Rep. John Huot

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a dedicated "state fire marshal account" within Minnesota's special revenue fund. It redirects specific funds collected by the State Fire Marshal Division - including gifts, grants, and reimbursements - away from the general state fund. These funds will instead be deposited into the new account and annually allocated to the commissioner of public safety to manage fire marshal programs. The change affects how the division handles and the commissioner uses these specific revenue streams, without altering fire marshal program requirements.

Maddy summaryHF 86 modifies certification requirements for Community Emergency Medical Technicians (CEMTs) and changes how their services are covered under Minnesota's medical assistance program. It requires CEMTs to complete culturally appropriate care training, have 2 years of EMT/AEMT experience, and earn 12 additional continuing education hours annually. The bill specifies that CEMT services - like post-hospital discharge follow-ups, medication reminders, home hazard checks, and safety evaluations for at-risk patients - must align with a patient's care plan. Medical assistance will cover these services at $100 per hour (billed as $25 per 15 minutes) for CEMTs holding a Unique Minnesota Provider Identifier, effective January 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 354 adds enhanced penalties for assaulting sports officials in Minnesota. It defines "sports official" broadly to include youth sports referees, umpires, scorekeepers, and similar roles. The bill makes it a gross misdemeanor to assault an official causing visible injury or to intentionally throw bodily fluids/feces at them because of their job. These penalties apply to offenses committed on or after August 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 122 imposes civil fines of up to $1,000 on individuals who intentionally disrupt youth athletic events by entering fields, throwing objects, or physically interfering with officials, players, or coaches during games or nearby. It establishes a "youth officiating account" to collect these fines, which funds grants for organizations developing youth officiating programs. The bill applies to disruptions occurring during youth athletic activities as defined in Minnesota law, excluding emergencies or medical assistance. Notification requirements for schools and hearing rights for those fined are also included, with the law taking effect July 1, 2028.

Maddy summaryHF 121 creates a new gross misdemeanor charge for assaulting a sports official during youth athletic activities in Minnesota. It specifically targets individuals who cause physical injury to officials (like umpires, referees, or scorekeepers) while they are performing duties at youth sports events. The law applies to youth athletic activities defined under Minnesota Statute 121A.38 and covers officials on-site, in parking lots, or traveling to/from the venue. Penalties increase from a standard misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor, effective August 1, 2025. This bill directly affects youth sports officials and those who assault them during sanctioned activities.

Maddy summaryHF 120 modifies Minnesota's intensive law enforcement training program for aspiring officers. It requires the commissioner to develop an 8-month curriculum by 2026 (retroactive to 2023), to be offered at designated state colleges and private nonprofit institutions. The bill appropriates $5 million for fiscal year 2026 to fund this program, available through 2029. This directly affects peace officer candidates seeking licensure and the institutions providing their training. The law updates existing requirements without changing licensing standards.

Maddy summaryHF 87 establishes a quarterly assessment fee on most ambulance providers (excluding public/governmental services and air ambulances) based on their gross revenues from emergency ambulance services. The collected fees fund a special ambulance fee fund, which the state uses to make supplemental payments to ambulance providers. These payments aim to increase medical assistance payments to ambulance providers so they reach a level not exceeding the average commercial insurance rate. The bill also requires annual reports starting January 1, 2027, detailing fund expenditures.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HF 139) increases annual cost-of-living adjustments for retirees in Minnesota's Public Employees Police and Fire Retirement Plan and State Patrol Retirement Plan. It raises the standard adjustment from 1% to up to 1.5% annually (based on federal Social Security COLA), and shortens the required waiting period from 36 months to 12 months for full benefits. Retirees receiving benefits for less than 12 months will now get a pro-rated increase based on months served. The changes take effect for adjustments starting January 1, 2026, and apply automatically unless retirees opt out in writing.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's medical assistance coverage rules to include extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cannulation as an outpatient service. It directly affects patients enrolled in Minnesota's medical assistance program who require ECMO cannulation, expanding coverage to include this procedure when performed in a hospital setting or via a self-contained mobile ECMO unit. The key change adds ECMO cannulation to the list of outpatient services covered under Minnesota Statutes section 256B.0625. This policy update ensures medical assistance pays for this specific procedure outside of inpatient hospital stays.

Maddy summaryHF 4738 replaces Minnesota's Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board with a new Office of Emergency Medical Services, which will be led by a director appointed by the governor. This new office will take over key responsibilities such as licensing ambulance services, certifying emergency medical personnel, approving training programs, and investigating complaints against providers. The bill also creates advisory councils to guide the office and launches a pilot program to test alternative models for emergency medical response. Additionally, the legislation provides funding for these operations and requires the director to submit annual reports to the legislature on the state's emergency medical services system.