Rep. Bianca Virnig

Maddy summaryHF 362 establishes a state licensing system for massage therapists and Asian bodywork therapists in Minnesota. It requires practitioners to meet specific educational standards (including minimum contact hours), pass a credentialing exam, and obtain a license from the Minnesota Department of Health. The bill defines both practices (e.g., Asian bodywork therapy uses techniques like pressing and stretching based on Chinese medical principles), sets application and renewal fees, and includes criminal penalties for practicing without a license. This directly affects therapists seeking to legally provide these services and ensures they meet standardized training and safety requirements, while also providing funding for implementation.

Maddy summaryHF 2322 creates the Minnesota Young Readers Club program to provide monthly book deliveries to prekindergarten through grade 5 students reading below grade level. The program delivers culturally relevant, age-appropriate books directly to students' homes or schools at least once monthly, along with family support materials in home languages. It requires schools to identify eligible students through universal screening, state assessments, or teacher recommendations, and partners with an external organization for book selection and distribution. The bill appropriates state funds for implementation, book contracts, and reporting to the Department of Education.

Maddy summaryHF 2334 requires dental insurance organizations in Minnesota to maintain a minimum 85% loss ratio, meaning they must pay at least 85% of premium revenue in claims to policyholders. If organizations fail to meet this ratio, they must provide remediation to enrollees through direct rebates, increased benefit limits, or other approved methods. The bill also mandates annual reporting of loss ratios and financial details to the Department of Commerce, with this data published online for public comparison. This applies specifically to dental insurance plans, not general health insurance, and takes effect between 2026 and 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes funding for a grant program that helps a permitted facility purchase and install equipment to continuously monitor lead emissions in the air. The program is designed for facilities that have frequently exceeded lead emission limits and are located near residential areas, with priority given to those meeting these criteria. The grant can cover up to 100% of the costs for buying and installing the monitoring system, which measures real-time pollutant concentrations to ensure compliance with emission standards. Administrative costs and technical assistance for the grant recipient may also be reimbursed from the allocated funds. The appropriation is a one-time allocation available until June 30, 2029, and becomes effective upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 3617 bans the possession of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons in Minnesota, including specific firearms like AR-15 rifles and AK-47s, as well as weapons with features such as folding stocks, pistol grips, or detachable magazines. The bill defines these weapons broadly to cover both listed models and similar firearms with minor modifications, such as redesigned versions or enhanced features. Possessing a banned weapon would be a criminal offense under amended statutes, with penalties established for violations. This law directly affects individuals who own or possess these firearms, making such possession illegal under state law.

Maddy summaryHF 3618 bans the possession of specific semiautomatic military-style assault weapons (like AR-15s, AK-47s, and Uzis) and ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds in Minnesota. It defines these weapons broadly to include models listed in the bill, as well as firearms with features like folding stocks, pistol grips, or threaded barrels. The bill creates criminal penalties for possessing these banned weapons or magazines, directly affecting individuals who own them. The law would amend Minnesota statutes to enforce this ban and penalties, applying to anyone in the state who possesses such firearms or magazines.

Maddy summaryHF 2499 expands Minnesota's renter's credit to match the maximum refund amount available under the homestead credit for homeowners. The bill adjusts the calculation so renters with household incomes up to $137,789 can receive a maximum credit of $3,500, aligning with the homestead credit's highest tier. This change directly affects renters who pay rent considered equivalent to property taxes, ensuring they receive the same maximum tax credit as homeowners. The key mechanism revises the credit formula in Minnesota Statutes 290.0693 to eliminate the previous disparity in maximum benefit amounts between renters and homeowners.

Maddy summaryHF 1944 amends Minnesota law to require all state agencies, counties, cities, and towns to use federal standard time (not daylight saving time) year-round starting in 2025. It changes how time is referenced in state law to align with federal standards, meaning state government operations and references to time must follow federal rules. The bill automatically expires if federal law ever permits states to adopt year-round "advanced standard time." It directly affects all Minnesota local and state government entities that reference time in their operations or laws.

Maddy summaryHF 3174 allows the chief judge of the Office of Administrative Hearings to set aside certain permanent background disqualifications for individuals seeking employment in licensed programs, primarily affecting those in child foster care and substance use disorder treatment fields. The bill requires the chief judge to assess whether the individual poses no risk of harm, considering factors like the nature of the original offense, rehabilitation efforts, time elapsed, and for substance use workers, proof of treatment and one year of abstinence. It specifies strict criteria for substance use treatment roles, including documentation of successful treatment and no recent disqualifying conduct. The set-aside is limited to specific programs or agencies and does not remove the underlying disqualification.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding for Minnesota's Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program, raising the annual appropriation from $10.27 million to $45.27 million. The additional funds will be used to reduce homelessness risks and improve program effectiveness, with a portion designated for the housing development fund. The legislation also grants agencies flexibility in awarding grants to existing grantees and allows new grantees in certain areas to work with advisory committees or local care systems without meeting specific statutory requirements. These changes take effect immediately and establish a future funding base of $10.72 million starting in fiscal year 2028.