Rep. Bianca Virnig

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 summaryHF 3260 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Agriculture to prepare a report on agricultural land trends using $1.1 million in fiscal year 2026 funds. The report must include data on land sales (price, acres, buyer type, financing), regional land use differences, and policy recommendations to ensure farmland remains available for farmers. It prohibits including personally identifiable information and mandates submission to legislative committees by January 1, 2027. This bill directly affects agricultural land transactions and informs future policy decisions, but does not change existing land use laws.

Maddy summaryHF 104 makes statements and documents created during restorative justice practices (like conferences or circles) inadmissible in court. It protects confidentiality for all participants - including those who caused harm, those harmed, and community members - and classifies their personal data as private. The bill prohibits using such statements or data in legal proceedings unless exceptions apply, such as preventing serious harm or crime. This directly affects individuals participating in Minnesota's restorative justice programs by ensuring their discussions remain confidential during the process.

Maddy summaryHF 3259 reauthorizes Minnesota's existing farmer-lender mediation program, extending its operational deadline from June 30, 2027, to June 30, 2032. This program directly helps farmers and lenders resolve financial disputes through voluntary mediation instead of court proceedings. The bill updates Minnesota Statutes section 583.215 to reflect this extended expiration date, ensuring continued access to mediation services for agricultural debt conflicts.

Maddy summaryHF 1354 requires Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to make publicly available, within 30 days of case closure, video footage documenting officer-involved death investigations that is already public under other laws. It specifically limits the scope of video shared to only footage recording actions and circumstances surrounding the incident. The bill also mandates an annual report to state leaders by February 1st detailing investigation statistics, outcomes, and charging decisions. This affects the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the public accessing these records. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 299C.80, subdivision 6.

Maddy summaryHF 2090 increases the default allowance for living and miscellaneous expenses in Minnesota's state grant program, directly affecting students receiving state financial aid. It establishes the State Grant Plus scholarship, providing 25% of a student's regular state grant award (up to 8 full-time semesters for bachelor's degrees) to supplement existing grants for eligible students not receiving North Star Promise scholarships. The bill also creates new grant programs within the Office of Higher Education and requires related reports, with funding appropriated for these changes. These provisions aim to enhance financial support for Minnesota students pursuing postsecondary education at public, Tribal, or eligible private nonprofit institutions.

Maddy summaryHF 973 eliminates co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles for mobile crisis intervention services in Minnesota's emergency mental health system. This directly affects individuals seeking immediate mental health crisis support, removing financial barriers to accessing these services. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 245.469 and 256L.03, subdivision 5, to require that mobile crisis teams provide services without cost-sharing from clients. It also appropriates state funds to cover these eliminated costs, ensuring no out-of-pocket expenses for residents during mental health emergencies.

Maddy summaryHF 2725 establishes a Healthy Aging Subcabinet within Minnesota Management and Budget and a Citizens' Engagement Council to develop a statewide Minnesota Healthy Aging Plan. The bill requires a director (appointed by the governor with public health and aging expertise) to lead the Subcabinet, coordinate community input from older adults, caregivers, and Tribal Nations, and integrate aging considerations into state agency planning. Key provisions mandate analyzing healthcare access (including oral health and chronic conditions), family caregiving needs, and funding opportunities to support aging in place. The bill appropriates funds for the Office of Healthy Aging and its planning process, directly affecting older Minnesotans, caregivers, and state agencies delivering aging services.

Maddy summaryHF 3017 appropriates $1 million from the general fund for a nonprofit organization, Guns Down Love Up, to acquire property for a retreat center specifically for victims of gun violence. The funds are designated for property acquisition only, not for operating the center, and must be spent within the fiscal year 2026 timeframe. This bill directly affects individuals who have experienced gun violence by providing funding for a dedicated support space. The appropriation is subject to standard state fiscal rules and becomes effective upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 2339 increases Minnesota's income threshold for the child tax credit, allowing more families to qualify for the full benefit before credits begin phasing out. The bill raises the phaseout threshold from $35,000 to $45,490 for married couples filing jointly and from $29,500 to $38,340 for other filers. This change directly affects Minnesota taxpayers with children who file individual income tax returns, as it prevents the credit from decreasing at lower income levels. The bill also requires future annual inflation adjustments to these thresholds starting in 2026.