Rep. Bianca Virnig

Maddy summaryHF 3624 appropriates $5,392,000 from the general fund for Minnesota's food shelf programs in fiscal year 2027. The funding, added to the base allocation, supports existing food shelf operations under Minnesota Statutes section 142F.14, administered by the state agency for children, youth, and families. This bill directly affects community food shelves that provide emergency food assistance to Minnesotans in need, without changing program eligibility or creating new requirements. The measure focuses solely on providing dedicated state funding for current food shelf services.

Maddy summaryHF 3586 establishes a $10 million annual grant program for regional food banks and Minnesota Tribal governments in Minnesota, funded through the general fund for fiscal years 2027-2029. The program distributes funds based on poverty and unemployment data in each area, requiring grantees to use money for purchasing, transporting, and distributing food and hygiene products (like diapers) at no cost to recipients. Funds cannot cover staff salaries or other ineligible expenses, and grantees must report spending and maintain records for oversight. This bill directly supports food banks serving low-income individuals and families by expanding access to essential food and hygiene supplies.

Maddy summaryHF 82 clarifies the scope of practice for licensed athletic trainers in Minnesota. The bill defines "athletic training" to include specific activities like injury prevention, emergency care, assessment, rehabilitation, and clinical decision-making within the trainer's expertise. It requires athletic trainers to work under a primary physician's direction, with documented protocols updated yearly, and limits initial treatment of undiagnosed injuries to 30 days (or less as specified by the physician). This directly affects athletic trainers, primary physicians, and healthcare facilities employing them, ensuring clear boundaries for their practice while preventing overlap with other licensed professions like physical therapy or medicine.

Maddy summaryHF 2700 modifies Minnesota's Consumer Data Privacy Act by explicitly classifying consumer health data as a type of sensitive data requiring heightened protections. The bill adds new consent requirements for businesses processing health information and strengthens safeguards for all sensitive data, including health, genetic, and biometric information. It directly affects Minnesota residents whose health data is collected by businesses and requires those businesses to obtain clear, specific consent before using such data. The law amends key sections of Minnesota Statutes (325M.11-325M.20) to implement these changes, repealing the previous section that defined health data protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill classifies domestic assault by strangulation as a violent crime under Minnesota law. It achieves this by adding a specific reference to strangulation statutes within the state's definition of violent crimes, which determines how certain offenses are categorized and potentially punished. The changes apply to cases involving crimes committed on or after August 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens penalties for violating domestic violence protection orders in Minnesota by categorizing repeat offenses and those involving weapons as more serious crimes. Under the new rules, a first violation is a misdemeanor with a minimum three-day jail sentence, while a second violation within ten years becomes a gross misdemeanor with a minimum ten-day sentence. A third violation within that same period or any violation involving a weapon or a prior felony conviction is classified as a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. The legislation also clarifies arrest procedures, requiring officers to hold violators for at least 36 hours and granting immunity from civil lawsuits to officers acting in good faith.

Maddy summaryHF 2904 requires certain Minnesota school employers - including school districts, charter schools, and vocational education centers - to join the state's public employees insurance program. It establishes an "educator group insurance program" specifically for school employees, mandating coverage tiers that match existing school employee pool options and including high-deductible plans. The bill creates a labor management committee with 12 members (including seven from Education Minnesota and representatives from unions and school administrators) to study program issues like cost efficiency. It also requires mutual agreement between the commissioner and the committee before changing cost-sharing plans. This bill directly affects school employees and their employers by integrating them into the state's insurance framework with specific administrative structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires a ten percent reduction in state aid to any Minnesota county or city that displays a state flag different from the design certified by the State Emblems Redesign Commission. To enforce this penalty, local governments must notify the commissioner of revenue by December 31 each year if they have used the incorrect flag, and the aid reduction applies to payments made in the following year. The law takes effect for aid distributed in 2027, directly impacting local municipalities that choose to fly a flag other than the officially certified version.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows housing and redevelopment agencies in Minnesota to invest their funds in specific types of long-term equity investments, including index mutual funds and shares of companies focused on local multifamily housing development. The legislation modifies existing state investment rules to expand the range of approved investment options while requiring agencies to adopt formal resolutions acknowledging the risks involved before making any investments. Local government bodies must also certify that funds designated for investment meet all state requirements and established policies. The changes take effect immediately upon final enactment of the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $350,000 from the state's general fund to provide a one-time grant for a pilot program supporting families affected by substance use disorder. The funding will enable Thrive Family Recovery Resources to offer peer services, education, resource navigation, and general support to these families. By January 20, 2027, the commissioner of human services must submit a report evaluating the pilot program's results and recommending whether to continue funding through an ongoing grant. The legislation is a one-time appropriation that does not establish permanent funding for the program.