Rep. Jess Hanson

Maddy summarySF 3868 prohibits the placement or operation of virtual currency kiosks (physical machines for buying/selling cryptocurrency) within Minnesota. It directly affects businesses that operate such kiosks by banning their activity statewide. The bill creates a new legal provision (Minnesota Statutes § 53B.691) explicitly stating this prohibition and repeals all existing statutes (53B.69-53B.75) that previously defined virtual currency kiosk operations and related terms. This represents a complete ban on physical cryptocurrency kiosks in Minnesota, replacing the prior regulatory framework.

Maddy summaryHF 3476 establishes Minnesota's Patient-Centered Care program, which directly affects medical assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees by changing how healthcare providers are paid. The bill requires the state to pay healthcare providers directly for services (instead of through managed care plans), authorizes contracting with administrative organizations for tasks like claims processing (without financial risk), and mandates care coordination services. Key provisions include fee-for-service payments to providers, flat payments for primary care coordination, and funding for community outreach to help vulnerable patients access care. This replaces existing managed care contracts and aims to improve health outcomes while increasing transparency for public health programs.

Maddy summaryHF 955 modifies Minnesota's requirements for financial assurance related to nonferrous mining permits. It requires the commissioner to annually review the amount of financial assurance (such as bonds or deposits) held by operators of nonferrous mining operations to ensure it covers reclamation costs and corrective actions for permit violations. This change directly affects companies seeking or holding permits for nonferrous metallic mineral mining (like copper or nickel). The bill updates existing statutes to mandate this annual review process, ensuring funds remain sufficient as project costs may change over time. It does not alter the initial fee amounts or the types of coverage required.

Maddy summaryHF 3454 modifies Minnesota's social work licensing rules to clarify when professionals can use titles like "social worker." It requires county social workers without a social work degree or license to stop using those titles in public by July 1, 2026, unless they were already employed by the county before July 1, 2027. The bill also mandates that all social workers using public-facing titles must display their license designation (e.g., LSW, LISW) and prohibits misleading claims about their qualifications. These changes directly affect county agency social workers and ensure title usage aligns with licensing status.

Maddy summaryHF 309 amends Minnesota Statutes §84.523 to tighten mining restrictions in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) and Rainy River headwaters. The bill requires the commissioner of natural resources to determine that proposed mining (for taconite, sand, gravel, or granite) in the Rainy River headwaters would not harm the BWCA before any permits are issued. This modifies existing law by adding this specific assessment step, directly affecting mining operations seeking approval in these areas. The change maintains the general prohibition on mining without legislative approval but adds a new administrative requirement for the commissioner to evaluate environmental impacts. The bill focuses on protecting the BWCA's wilderness character through stricter permitting conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $1.5 million from the arts and cultural heritage fund to the City of Minneapolis to create a public memorial honoring Renée Good and Alex Pretti. The memorial will feature statues, educational exhibits, and a space for community reflection, focusing on their deaths and the broader issues of civil rights and immigration enforcement. The project requires a collaborative planning process involving local residents, civil rights groups, artists, and historians, with oversight provided by a partnership including city officials and state legislators. While the state provides the initial funding, the city is permitted to seek additional private donations and partnerships to cover design, programming, and long-term maintenance costs.

Maddy summaryHF 3452 classifies kratom as a Schedule II controlled substance in Minnesota, subjecting it to strict state regulations similar to opioids. The bill adds mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (the active compounds in kratom) to Schedule II, making unauthorized possession or sale illegal without a prescription. It repeals a prior law that only set penalties for selling kratom to minors or for minors possessing it. This change directly affects individuals who use or sell kratom, including businesses that currently sell kratom products, by applying full Schedule II restrictions.

Maddy summaryHF 3642 prohibits the placement or operation of virtual currency kiosks in Minnesota, directly affecting businesses that provide physical kiosks for exchanging virtual currency (like Bitcoin) for cash or vice versa. The bill's key provision bans these kiosks outright, replacing prior regulations that had defined terms like "new customer" and set transaction limits. It repeals all existing statutes (53B.69 to 53B.75) that previously governed virtual currency kiosk operations, removing the legal framework that allowed such kiosks to function under specific conditions. As a result, no virtual currency kiosks may legally operate within the state under this law.

Maddy summaryHF 3779 requires all health insurance plans in Minnesota to cover doula services - providing emotional and physical support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum - without any deductibles, co-pays, or cost-sharing for enrollees. It prohibits health plans from imposing referral requirements, utilization reviews, or quantity limits on this coverage. Starting January 1, 2027, the commissioner of commerce will reimburse health plans for the costs of covering doula services, funded by annual state appropriations beginning in 2028. This bill directly affects health plan enrollees, particularly pregnant people seeking doula support, and health insurance companies that must now include this coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Metropolitan Airports Commission to increase transparency regarding flights at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport that transport detained immigrants. Specifically, it mandates that the airport operator notify the commission whenever U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrives or departs with passengers being held in restraints. The legislation also requires the commission to install a live-streaming camera to record these flights and to submit monthly reports detailing the number of detained individuals, including minors, on each trip. These measures are designed to provide the public and state officials with real-time data and regular updates on immigration-related air traffic at the airport.