Rep. Steve Elkins

Maddy summaryHF 3555 establishes rules for small, portable solar panels (under 1,200 watts) that homeowners can install to offset personal electricity use. The bill exempts these plug-in solar devices from requiring utility connection agreements, net metering rules, and additional fees or approvals. It also clarifies that utilities cannot be held liable for damage caused by these devices. This directly affects residential users seeking simple, low-barrier solar energy solutions without utility bureaucracy. The bill creates specific definitions and exemptions within Minnesota's energy code for these devices.

Maddy summaryHF 3513 defines key terms for autonomous vehicles in Minnesota Statutes, establishing a regulatory foundation for future rules. It adds definitions for terms like "automated driving system" (level 4/5 vehicles), "dynamic driving task," "minimal risk condition," and "on-demand autonomous vehicle network" to clarify operational standards. The bill does not impose new restrictions or requirements but creates the terminology needed for future legislation governing autonomous vehicle safety and operation. This procedural update prepares Minnesota’s legal framework for regulating self-driving technology as it develops.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HF 3556) is a naming resolution that commemorates Melissa Hortman by designating Minnesota's community solar garden program as the "Melissa Hortman Community Solar Garden Program." It does not change any program rules, funding, or operations - it only adds a short title to Minnesota Statutes section 216B.1641. The bill directly honors Melissa Hortman, a former state legislator, through this naming. It is procedural and has no policy impact beyond the name change.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new tax in Minnesota that targets individuals and organizations convicted of fraud or those identified by the state revenue commissioner as having obtained money through deceitful means. The tax requires anyone who has successfully defrauded state programs to pay back 100 percent of the stolen amount, regardless of any existing fines or restitution already ordered by courts. The state revenue commissioner is tasked with investigating suspected fraud, setting up a system to collect these payments, and ensuring the recovered funds are used specifically for income and property tax relief. The law applies retroactively to fraud cases determined after December 31, 2019, and also covers people who were paid to help commit the fraud.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Minnesota to cover home care nursing services without imposing quantity limits on the number of visits or hours provided. It directly affects individuals enrolled in health plans who also receive medical assistance, ensuring they receive ongoing skilled nursing care without arbitrary caps on coverage. The legislation defines home care nursing services as continuous, medically necessary care that cannot be safely delivered through intermittent visits, and mandates that plans refer to these services by this specific name in all coverage documents. While cost-sharing like copayments may still apply, the bill prohibits plans from restricting coverage based on the total amount of services needed, with most provisions taking effect in 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 793 establishes a voluntary certification program for commercial salt applicators (businesses that apply deicers for hire on private property) in Minnesota. To become certified, applicators must complete approved training on water-friendly snow/ice removal practices, pass an exam, and renew every decade. Certified applicators gain limited liability protection if they follow approved best practices and avoid gross negligence, but must maintain detailed records of deicer use and submit annual reports to the Pollution Control Agency. The program aims to reduce environmental harm from excessive salt runoff while providing a clear standard for commercial snow removal services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health plans in Minnesota that offer maternity benefits to cover infertility treatment and standard fertility preservation services for their enrollees. It defines infertility based on medical criteria and specifies that coverage must match the cost-sharing terms applied to maternity care, including limits on oocyte retrievals but unlimited embryo transfers. The legislation also mandates that health plans cannot impose additional restrictions, waiting periods, or benefit maximums on these services beyond what applies to maternity coverage. Additionally, the state will reimburse health plans for the costs of providing these new benefits, but only for services that would not have been covered without this law.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts how members, officers, and employees of the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives can use legislative email addresses, telephone numbers, and office space. It prohibits giving out official legislative contact information to anyone who is not a legislator, staff member, or authorized employee, and limits member phone lines to exclusive use by the member and their assigned staff. The law also requires written notification to caucus leaders before allowing non-legislators to occupy assigned office space. Enforcement and penalties for violations are handled through rules adopted by the Senate and House, with courts barred from intervening in disputes over these provisions.

Maddy summaryHF 2901 expands the allowable uses of funds in Minnesota's housing tax credit contribution account to include funding supportive services for residents in existing supportive housing. This bill directly affects housing providers operating supportive housing programs, which assist vulnerable populations like seniors or individuals with disabilities. The key change amends Minnesota Statutes § 462A.40 by adding "funding supportive services in supportive housing" to the list of permitted uses, alongside existing options like construction and rehabilitation. It does not create new funding but allows existing account funds to cover essential services like case management or healthcare coordination within current supportive housing developments.

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.