Rep. Robert Bierman

Maddy summaryHF 2598 appropriates $1,936,000 from the health care access fund to the Commissioner of Human Services for one-time grants to navigator organizations. These are organizations with active MNsure grant services contracts that helped enroll people in medical assistance or MinnesotaCare during Q2 2025. The grant amount for each organization is based on the number of successful enrollments they assisted during that period. Funds are available until June 30, 2027, and are specifically for organizations currently serving as MNsure navigators.

Maddy summaryHF 2624 amends Minnesota's prescription monitoring program (PMP) to update reporting requirements for controlled substances. The bill specifically adds butalbital, gabapentin, and FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal agents to the list of "controlled reportable substances" tracked in the PMP. It requires pharmacies and dispensers to report detailed patient and prescription data (including name, address, date of birth, drug name/strength, and quantity dispensed) electronically, while clarifying exemptions for inpatient hospital care, drug samples, and prescriptions mailed to other states. This bill directly affects pharmacists, hospitals, and prescribers who dispense controlled substances within Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 1093 directs Minnesota's Commissioner of Human Services to create a centralized prescription drug purchasing program for medical assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees (who receive state-funded health coverage). The program requires the commissioner to negotiate lower drug prices, develop a preferred drug list, manage pharmacy participation, and coordinate prescription benefits. It mandates the commissioner to seek federal approval for implementation (effective January 2027) and submit expansion recommendations by December 2027 to include health plan companies administering drug benefits. The bill focuses on lowering costs for covered individuals through coordinated purchasing and price negotiations.

Maddy summaryHF 2040 directs Minnesota's Commissioner of Human Services to provide regular updates and seek federal approval for children's mental health programs. It funds gaps in children's residential facilities, establishes crisis stabilization facilities, and creates a legislative task force to address issues in residential care. The bill also requires licensing for facilities serving youth with sexual behavior concerns and mandates a financial study on residential facility funding. These changes aim to improve access to mental health services for children, particularly those in foster care, juvenile justice, or under protective services, with specific funding appropriations included.

Maddy summaryHF 2034 appropriates $17,057,000 annually from the general fund and $255,000 annually from the natural resources fund for the Minnesota Zoological Garden (Minneapolis Zoo) during fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The funds are allocated directly to the Minnesota Zoological Board to support the zoo's operations and maintenance. This bill provides specific, targeted funding without altering zoo policies or creating new requirements. It affects the zoo's budget directly through these fixed annual appropriations.

Maddy summaryHF 2482 modifies rules for when health insurance plans can change prior authorization requirements for medical services or drugs. It requires plans to maintain existing coverage terms or clinical criteria for current enrollees until the next plan year, unless changes relate to FDA safety warnings, drug withdrawals, or evidence-based recommendations about patient harm. The bill also mandates that if a plan removes a brand-name drug from its formulary or increases patient costs, it must add a cheaper generic or biosimilar equivalent and provide 60 days' notice to prescribers and patients. These changes apply to all health benefit plans starting January 1, 2026, and extend to state health programs under chapters 256B and 256L.

Maddy summaryHF 2591 establishes a new fifth tax bracket for Minnesota individual income tax, targeting high earners to replace revenue lost from federal Medicaid funding changes. The bill amends tax law to create a top income bracket (applying to income over $1.667 million for married couples filing jointly) with a rate set by the commissioner of revenue. This rate must be calculated to generate revenue equal to the amount of federal Medicaid funds Minnesota lost, as certified by the commissioner of management and budget. The new tax rate applies to taxable years 2026 and 2027, affecting only taxpayers in the highest income bracket.

Maddy summaryHF 794 establishes a state dementia services program under Minnesota's commissioner of health to coordinate existing Alzheimer's and dementia-related services. The program will link state agencies, Tribal Nations, community groups, and research organizations to improve public awareness, update Minnesota's Alzheimer's Disease State Plan, and integrate early detection strategies into public health efforts. The bill appropriates funding from the general fund for the program, starting with an unspecified amount in fiscal year 2026 and a base amount in 2027. This directly affects Minnesotans living with dementia, their caregivers, and the state agencies and community organizations providing related services.

Maddy summaryHF 2414 provides $45 million in fiscal year 2026 and $45 million in fiscal year 2027 from the state general fund to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. The funding is specifically designated to implement the University of Minnesota's Health Sciences Strategic Plan. This bill directly affects the University of Minnesota's health sciences programs and initiatives. The key provision is the direct appropriation of these funds to address critical health care challenges facing Minnesota, as outlined in the university's strategic plan.

Maddy summaryHF 2506 establishes a new premium subsidy program administered by MNsure, providing a 20% subsidy on monthly gross premiums for eligible individuals purchasing individual health insurance plans in Minnesota. This directly affects Minnesota residents enrolled in individual market plans who are not receiving federal advance premium tax credits or public coverage, as well as health insurance carriers that receive payments from MNsure. The program begins January 1, 2026, with MNsure paying health carriers directly for each eligible individual's coverage, excluding the subsidy from eligibility calculations for other state programs. The bill also ends the existing Minnesota Premium Security Plan (MPS) after December 31, 2025, and appropriates funds to support the new subsidy program.