Rep. Peter Fischer

Maddy summaryHF 2590 establishes a new licensure requirement for clinical art therapists in Minnesota, requiring them to meet specific education and training standards to practice. The bill modifies the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy by adding five licensed clinical art therapists to its 18-member board and sets annual fees for licensure, with civil penalties for violations. It also appropriates funding to support the board's operations and includes definitions for clinical art therapy, which uses art-based techniques to address mental health needs like trauma, emotional disorders, and cognitive challenges. This bill directly affects clinical art therapists seeking licensure, the board overseeing the profession, and their clients who receive these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that any changes to medical assistance programs must explicitly state whether they apply to county-based purchasing systems. It also mandates that the state commissioner publish written estimates of how these changes would financially affect counties or groups of counties managing these purchasing plans. The law ensures that counties are informed about potential fiscal impacts before new medical assistance modifications take effect. This applies to both administrative changes and modifications to covered benefits or services.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the city of Maplewood to impose a 0.5% local sales and use tax, subject to voter approval at a special election. The tax revenue must be used to fund three specific projects: a $25 million public safety training facility, a $48 million community center, and an $8 million park improvement, along with costs for collecting the tax and issuing bonds. The city may issue up to $81 million in bonds to finance these projects without being subject to certain state debt limitations, and the tax would expire after 20 years or once the projects are fully funded.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that any changes to Minnesota's medical assistance program must explicitly state if they apply to the county-administered rural medical assistance (CARMA) program, ensuring rural counties are not inadvertently affected by state-level modifications. It also mandates that the state commissioner publish written estimates of how proposed changes would financially impact counties or groups of counties running CARMA before those changes take effect. Additionally, the bill establishes a payment system for CARMA that includes full monthly payments for services, risk-sharing mechanisms, and provisions allowing counties to retain savings after three years of operation. These measures aim to provide greater transparency and financial stability for rural counties administering the program while maintaining consistency with state medical assistance requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 3745 bans the sale, purchase, use, or manufacturing of orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile (a chemical compound used in tear gas) within Minnesota. The bill directly affects individuals, businesses, and organizations handling this specific chemical, including law enforcement or manufacturers. It requires the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to provide disposal guidance for existing supplies of the chemical or products containing it. The law takes effect immediately upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 3744 prohibits Minnesota law enforcement officers and agencies from using tear gas, chemical weapons, and kinetic energy munitions (like rubber bullets) on civilian populations. It directly affects all state and local police departments, requiring them to stop using these tools in public safety operations. The bill mandates that law enforcement agencies develop written policies by January 15, 2027, based on a model policy created by the state board by November 15, 2026. This law updates existing statutes to ban these specific crowd-control methods while allowing limited use by the National Guard for official duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of "partnership policy" under Minnesota's long-term care program to include long-term care insurance policies sold before July 1, 2015, that have 1-3% annual inflation protection. It directly affects Minnesota residents who purchased such policies prior to 2015, making them eligible for the program's benefits. The key change adds this specific category of older policies to the existing definition, which previously covered policies issued or exchanged on or after July 1, 2006. The amendment takes effect January 1, 2027, or after federal approval, whichever comes later.

Maddy summaryHF 211 provides $4.8 million in state funding to expand the East Metro Public Safety Training Facility in Maplewood. The bill appropriates money from bond proceeds to cover design and engineering costs for new training buildings, infrastructure, parking, stormwater management, and land acquisition. It authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $4.8 million to finance this expansion, which directly affects Maplewood city and the facility's public safety training operations. The funds will support specific facility improvements, including upgrades to existing fire training burn buildings.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding for Minnesota's Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program, raising the annual appropriation from $10.27 million to $45.27 million. The additional funds will be used to reduce homelessness risks and improve program effectiveness, with a portion designated for the housing development fund. The legislation also grants agencies flexibility in awarding grants to existing grantees and allows new grantees in certain areas to work with advisory committees or local care systems without meeting specific statutory requirements. These changes take effect immediately and establish a future funding base of $10.72 million starting in fiscal year 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the time limit for filing discrimination claims under Minnesota's Human Rights Act from one year to ten years after the alleged incident occurs. It directly affects individuals who believe they have experienced unfair discrimination in employment, housing, or public accommodations, as well as employers and organizations that may face such claims. The key provision changes the filing deadline in the relevant state statute and suspends this time limit during dispute resolution processes like mediation or arbitration, preventing the deadline from expiring while parties attempt to resolve issues informally. Additionally, the bill requires respondents to notify relevant parties if they participate in dispute resolution before a formal charge is filed, with penalties for failing to provide this notification.