Rep. Peter Fischer

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new program in Minnesota to collect and recycle electronic waste from households and small businesses. It defines specific items that must be recycled, such as computers, monitors, and gaming consoles, while excluding devices like cameras, telephones, and household appliances. The legislation creates a system where an approved organization, known as a clearinghouse, will manage the collection, transport, and recycling of these covered devices. Additionally, the bill sets up new state accounts to fund the program and requires the state agency to submit a report on its progress.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of up to $1.3 million in state bonds to fund capital improvements at the Biff Adams Arena in Ramsey County. The appropriated funds will be used by the Metropolitan Council to help Ramsey County design and construct a replacement ice plant for the arena. Once enacted, the state will sell these bonds to raise the necessary money, which will then be transferred to support the project.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act to protect African American children and families from unnecessary removal from their homes. It creates a new advisory council and requires social services agencies to make "active efforts," which is a higher standard than usual, to keep these children safely with their families while respecting their cultural values. The legislation also mandates specific reports on how well these new protections are working and sets a future effective date of July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates how pharmacy benefit managers operate in Minnesota by establishing clearer rules for reimbursement and pricing. It directly affects pharmacy benefit managers, pharmacies, and health insurance plans by requiring fair dealing and prohibiting deceptive practices. Key provisions ban charging pharmacies fees for processing claims, forbid paying pharmacies less than the rates given to the manager's own affiliates, and explicitly outlaw the use of spread pricing. Additionally, the law mandates that managers provide transparent pricing data to pharmacies and update these lists frequently when drug costs rise significantly.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires pharmacy benefit managers and health carriers in Minnesota to include lower-cost generic and biosimilar drugs on their drug lists whenever a more expensive brand-name version is covered. It mandates that these plans structure their coverage tiers to prioritize medications that result in the lowest out-of-pocket costs for patients, such as co-pays and coinsurance. Additionally, the law forces plans to immediately add new generic or biosimilar drugs to their lists if they are cheaper than existing options and removes barriers like prior authorization for the lowest-cost alternatives. These changes directly affect health insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers by altering how they select and organize covered medications to reduce expenses for individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits individuals from using force against another person based on the victim's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. It specifically removes the ability to claim self-defense or use of force authorization if the victim made an unwanted nonforcible romantic or sexual advance or if the two people had previously dated. The law applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2024, and does not alter existing rules regarding the use of force in other situations like arrests or property disputes.