI's environmental impacts in the state and submit a report by January 1, 2027. The study must assess energy/water use across AI's full lifecycle (hardware mining, data centers, model development), potential local impacts like grid stress, and both positive (e.g., energy efficiency) and negative effects (e.g., rebound pollution). The bill appropriates funds from the general fund for this study and mandates stakeholder input during the process. The report will inform Minnesota's policymakers about AI's environmental footprint and potential mitigation strategies.

Maddy summaryHF 1175 requires Minnesota public school districts and charter schools to develop written cardiac emergency response plans by the 2026-2027 school year. These plans must include specific steps for responding to cardiac arrests, such as placing automatic defibrillators in accessible locations, training staff in CPR and defibrillator use, and conducting annual emergency simulations. The bill appropriates $2 million from the general fund to help schools implement these plans, covering costs for defibrillators, training, and related equipment. It directly affects all Minnesota schools, ensuring they are prepared for cardiac emergencies during school activities.