Rep. Steve Elkins

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits pharmacy benefit managers in Minnesota from using spread pricing, a practice where they charge health plans higher prices for prescription drugs than they pay pharmacies, and requires their fees to be transparent and based only on the actual cost of services provided. It also imposes fiduciary duties on these managers and limits their income sources to prevent conflicts of interest that could affect drug pricing or coverage decisions. The legislation increases license application and renewal fees for pharmacy benefit managers and requires more detailed information in their applications, including details about leadership and governance. Additionally, the bill defines key terms like "rebates" and "spread pricing" to clarify how these financial arrangements are regulated under Minnesota law.

Maddy summaryHF 3293 creates the Minnesota Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (MCFPB) to enforce consumer financial laws and protect residents from unfair or deceptive practices in banking, lending, and other financial services. The bill establishes a commissioner appointed by the governor to oversee the bureau, which will investigate complaints, monitor financial markets, and enforce anti-discrimination rules in consumer finance. It appropriates funding for the bureau’s operations in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, and directs the commissioner to recruit staff with federal CFPB experience. The bureau directly affects Minnesota consumers and financial institutions operating in the state by providing a dedicated enforcement agency for consumer financial protection.

Maddy summaryHF 3240 establishes a two-year grant program administered by Minnesota's Department of Health to address outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (like measles) in communities with low vaccination rates. It appropriates funds for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support community health boards and nonprofit organizations working in these high-risk areas. Grant funds must cover culturally appropriate vaccine education, combating misinformation, and helping individuals access vaccines, with materials provided in primary languages of affected populations. The program directly targets geographic areas or populations experiencing or at risk of outbreaks due to low vaccination coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how utilization review organizations in Minnesota handle prior authorization requests for healthcare services and establishes new enforcement mechanisms. It requires these organizations to contact physicians before denying requests and mandates that adverse determinations be communicated within five business days with clear explanations and appeal information. The legislation also authorizes the commissioner of commerce to impose fines on organizations that reverse more than 40 percent of appeals over a 12-month period and creates a cause of action for wrongful denials. Additionally, the bill restricts the ability to revoke previously authorized services unless fraud or legal conflicts are proven, while requiring oversight from health licensing boards.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Minnesota Digital Choice Act to give users more control over their personal data on social media platforms. It directly affects social media companies and the users who interact with them by creating new data rights and interoperability requirements. Key provisions allow users to request deletion of their personal data and obtain copies in portable formats, while requiring companies to use open protocols that enable users to share their social connections and data across different platforms. The law also mandates that companies respond to data requests within five business days and maintain secure systems for handling user information.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurance plans and utilization review organizations in Minnesota from requiring prior authorization for drugs that have been continuously prescribed to an enrollee for at least six months. The law applies to health benefit plans offered, sold, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, and directly affects patients who have been on stable medication regimens for half a year or longer. By removing this administrative requirement for ongoing prescriptions, the bill aims to reduce barriers to accessing medications that patients have already been using consistently. The provision is part of broader changes to Minnesota's health insurance laws that also limit prior authorization for emergency services, mental health treatment, cancer care, and preventive screenings.

Maddy summaryHF 3414 creates a new legal pathway for Minnesotans to sue government officials who violate their civil rights under the U.S. or Minnesota Constitution. It allows individuals harmed by such violations to seek damages, injunctions, and attorney fees within six years of the incident. The bill also requires state and local law enforcement agencies to obtain written agreements from federal partners before collaborating, ensuring federal officers follow both U.S. and Minnesota constitutional standards and can be held liable under this new law. This directly affects people experiencing civil rights violations and law enforcement agencies entering federal partnerships.

Maddy summaryHF 2851 modifies Minnesota's rules for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). It prohibits PBMs from using "spread pricing" (charging health plans more than they pay pharmacies for drugs) and imposes new fiduciary duties requiring PBMs to act in health plan members' best interests. The bill also increases PBM license application fees to at least $15,000 and appropriates funds for enforcement. These changes directly affect PBMs operating in Minnesota, aiming to increase transparency and accountability in drug pricing.

Maddy summaryHF 3708 requires Minnesota's commissioner of management and budget to compare actual prescription drug costs under the current pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) contract (2023-2024) with projected costs under the previous contract (2018-2022), adjusting for formulary or utilization changes. The commissioner must report this comparison to the legislative auditor and relevant committees by March 1, 2025, using industry-recognized data. The legislative auditor then verifies the accuracy of this report by April 1, 2025. If the comparison shows no savings (after adjustments), the state may skip the reverse auction process for selecting a new PBM; if savings were achieved, the reverse auction must be used for the next contract. This directly affects how Minnesota selects future state health program PBMs.

Maddy summaryHF 3655 appropriates $300,000 from the general fund to the I-494 Corridor Commission for fiscal year 2026. The funding must cover specific activities like staffing, communications, outreach, and program development - excluding administrative costs - and must be fully spent by June 30, 2026. This is a one-time appropriation with no ongoing requirements. The bill directly affects the I-494 Corridor Commission’s operational capacity for community engagement and service planning.