Rep. Steve Elkins

Maddy summaryHF 1005 adjusts payment rates for healthcare providers under Minnesota's medical assistance program. It increases reimbursement rates for certain residential services, sets a new statewide rate for behavioral health home services, and adjusts physician professional service rates. These changes directly affect hospitals, clinics, and care providers receiving state medical assistance payments for these specific services. The bill amends existing statutes to implement these rate adjustments while requiring budget neutrality for hospital payments. It does not create new programs but modifies existing payment structures for covered services.

Maddy summaryHF 2325 requires Minnesota employers to pay non-exempt employees at least 1.5 times their regular hourly rate for work performed on designated holidays. The bill directly affects hourly workers in Minnesota who are scheduled to work on holidays defined under Minnesota Statutes section 645.44, subdivision 5. It amends existing law (Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 177.25) to add a new provision mandating this overtime pay rate specifically for holiday work. This changes the current standard by explicitly requiring higher pay for holiday shifts, rather than allowing employers to use alternative compensation methods. The bill does not change the definition of "holiday" but specifies the required pay rate when work occurs on those days.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota law to clarify and limit optometrists' authority to prescribe or administer certain drugs. It specifically sets new time limits: oral antivirals may not be prescribed for more than 10 days, oral steroids for more than 14 days (requiring physician consultation), and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors for more than seven days. These changes apply directly to licensed optometrists in Minnesota who prescribe medications for eye conditions under the Board of Optometry's rules. The bill maintains existing restrictions on intravenous injections, invasive surgery, and Schedule II/III oral drugs.

Maddy summaryHF 1934 modifies how dental services are administered for MinnesotaCare and medical assistance recipients. It changes the start date for a new dental administrator contract from 2026 to 2030, requires the dental administrator to meet a 55% annual dental visit rate for continuously enrolled members by 2032, and establishes a task force to assess impacts on critical access dental providers. The task force must evaluate financial effects on providers, access to care, and disruptions to integrated medical-dental services. This bill directly affects dental administrators, critical access dental providers, and patients enrolled in MinnesotaCare or medical assistance programs.

Maddy summaryHF 1136 establishes a 60-day deadline for Minnesota government agencies to approve or deny building permit requests, including zoning, septic systems, and watershed reviews. It directly affects applicants (individuals or businesses seeking permits) and agencies (cities, counties, school districts, and other local governments). The bill requires agencies to provide written reasons for denials and mandates fee refunds to applicants if decisions are delayed beyond 60 days. For building permits specifically, agencies must act "expeditiously," and failure to deny within the timeframe does not count as approval. The law also specifies that written denial reasons must be provided within the same timeframe as the decision.

Maddy summaryHF 1134 amends Minnesota's Metropolitan Land Planning Act to update housing goal requirements and planning compliance rules for municipalities in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties. It requires the Metropolitan Council to negotiate annual affordable housing goals with each municipality, which must then outline specific actions to meet these goals by June 30 each year. The bill clarifies that local zoning and fees must align with comprehensive plans and metropolitan system plans, prohibiting conflicts while allowing more specific commercial/industrial use rules. These changes apply to all participating municipalities in the seven-county metro area, focusing on ensuring planning consistency without altering housing policy outcomes.

Maddy summaryHF 1379 creates a formal "nonopioid directive" process in Minnesota, allowing patients (or their health care agents) to submit written instructions stating they must not receive opioids from health professionals or prescribers. Health care providers must include these directives in patient records and follow them, except in emergency hospital settings where a prescriber deems opioid use medically necessary. The bill also grants legal immunity to health professionals, facilities, and emergency medical services providers who comply with these directives in good faith. The Minnesota Department of Health will develop a standard form for these directives and post it online. This directly affects patients seeking opioid avoidance and all healthcare providers interacting with patient records.

Maddy summaryHF 1135 amends Minnesota Statutes section 462.358, changing how municipalities can require developers to provide public spaces like parks, trails, or utilities for new subdivisions. It allows cities to accept cash fees (based on fair market value) instead of land dedication, with fees capped at 10% of the subdivision’s value, and mandates that collected funds go exclusively into a special fund for park/trail acquisition or development - never for ongoing operations. Developers would pay fees based on land value, and cities must track and report how funds are used. The bill directly affects residential developers and municipalities adopting these rules under Minnesota’s local land-use regulations.

Maddy summaryHF 1106 modifies Minnesota's process for reviewing tax breaks (tax expenditures). It repeals a requirement that lawmakers must formally review new or renewed tax benefits before they take effect. The bill also updates the Tax Expenditure Review Commission's structure and duties, keeping its mandate to review existing tax breaks every decade but removing the legislative review step for new ones. The commission must still assess each tax break's cost, purpose, effectiveness, and impact on taxpayers, and report findings to legislative tax committees annually. This change streamlines the process for new tax benefits while maintaining ongoing oversight of existing ones.

Maddy summaryHF 856 creates a new position for a Common Interest Community Ombudsperson within Minnesota’s Department of Commerce to help resolve disputes between unit owners (like condo or HOA residents) and community associations. The ombudsperson will provide free dispute resolution services, maintain a public website with resources about rights and rules, and compile complaints - without making legal rulings or decisions. The bill classifies all personal data collected by the office as "private" or "nonpublic," requiring individual consent or court order for release. It appropriates funding for the office starting in fiscal year 2026, with the position effective July 1, 2025.