Rep. John Huot

Maddy summaryHF 97 modifies coverage for chiropractic services under MinnesotaCare and medical assistance programs. It specifies that covered services - including spinal manipulation, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercises for spinal conditions - must be provided by a licensed professional using accepted standards. The bill limits non-x-ray services to one annual evaluation and 24 visits per year, requiring prior authorization for more visits. It also restricts x-ray coverage to full spine or specific spinal area exams necessary for diagnosing subluxation. The bill repeals the previous coverage description in Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256L.03, subdivision 3b.

Maddy summaryHF 1808 requires Minnesota health insurance companies to count all payments made by enrollees (or on their behalf) toward their out-of-pocket maximums, including co-pays, coinsurance, and deductibles. This applies to all health plans offered, issued, or renewed in Minnesota after January 1, 2026. The bill directly affects health insurance enrollees by ensuring all their payments count toward meeting cost-sharing limits, and it applies to all health plan companies operating in the state. The law aims to clarify how insurers calculate these limits under Minnesota Statutes.

Maddy summaryHF 1255 allows certain public safety employees in Minnesota to purchase their surplus badges at fair market value. The bill specifically applies to current or retired state troopers, commercial vehicle inspectors, and Capitol security officers. It amends Minnesota Statutes to permit the commissioner to sell badges bearing pre-May 11, 2024 seals (or retired personnel badges) directly to the employee who originally used them. The sale price must reflect the badge's fair market value as determined by the commissioner. This is a procedural change affecting badge ownership for these specific state employees.

Maddy summaryHF 697 appropriates $1.27 million for fiscal year 2026 and $2.05 million for fiscal year 2027 from the state general fund to purchase weather forecasting radar data. The funding aims to fill five critical radar coverage gaps in Minnesota during the first year, expanding to eight gaps annually thereafter, to improve weather monitoring. The procured data must be shared with the Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, and Pollution Control. This funding directly supports the Public Safety Commissioner’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division for enhancing public safety through better weather planning and response.

Maddy summaryHF 3074 creates legal rights for transportation network company (TNC) drivers in Minnesota to form and join labor organizations for collective bargaining. It directly affects "active drivers" who completed at least the median number of rides in the most recent two quarters, as defined by the bill. The law establishes a certification process where drivers can designate an exclusive representative (like a union) through the Bureau of Mediation Services, while prohibiting TNCs from controlling or dominating driver representation groups ("company unions"). Drivers gain the right to negotiate terms and conditions of work, including grievance procedures, with TNCs, and the bill defines "lockout" to prevent TNCs from restricting driver access to the platform during disputes.

Maddy summaryHF 2395 increases the maximum lump-sum pension amount for firefighters in Minnesota's defined benefit relief associations. It raises the cap from $15,000 to $20,000 per year of credited service, directly affecting volunteer and on-call firefighters who receive lump-sum pensions through these associations. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to set this new maximum, allowing associations to adopt lower amounts only if ratified by the municipality. This change applies uniformly to all years of active service, without altering existing monthly pension caps.

Maddy summaryHF 1010 establishes a new licensure process for certified midwives in Minnesota through the Board of Nursing, creating a specific "Minnesota Certified Midwife Practice Act" (Chapter 148G). It amends health occupation definitions to include "licensed certified midwife," expands Medicaid coverage to include services provided by these licensed midwives, and sets civil/criminal penalties for violations. The bill directly affects certified midwives (requiring national certification plus state licensure) and Medicaid recipients who can now access midwifery care under their coverage. Key provisions define midwifery scope (including pregnancy, birth, and women's primary care) and set licensure terms, moving midwifery from an unregulated status to a licensed profession with expanded coverage.

Maddy summaryHF 1641 requires Minnesota public school districts to maintain opiate antagonists (medication for opioid overdose emergencies) at all school sites, including at least two nasal doses per building. It allows high school students in grades 9-12 to possess and administer these medications to other students if their parent or guardian provides written authorization. Schools must follow state guidelines for storage and administration, and student possession is protected under existing law (section 604A.04). This bill directly affects high school students, schools, and parents/guardians by enabling student-led emergency response with parental consent.

Maddy summaryHF 2955 establishes the CARMA program (County-administered Rural Medical Assistance), allowing Minnesota counties to manage local medical assistance for low-income residents instead of the state. The bill requires the state commissioner of human services to involve county boards in developing contracts with health plans, including incorporating county-suggested local health goals into contracts if agreed upon. It sets a deadline of January 1, 2027, for counties with existing prepaid medical assistance programs to transition to county administration if they submit a proposal. The bill also creates a mediation process to resolve disputes between counties and the state over contract terms or local health goals.

Maddy summaryHF 2601 modifies Minnesota's maximum interest rate for conventional loans and contracts for deed (land contracts) used to purchase real estate. It sets the cap as the Wall Street Journal's published 30-year mortgage yield plus four percentage points, replacing the previous calculation method. This change directly affects borrowers and lenders in these specific loan types, particularly for cooperative apartment loans and land contracts. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 47.20 (subd. 4a) and 334.01 (subd. 2) to implement this rate formula. It does not alter the existing 10-year loan exception (capping rates at 15.75% or 3% above the new rate).