Rep. Kaela Berg

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 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 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 summaryThis bill updates Minnesota's state grain designation to formally recognize wild rice, including its scientific names and both the English and Ojibwe terms for the plant. It amends state statutes to declare wild rice as the official state grain and establishes a policy recognizing the inherent right of uncultivated wild rice to exist and thrive in Minnesota. The legislation also allows a photograph of wild rice to be displayed in the Office of the Secretary of State. This change affects state government records and official symbols while honoring Indigenous language and cultural significance.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits operating motorized watercraft in uncultivated wild rice beds in Minnesota, directly affecting boaters and watercraft operators in affected waterways. The law requires that any watercraft entering these areas must be propelled by hand, such as a canoe or skiff, and bans operating at speeds greater than slow-no-wake within 150 feet of uncultivated wild rice beds. These restrictions aim to protect wild rice habitats from damage caused by boat motors and wake. The bill amends existing Minnesota statutes to add these specific protections for uncultivated wild rice beds.

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 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 directs Minnesota's commissioner of health to conduct a comprehensive study on the state's capacity to support cell and gene therapies for rare diseases, which are conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people nationwide. The study must examine research infrastructure, clinical trial capabilities, workforce needs, payment policies, and access barriers while gathering input from patients, healthcare providers, industry partners, and other stakeholders. By January 1, 2028, the commissioner must submit a report to the legislature with findings and recommendations for strategic investments, policy changes, and regulatory actions to strengthen Minnesota's position in this field. The bill also appropriates money to fund the study and report requirements.

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.