Rep. Bianca Virnig

Maddy summaryHF 984 requires Minnesota school districts to provide nonpublic school students (in private or religious schools) with the same elementary and secondary guidance and counseling services as public school students. It mandates districts to offer these services upon request, with funding based on the average per-pupil spending for similar services in public schools. The bill sets limits on district spending for these services, ensuring costs don’t exceed public school averages, and requires districts to provide transportation between schools if services are offered off-site. It applies to all nonpublic schools within a district and takes effect for state aid starting fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 35 requires all health insurance plans in Minnesota to create a maternal mental health program by January 1, 2026. The program must ensure comprehensive care for pregnant and postpartum individuals by mandating screenings during the perinatal period, requiring fair reimbursement for providers who conduct screenings or provide treatment, and ensuring timely referrals to mental health specialists when needed. This directly affects health insurance plans covering these services and aims to improve access to mental health care for this population. The bill prohibits unreasonable delays in referrals for clinically indicated cases, such as positive mental health screenings or reports of suicidal thoughts.

Maddy summaryHF 1752 amends Minnesota's licensure requirements for dental hygienists under Statutes 150A.06. It establishes two pathways for applicants: (1) graduation from an accredited U.S. dental hygiene program requiring at least two years of education, or (2) a foreign dental degree comparable to a D.D.S. or D.M.D. All applicants must pass the National Board of Dental Hygiene exam, a clinical competency exam, and a test on Minnesota dental laws. The bill also specifies that applicants failing the clinical exam twice must complete additional training before retaking it, and imposes separate fees for reapplying. These changes directly affect individuals seeking to become licensed dental hygienists in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 1658 appropriates $2.5 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 and another $2.5 million for fiscal year 2027 to provide subsidies to federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Minnesota. These centers, which serve underserved communities with primary care, directly benefit from this funding under Minnesota Statutes section 145.9269. The bill establishes a specific annual funding amount to support FQHC operations and services. This is a straightforward funding allocation, not a policy change, with no additional eligibility or distribution details provided in the text.

Maddy summaryHF 119 allocates $150,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to support the Hmong Cultural Center of Minnesota. The funding covers museum programming, library services, and educational classes focused on Hmong Minnesotan history, culture, and folk arts. This directly benefits the Hmong community by preserving and sharing their heritage through public outreach. The Minnesota Humanities Center will administer these grants to the cultural center.

Maddy summaryHF 1963 modifies key timelines for healthcare billing and service delivery in Minnesota. It extends the standard 6-month deadline for health providers to submit medical claims to 12 months when operational disruptions occur, and adds a further 6-month extension if health plans adjust payments. The bill also requires peer recovery support providers (community organizations helping people with substance use disorders) to create formal closure plans if they stop operating. These changes directly affect hospitals, clinics, health insurance plans, counties managing services, and peer recovery organizations.

Maddy summaryHF 1688 makes technical updates to Minnesota's social work licensure rules for provisional (temporary) licenses. It clarifies requirements for students and graduates needing temporary licenses to practice while awaiting full licensure, including adding provisions for those completing degrees from programs "in candidacy status" with accrediting bodies. The bill specifies that applicants must show they've applied for licensure, paid fees, passed exams, completed accredited education, and have no practice violations. Temporary licenses expire after six months, cannot be renewed, and holders must use specific titles (like "Temporary License Baccalaureate Social Worker") until full licensure is granted.

Maddy summaryHF 1147 amends Minnesota law to allow school-age care programs to serve eligible prekindergarten students. It expands the definition of "eligible children" to include children not yet enrolled in kindergarten who have a disability (per state disability law), are experiencing temporary family issues, or are enrolled in kindergarten through grade 6. The bill does not change existing requirements for school-age care programs, such as adult supervision during school breaks, parental involvement, or partnerships with schools. This change enables school districts to extend existing care services to younger children meeting these specific criteria.

Maddy summaryHF 89 amends Minnesota Statutes section 147A.02 to modify requirements for physician assistant collaborative agreements. Currently, the law requires physician assistants to complete 2,080 hours of practice under a collaborative agreement in a hospital or integrated clinical setting, with specific conditions like shared patient care experience between the PA and collaborating physician. This bill changes those requirements, though the exact modifications are not detailed in the provided text. The bill directly affects physician assistants and the physicians they collaborate with in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 1994 establishes standardized daily payment rates for various levels of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services funded through Minnesota’s behavioral health fund. It directly affects treatment providers (such as clinics, residential facilities, and hospitals) that bill this fund for services like outpatient care, residential treatment, and medication-assisted therapy. The bill sets specific rates - for example, $79.84 per day for low-intensity outpatient services and $224.06 per day for high-intensity residential care - while recodifying which providers qualify for payments. It also creates enhanced rates for programs serving parents with children (requiring on-site or documented off-site childcare) and culturally specific SUD services.