Rep. Mike Howard

Maddy summaryHF 1278 establishes a one-time $30 million reproductive health equity grant fund to support abortion care access in Minnesota. The bill provides funding to abortion providers, government agencies, and nonprofits whose primary work involves abortion care, with grants designed to increase access, cover uncompensated care for low-income patients, secure facility infrastructure, and fund staff training in trauma-informed care. Eligible organizations must apply through the commissioner of health, who will prioritize applications based on local need, health equity impact, and applicant need. The fund becomes effective July 1, 2025, with grants to begin by January 1, 2026, and includes strict privacy protections requiring confidentiality of patient information.

Maddy summaryHF 2289 requires Minnesota hospitals to maintain registered nurse staffing levels consistent with nationally accepted standards, ensuring adequate care for patients. Hospitals must create and implement staffing plans specifying maximum patient-to-nurse ratios for each unit, developed with input from direct-care registered nurses, and report these levels to the state. The bill prohibits retaliation against nurses who raise staffing concerns and imposes civil penalties for noncompliance. It directly affects all licensed Minnesota hospitals, their nursing staff, and patients by mandating safer staffing practices. The law appropriates funding to support implementation of these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $342,000 from the general fund for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Minnesota Rare Disease Advisory Council. It directly provides funding to support the council's operations under Minnesota Statutes section 256.4835. The funding mechanism is a straightforward annual appropriation for the council's existing statutory purpose, with no new program requirements or eligibility changes. The bill affects the council and the rare disease community it serves by ensuring ongoing financial support for its advisory work.

Maddy summaryHF 1502 establishes a new process to determine disability for Minnesota medical assistance (Medicaid) eligibility, creating a specific pathway for applicants under 65 who are blind or claim disability but haven’t been formally determined disabled by the Social Security Administration. The bill requires that such applicants be referred to the state medical review team for a disability determination if they don’t qualify under other eligibility categories. This change, effective July 1, 2025, directly affects Minnesotans applying for medical assistance who fall into this category. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 256B.055 and 256B.056 to implement these provisions.

Maddy summaryHF 2228 establishes a 13-member task force to address insurance affordability issues affecting homeowners, renters in multifamily housing, common interest communities, cooperatives, and small businesses. The task force will review topics like risk mitigation, liability laws, reinsurance markets, and climate-related claim costs, then submit recommendations by February 2026. The bill appropriates $200,000 from the general fund to cover the task force’s operational costs through June 2026. It does not make immediate policy changes but requires a final report with findings and draft legislation to strengthen Minnesota’s property insurance system.

Maddy summaryHF 3156 restricts local governments from blocking affordable housing developments by religious organizations on their own land. It requires cities to permit such projects as a "permitted use" in specific zones: up to three units on most residential lots, up to eight units outside single-family districts, and up to 12 units in mixed-use or commercial areas. The bill defines "affordable housing" as developments where 20-40% of units are for households earning ≤50-60% of area median income, and sets minimum density requirements (e.g., 1.25x existing density). This directly affects religious organizations seeking to build housing, cities with zoning codes that previously restricted such projects, and low-income residents in communities where these developments may be constructed.

Maddy summaryHF 3190 would impose a 2% gross receipts tax on businesses providing specific professional services to other businesses within Minnesota. It directly affects companies offering services like legal, accounting, architectural, engineering, management consulting, and computer services to other trade or business entities. The tax applies to the total revenue from these business-to-business service sales, with businesses optionally collecting it from customers (if separately stated) or paying it directly to the state. Businesses that paid similar taxes to other states may claim a credit against this tax. The bill does not apply to services sold directly to end consumers or to personal services.

Maddy summaryHF 2134 strengthens protections for Minnesota's wild rice waters by requiring a "wild rice risk justification" before certain pesticide permits are issued. It prohibits watercraft operations that threaten uncultivated wild rice beds and mandates the commissioner of natural resources to maintain current maps of wild rice waters. The bill appropriates funds to support these measures, including enforcement and map upkeep. These changes directly affect pesticide permit applicants, watercraft operators in wild rice areas, and state agencies managing natural resources.

Maddy summaryHF 2445 is a budget bill appropriating $82.7 million annually for Minnesota's Housing Finance Agency for fiscal years 2026-2027. It allocates funds to existing housing programs, including $23 million for rent assistance, $10.3 million for family homeless prevention, $5.3 million for rental aid targeting individuals with mental illness, and $1.2 million specifically for American Indian housing projects. These funds support low-income renters, homeless families, and vulnerable populations through established state housing programs under Minnesota Statutes. The bill does not create new policies but provides mandatory funding for current housing assistance initiatives.

Maddy summaryHF 2480 authorizes Minnesota housing and redevelopment authorities to create new public corporations specifically to purchase, own, and operate properties converted under the federal Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. These corporations can access funding through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) to preserve and improve these public housing properties. The bill amends several housing statutes to define the legal structure, powers, and funding mechanisms for these entities, effective July 1, 2025. It directly affects housing authorities managing RAD properties by providing a new administrative framework for their long-term stewardship.