Rep. Bianca Virnig

Maddy summaryHF 382 modifies how Minnesota calculates wage rates for staff in disability waiver programs, directly affecting providers serving people with disabilities and their employees. The bill establishes new percentage-based formulas using median wages for specific job titles (e.g., 15% of home health aide wages + 30% of nursing assistant wages for residential direct care staff) instead of previous calculations. It affects 17 staff categories including residential care, employment support, and positive supports roles. The changes take effect January 1, 2026, or after federal approval, and amend Minnesota Statutes 256B.4914.

Maddy summaryHF 3281 requires Minnesota's Department of Health to hire a public health school health services consultant. The consultant must be a registered nurse with specific Minnesota licensure, three years of school nursing experience, and expertise in school health for children and adolescents. This position will develop policies, support school health professionals through training and resources, and improve coordination between schools, health centers, and agencies. The bill directly affects the Department of Health (which must hire the consultant), school nurses, and school health professionals statewide. It focuses on enhancing health services and educational outcomes for students in schools through structured support and resource development.

Maddy summaryHF 2582 appropriates $2.5 million for fiscal year 2026 and $2.5 million for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to provide child care improvement grants. These funds, administered by the commissioner of children, youth, and families, directly support child care providers who improve their facilities or services under Minnesota Statutes section 142D.20, subdivision 3, clause (7). The bill explicitly prohibits using any portion of these funds for administrative costs. This legislation provides dedicated state funding to enhance child care quality and accessibility for Minnesota families.

Maddy summaryHF 3294 is a non-binding resolution passed by the Minnesota House of Representatives. It urges the President and Congress to fully fund Medicaid and oppose federal funding cuts, directly affecting Minnesota's 1.2 million Medicaid beneficiaries - including children (41% covered), seniors, people with disabilities, and communities of color (covering 80-90% of Black and American Indian births). The resolution has no new funding mechanisms or state policy changes; it solely requests federal action. It does not impose new requirements or alter existing Medicaid programs.

Maddy summaryHF 3273 expands Minnesota's maternal death studies to include maternal morbidity - serious health complications during or after pregnancy that cause significant short- or long-term health consequences. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 145.901, to authorize the commissioner of health to collect medical, health, and service data (including WIC, prescription monitoring, and hospital records) related to maternal morbidity or death without patient consent, for the purpose of studying preventable outcomes. Healthcare providers and systems must share relevant records upon request, with the commissioner required to destroy source records after analysis and notify individuals via certified mail when possible. This change directly affects the commissioner of health, healthcare providers, and public health systems by broadening data collection for evaluating maternal health care.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota public schools to include overdose prevention education in health classes for students in grades 6 through 12. It adds specific content about recognizing, preventing, and responding to overdoses to existing health education standards. The mandate applies to all school districts statewide and is integrated into the current curriculum framework under Minnesota Statutes section 120B.215. This change directly affects school curricula and students in those grade levels, without altering funding or creating new programs.

Maddy summaryHF 1355 requires permit holders harvesting or destroying aquatic plants in Minnesota public waters to use scuba diving equipment safely and establishes safety standards for commercial diving operations. It mandates that applicants provide documentation of a recent third-party safety survey by a qualified professional (like a DLI consultant or insurance underwriter) and ensures divers have valid certification from accredited programs. The bill also requires employers to provide buoyancy control devices for workers using scuba equipment during these activities. These requirements apply directly to commercial entities and contractors seeking permits under Minnesota Statutes §103G.615 for aquatic plant management. The law aims to improve workplace safety for divers working in Minnesota's waterways.

Maddy summaryHF 124 allows living public safety officers (including police, firefighters, and emergency responders) to accept certain gifts, such as money, property, plaques, or services, when a fellow officer is killed in the line of duty. The bill requires that gifts be given within 24 months of the death, honor or commemorate the fallen officer, and support team morale. This applies to officers employed by the same agency or political subdivision as the deceased officer. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to permit these gifts without violating existing gift acceptance rules.

Maddy summaryHF 3220 provides $1.81 million in one-time funding for schools to install law enforcement emergency entry devices, specifically secure master key boxes meeting Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1037. These devices allow police to access school buildings from the exterior during emergencies. Eligible applicants include public school districts, charter schools, and cooperatives, with grants limited to $1,000 per school building. Funds are distributed by first awarding one grant per applicant, then using a lottery for remaining funds, and require schools to update safety plans to include device details. The appropriation expires June 30, 2026.

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.