Rep. Kristi Pursell

Maddy summaryHF 3136 establishes a Minnesota task force to prevent female genital mutilation (FGM), directly affecting communities where FGM is practiced as a tradition or religious custom, as well as health and law enforcement agencies. The task force, appointed by the health commissioner by November 2025, must develop public education strategies, coordinate law enforcement efforts, improve data collection, and create resources to protect children from FGM. It requires annual reports to state leaders on outreach activities, including school-based education and partnerships with healthcare providers. The bill appropriates funds for the task force’s operations in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 1675 requires Minnesota's medical assistance programs to individually price phototherapy lights (devices used for medical treatments like neonatal jaundice) rather than applying a single rate to all such equipment. This change applies to services provided on or after July 1, 2015, and affects providers billing the state for these devices. The bill specifies that individual pricing applies to phototherapy lights as a distinct category of durable medical equipment, excluding items covered under volume purchase contracts or certain Medicare-related programs. This is a technical adjustment to Minnesota Statutes section 256B.766, focusing on reimbursement accuracy for this specific medical device.

Maddy summaryHF 3184 repeals Minnesota Statutes section 471.9998, which previously prohibited local governments (like cities and counties) from banning paper, plastic, or reusable bags. This bill removes a state-level barrier, allowing municipalities to implement their own bag ban policies if they choose. The repeal directly affects local governments, which can now pass ordinances restricting bag use, and merchants who may face new local requirements. It does not create new bag bans but enables local decision-making on the issue.

Maddy summaryHF 3270 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish an Independent Redistricting Commission that would draw Minnesota's legislative and congressional district lines instead of the legislature. It also creates a panel to review commission applicants, sets guidelines for redistricting, and prohibits former legislators from lobbying for one year after leaving office. The bill amends session rules to limit regular legislative sessions to 120 days and sets specific convening requirements. These changes would directly affect Minnesota voters through district boundaries, legislators through the lobbying restriction, and the redistricting process itself. The proposal requires voter approval to take effect.

Maddy summaryHF 1278 establishes a one-time $30 million reproductive health equity grant fund to support abortion care access in Minnesota. The bill provides funding to abortion providers, government agencies, and nonprofits whose primary work involves abortion care, with grants designed to increase access, cover uncompensated care for low-income patients, secure facility infrastructure, and fund staff training in trauma-informed care. Eligible organizations must apply through the commissioner of health, who will prioritize applications based on local need, health equity impact, and applicant need. The fund becomes effective July 1, 2025, with grants to begin by January 1, 2026, and includes strict privacy protections requiring confidentiality of patient information.

Maddy summaryHF 2289 requires Minnesota hospitals to maintain registered nurse staffing levels consistent with nationally accepted standards, ensuring adequate care for patients. Hospitals must create and implement staffing plans specifying maximum patient-to-nurse ratios for each unit, developed with input from direct-care registered nurses, and report these levels to the state. The bill prohibits retaliation against nurses who raise staffing concerns and imposes civil penalties for noncompliance. It directly affects all licensed Minnesota hospitals, their nursing staff, and patients by mandating safer staffing practices. The law appropriates funding to support implementation of these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $6,442,000 from state bond proceeds to fund design, renovation, and equipment for classroom and lab spaces at South Central College's North Mankato campus. The funds specifically target facilities supporting agribusiness, architectural drafting, civil engineering technology, dental assisting, emergency medical services, and geographic information systems programs. The state will issue bonds up to this amount to cover the costs, as authorized under Minnesota bonding statutes. The bill directly affects South Central College students and faculty in these specific academic programs by upgrading their learning environments.

Maddy summaryHF 1653 appropriates $1 million from state bonds to fund electric bus charging stations for school buses statewide. The bill directs the commissioner of commerce to provide grants to eligible school districts or public transit agencies under Minnesota Statutes §216C.374, specifically for installing Level 2 and Level 3 charging infrastructure. Funding comes from bonds sold by the state under established procedures, with grants awarded through the existing electric school bus deployment program. This measure directly affects school transportation systems seeking to transition to electric fleets, effective upon final enactment.

Maddy summaryHF 1913 creates a new limited medical license for graduates of foreign medical schools who meet specific criteria, including 60 months of practice outside the U.S. in the past decade, working in a collaborative agreement within a rural or underserved area, and providing evidence of a job offer. It requires employers of these limited license holders to carry medical malpractice insurance and pay at least the equivalent of a medical resident's salary, while prohibiting retaliation for reporting violations. Limited license holders must submit periodic certification to the medical board confirming their employment and good standing every six months. The bill also establishes a pathway to full licensure after two years of practice (1,692 hours annually), passing all USMLE/COMLEX-USA steps, and obtaining a recommendation letter.

Maddy summaryHF 51 authorizes Minnesota school districts to use state education funds for roof repairs and replacements costing $100,000 or more per site as part of the long-term facilities maintenance program. School districts must develop a ten-year facility plan that includes a roof maintenance schedule, health and safety measures (like indoor air quality management), and provisions for gender-neutral restrooms at each school. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to explicitly include roof projects in eligible uses of the funding, effective for fiscal year 2027 and later. This legislation expands the types of maintenance projects that can be funded under the existing education finance program without changing the overall funding formula.