Rep. Jess Hanson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management to conduct specific studies and submit annual reports to the legislature regarding the state's cannabis industry. The studies must examine industry growth and demand, the size of the illicit market, and the impact of cannabis use on impaired driving incidents. Additionally, the office must perform an annual market analysis that reviews license availability, market stability, and the effect of unregulated sales on the legal market. The legislation mandates public meetings to gather input from consumers and stakeholders before submitting these reports, which are due by January 15 each year. These requirements directly affect the Office of Cannabis Management and provide the legislature with data to monitor the regulated cannabis program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Minnesota to reimburse clinical trainees providing alcoholism, mental health, and chemical dependency services at the same rate as independently licensed professionals. The law applies to all health plans offering these benefits and takes effect on January 1, 2027. It ensures that trainees supervised by licensed providers receive equal payment for their work, which may help expand access to mental health and substance use disorder care. The provision does not apply to services outside the trainee's scope of practice or to certain county-based public health plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires social services agencies in Minnesota to provide new or like-new luggage to children entering, moving between, or exiting foster care. The law specifically prohibits agencies from using disposable bags or cardboard boxes and bans them from reclaiming the provided luggage once a child has it. Agencies may accept donations of suitable luggage and must report their compliance annually to the Office of the Foster Youth Ombudsperson. The changes take effect on January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 3643 establishes Melissa and Mark Hortman Memorial State Park in Ramsey County, specifically within St. Paul, as a new public park. The bill designates precise boundaries for the park using 18 directional points in St. Paul and requires that no park permit or entry fee be charged. It directs the commissioner of natural resources to manage the park under standard state park rules, while specifying that the commissioner of administration and Minnesota Historical Society retain authority over existing buildings and monuments within the park. The legislation also appropriates funds for the park’s establishment, directly affecting public access to this newly designated green space in the city.

Maddy summaryHF 3615 extends the deadline for hemp businesses to use ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories for testing lower-potency hemp edibles and non-intoxicating hemp products. It changes the current January 1, 2026, deadline to May 31, 2027, for these specific products. This affects hemp businesses selling non-intoxicating hemp edibles and consumer products, requiring them to use accredited labs for safety testing. The bill modifies Minnesota Statutes 342.61 to delay the stricter testing requirement while maintaining safety standards. The extension provides additional time for businesses to comply with laboratory accreditation rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Minnesota commissioner of natural resources to transfer all state-owned land within one mile of the Upper Red Lake shoreline and all land within the Red Lake State Forest boundaries to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians without payment. The legislation mandates that the commissioner identify any legal or funding obstacles to these transfers and submit a detailed report by January 15, 2026, to relevant legislative committees with recommendations for resolving those barriers. Additionally, the bill appropriates $20 million in fiscal year 2026 to fund the land conveyance process, with funds available until June 30, 2035, and may be used to acquire additional land needed to facilitate the transfers. The law takes effect immediately upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals previous sales tax exemptions for preferred seating and amenities at athletic facilities, meaning these items will now be subject to sales tax when purchased with event tickets. It also provides funding for safe harbor shelter and housing grants to support homeless assistance programs. The legislation defines various retail sales for tax purposes, including bundled transactions and promotional items, while appropriating money for the housing grants.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public colleges and universities in Minnesota to provide priority course registration for pregnant and parenting students, ensuring they can register before the majority of other undergraduate students. It defines parenting students as those with children under 18 or who can claim a child as a dependent, and applies to Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and eligible private institutions with in-person Minnesota campuses. The law also prohibits institutions from forcing pregnant or parenting students to take leave, withdraw, or change their academic programs due to their status, while requiring schools to offer reasonable accommodations like excused absences and access to recorded lectures. Public institutions must automatically assign early registration appointments to eligible students without requiring additional petitions, and must notify all students annually about these protections.

Maddy summaryHF 2998 establishes a legal process for terminally ill Minnesota adults with a prognosis of six months or less to obtain medication for medical aid in dying. It requires two physician confirmations (an attending provider and a consulting provider), a mental health evaluation by a licensed consultant to confirm capacity, and mandates that patients self-administer the medication. The law prohibits providers from directly administering the medication and classifies related patient data as confidential. Violations of the process could result in criminal penalties, while providers following the law are granted immunity.

Maddy summaryHF 3117 imposes a tiered excise tax on social media businesses that collect consumer data from Minnesota residents. It directly affects for-profit social media platforms with over 100,000 Minnesota users monthly, requiring them to pay tax based on user volume: no tax for under 100,000 users, $0.10 per user for 100,001-500,000 users, and escalating rates for larger user bases. The tax is calculated using Minnesota residents' data, defined as individuals with a Minnesota address, mailing address, or IP location tied to Minnesota. Businesses must report and pay the tax quarterly to Minnesota’s revenue commissioner, with revenues deposited into the state general fund.