Rep. Peter Fischer

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Minnesota commissioner of natural resources to transfer all state-owned land within one mile of the Upper Red Lake shoreline and all land within the Red Lake State Forest boundaries to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians without payment. The legislation mandates that the commissioner identify any legal or funding obstacles to these transfers and submit a detailed report by January 15, 2026, to relevant legislative committees with recommendations for resolving those barriers. Additionally, the bill appropriates $20 million in fiscal year 2026 to fund the land conveyance process, with funds available until June 30, 2035, and may be used to acquire additional land needed to facilitate the transfers. The law takes effect immediately upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits open seasons for hunting wolves in Minnesota and increases criminal penalties for violating wolf hunting regulations. It also establishes a dedicated wolf management and monitoring account funded by wolf license fees, which can only be used for wolf-specific management, research, damage control, enforcement, and education. Additionally, the bill updates hunting and trapping rules for minors, clarifying license requirements and exemptions for children under 16, and sets specific fees for lifetime hunting and sporting licenses. The legislation repeals an existing statute related to wolf trapping regulations.

Maddy summaryHF 3433 bans the possession of specific semiautomatic firearms designated as "military-style assault weapons," including models like AK-47s, AR-15s, and weapons with features such as folding stocks or pistol grips. The bill defines banned weapons to cover both listed models (e.g., Colt AR-15) and similar firearms with minor modifications like enhanced magazines or barrel attachments. It amends Minnesota statutes to impose criminal penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment, for violating the possession ban. This law directly affects individuals who own these specific firearms, requiring them to comply with the new restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new state aid program that will provide Ramsey County with $5 per square foot of state-owned buildings in the Capitol Area, starting in 2027. The funding is intended to compensate the county for the loss of tax revenue caused by state property ownership and the disproportionate impact of these buildings on local property taxes. The money must be used specifically to reduce current year property taxes levied on net tax capacity within Ramsey County, with annual funding appropriated from the state's general fund. This measure directly affects Ramsey County residents and the state's property tax system by creating a new revenue transfer mechanism between state and local governments.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health impact assessments for certain proposed projects to evaluate how they might affect human health, directly affecting government agencies and entities that approve or fund construction and development projects. It establishes a systematic, evidence-based process that must be completed before decisions are made on actions with potential significant environmental effects, requiring agencies to analyze physiological, social, economic, and other health-related factors. The legislation assigns specific duties to the commissioner of health and authorizes the Environmental Quality Board to create rules defining which projects need assessments, including exemptions for smaller ethanol and biobutanol facilities outside the metropolitan area. Additionally, the bill creates a public comment period for environmental assessment worksheets and sets requirements for publishing notices and gathering community input before determining if a full health impact assessment is necessary.

Maddy summaryHF 3773 establishes Minnesota's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (MNSNAP), a state-funded program to provide food assistance to Minnesotans who would lose federal SNAP benefits due to upcoming federal restrictions. It directly affects vulnerable groups including veterans, seniors, people experiencing homelessness, foster youth aging out of care, new Americans, and working parents who lost jobs. The bill requires counties to conduct face-to-face assessments within 30 days of enrollment to determine eligibility for federal exemptions or support for meeting federal SNAP requirements. Funding of $X for fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the general fund to operate MNSNAP, with a moratorium on benefit terminations for those lacking medical or behavioral health assessments after July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's HF 1269 requires health insurance plans to cover all FDA-approved medical services and prescription medications for treating dementia, including diagnostic tests to assess treatment effectiveness. It also prohibits health plans from using "step therapy" (requiring patients to try cheaper drugs first) for dementia treatments. The bill modifies prior authorization rules for certain medications, ensuring automatic 60-day coverage for brand-name mental health drugs when generics become available, and streamlines approval for oral liquid drugs used with feeding tubes. These changes apply to health plans offered in Minnesota starting January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special "outdoor recreation endorsement" for Minnesota license plates, requiring vehicles to have this endorsement (either as a sticker or special plate) to access state parks and recreation areas over 50 acres. The endorsement fee funds park maintenance and operations through a dedicated account in the natural resources fund. It exempts veterans with service-connected disabilities from paying the endorsement fee, as they are already exempt from similar registration fees under existing law. The policy takes effect January 1, 2027, for new endorsements.

Maddy summaryHF 1148 establishes a state grant program to provide prepared meals for Minnesotans experiencing food insecurity who have difficulty cooking due to limited mobility, disability, or financial constraints. The program funds nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Minnesota tribes that prepare culturally tailored meals in licensed kitchens, prioritizing groups serving racially, ethnically, and geographically diverse communities at high risk of food insecurity. Grants require 50% of meal ingredients to come from Minnesota producers or donated/wasted food, and grantees must serve individuals aged 18-60 and their dependents while avoiding duplication with other meal programs. The bill appropriates unspecified funds for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with grantees required to report on fund usage and retain expenditure records.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $11 million for fiscal year 2026 and $11 million for fiscal year 2027 from the state general fund to support senior nutrition programs under Minnesota Statutes §256.9752. It directly provides funding for existing programs that serve older Minnesotans, such as meal delivery and congregate dining services. The bill does not change program rules but ensures dedicated state funding for these services over two fiscal years. The funding will help maintain access to nutrition support for seniors, particularly those with limited income or mobility.