Rep. Alex Falconer

Maddy summaryHF 1758 requires all health plans covering maternity benefits in Minnesota to provide comprehensive coverage for infertility diagnosis/treatment and standard fertility preservation services. It applies to private health plans, MinnesotaCare, and medical assistance programs, effective January 1, 2026. The law mandates no cost-sharing beyond what's required for maternity coverage (e.g., no extra deductibles), prohibits benefit limits specific to fertility care, and allows up to four completed oocyte retrievals per year. The state will reimburse health plans for coverage costs that wouldn’t have been provided without this law, using funds appropriated annually. This directly affects Minnesotans seeking infertility care through qualifying health insurance.

Maddy summaryHF 412 requires members of Minnesota's education policy and finance legislative committees to observe a teacher or administrator for at least 12 hours over a two-year period. Committee members must submit detailed reports - including date, school, and grade levels observed - to legislative leadership, with all reports published online by the Legislative Reference Library. The House and Senate are also required to adopt rules to implement these requirements. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1426 establishes a statewide program requiring manufacturers of electronic products (like circuit boards and batteries) to fund collection and recycling of covered items through a reimbursement board. It directly affects electronics manufacturers by mandating their financial responsibility for end-of-life products and consumers by creating designated collection sites. The bill prohibits mercury in batteries and defines specific categories of "covered products," including circuit boards and batteries (excluding lead-acid types), while exempting medical devices and vehicles. It also appropriates funds to implement the program and replaces outdated battery management rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal tool in Minnesota that allows the state Attorney General to sue firearm industry members for public nuisance if their conduct harms public safety. It directly affects companies involved in selling, manufacturing, distributing, or marketing firearms and related products like ammunition. To comply, these businesses must implement reasonable controls to prevent sales to prohibited individuals, stop thefts, and ensure adherence to existing laws. If a company violates these rules, the Attorney General can seek court orders to stop the behavior, force cleanup costs, demand financial restitution, and collect damages.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires companies applying for a certificate of need to build a petroleum pipeline in Minnesota to include detailed demand forecasts in their application. The bill directly affects pipeline developers seeking approval from the Public Utilities Commission for transporting crude oil, motor fuel, or refined petroleum products. Applicants must provide annual demand projections for both Minnesota and neighboring states over a 15-year period, based on specific factors like population growth, vehicle efficiency, electric vehicle adoption rates, and fuel prices. The legislation also mandates that applications explain how changes in assumptions about oil prices and transportation infrastructure could impact their demand estimates.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Minnesota to reimburse clinical trainees providing alcoholism, mental health, and chemical dependency services at the same rate as independently licensed professionals. The law applies to all health plans offering these benefits and takes effect on January 1, 2027. It ensures that trainees supervised by licensed providers receive equal payment for their work, which may help expand access to mental health and substance use disorder care. The provision does not apply to services outside the trainee's scope of practice or to certain county-based public health plans.

Maddy summaryHF 3701 prohibits long-term care, life, and disability insurers in Minnesota from denying coverage, changing premiums, or requiring genetic testing based on an individual's genetic information. The bill bans insurers from using genetic test results to make coverage decisions or forcing applicants to undergo genetic testing as a condition for obtaining or renewing policies. It allows insurers to access existing genetic information in medical records only with the individual's separate, written consent, and permits consideration of medical diagnoses (even if based on genetic tests) without requiring consent. The law takes effect August 1, 2026, for new or renewed policies.

Maddy summaryHF 3704 prohibits the sale or distribution of certain crop seeds (like corn, soybeans, and wheat) coated with systemic insecticides after January 1, 2029, unless a commissioner-issued waiver is provided. It also bans applying neonicotinoid insecticides (e.g., imidacloprid) to ornamental outdoor plants and turf, except in specific environmental emergencies approved by the commissioner. Farmers seeking seed waivers must complete integrated pest management training and submit third-party pest risk assessments. The bill requires annual training for applicators and allows limited emergency use if less harmful alternatives are ineffective. It directly affects farmers, gardeners, seed sellers, and pesticide applicators in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 44 requires food manufacturers and brand owners to test packaged food products for ortho-phthalates and report detailed results to Minnesota's Commissioner of Agriculture. Specifically, companies must submit written notices within 30 days before selling or distributing products in Minnesota, including chemical names, quantities detected, testing methods, and laboratory details. This applies to most packaged foods (excluding retail-packaged bakery items, meat, and produce) and includes reporting requirements for each product's UPC barcode. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, with testing laboratories required to meet ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $9.5 million from state bond proceeds to fund the construction of a Northwest Metro Regional Athletic Facility in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. The funds will be provided as a grant to the city of Brooklyn Park to build an addition to its community activity center, including multi-court gym space. The state will issue bonds up to $9.5 million to cover this appropriation, following standard bond procedures under Minnesota law. The facility will serve regional athletic needs for residents in the Brooklyn Park area.