Rep. Kristi Pursell

Maddy summaryHF 264, the "Larry R. Hill Medical Reform Act," requires all licensed Minnesota correctional facilities (both public and private) to meet specific medical care standards. The bill amends state law to mandate facilities implement policies covering mental health screening, suicide prevention, medication verification, discharge planning with prescribed medications, telehealth use, and death reviews. These requirements directly affect incarcerated individuals by improving access to consistent medical and mental health care while holding facilities accountable through commissioner inspections. The law aims to standardize care practices without creating new programs, focusing on operational changes to enhance safety and treatment.

Maddy summaryHF 2387 amends Minnesota Statutes § 124D.118 to establish a program allowing schools to provide free half-pint milk to students who do not participate in the full school lunch program. This directly affects public and nonpublic schools in Minnesota, enabling students to receive milk without needing to take a complete lunch, thereby reducing food waste from uneaten meals. The bill authorizes state reimbursement of 20 cents per milk serving for kindergarten students and up to 50 cents (or USDA rate) for lunch milk, with funding appropriated for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Schools must follow commissioner-established guidelines to participate, focusing on daily milk access as a nutritional supplement.

Maddy summaryHF 2847 establishes a statewide clean transportation standard requiring fuel providers in Minnesota to meet annual carbon intensity targets for transportation fuels. It creates a credit system where providers exceeding the standard earn credits (for lower emissions), while those falling short face deficits (requiring fees or credit purchases). The Department of Transportation will implement the program, requiring fuel providers to report emissions data using standardized calculations and enforce penalties for noncompliance. This directly affects companies supplying gasoline, diesel, and alternative fuels in Minnesota, mandating annual reductions in carbon intensity across all transportation fuel pathways.

Maddy summaryHF 2325 requires Minnesota employers to pay non-exempt employees at least 1.5 times their regular hourly rate for work performed on designated holidays. The bill directly affects hourly workers in Minnesota who are scheduled to work on holidays defined under Minnesota Statutes section 645.44, subdivision 5. It amends existing law (Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 177.25) to add a new provision mandating this overtime pay rate specifically for holiday work. This changes the current standard by explicitly requiring higher pay for holiday shifts, rather than allowing employers to use alternative compensation methods. The bill does not change the definition of "holiday" but specifies the required pay rate when work occurs on those days.

Maddy summaryHF 1165 renames the Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority to the Minnesota Health and Education Facilities Authority and authorizes it to finance health care facilities in addition to its existing role supporting higher education. The bill increases the agency's bonding capacity, allowing it to issue more bonds to fund construction and improvements for both health care and educational facilities. This directly affects health care organizations and institutions of higher education in Minnesota by expanding their access to financing for facility projects. The legislation also updates the authority's board composition requirements to include members with expertise in health care, higher education, and finance.

Maddy summaryHF 2918 provides one-time funding for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to create a statewide water availability atlas using existing data and develop a siting methodology for large water users. The atlas will map water availability across Minnesota, while the methodology will help state agencies, local governments, and economic development authorities determine suitable locations for water-intensive projects. The department must complete these tools and submit a report by January 15, 2028. This bill directly affects state and local entities involved in water resource planning and economic development.

Maddy summaryHF 1522 modifies Minnesota's definition of "agricultural land" for property tax classification purposes. It specifies that agricultural land must consist of either contiguous acreage of 10+ acres used for farming last year, or land used for intensive livestock/poultry confinement (excluding grazing-only land). This change affects farmers and landowners who qualify for lower tax rates on agricultural property, ensuring only land meeting these criteria receives the reduced 0.5% or 1% classification rate. The bill clarifies how mixed-use parcels (like land with windbreaks or timber) are classified under existing tax categories.

Maddy summaryHF 1655 appropriates $627,000 from Minnesota's general fund for fiscal year 2026 to provide technical assistance grants through Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA). The bill directly supports small rural Minnesota communities that cannot afford economic development services, prioritizing those with the greatest need. Key provisions include funding for CEDA to design and administer tailored community development programs, with up to $270,000 of the appropriation available for implementing specific economic development projects alongside technical assistance. This is a one-time appropriation to enhance local capacity for economic growth in underserved rural areas.

Maddy summaryHF 1770 creates a grant program to fund infrastructure for cooperative manufactured housing developments in Minnesota. Counties and cities can receive grants covering up to 50% of infrastructure costs (like sewers, water systems, and streets) for projects serving manufactured housing cooperatives, with a maximum of $60,000 per housing lot. Applicants must provide local matching funds (cash or in-kind, such as site value) and demonstrate the project will increase workforce housing and attract additional private investment. The bill appropriates $10 million from state bond proceeds to fund these grants, with returned funds recycled for future grants if projects stall beyond five years.

Maddy summaryHF 2548 creates the Outdoor School for All grant program to fund immersive, multiday outdoor educational experiences for Minnesota students in grades 4-8. The program provides grants to accredited overnight outdoor schools and nonprofit learning centers meeting specific criteria, including research-based curricula, integration with school standards, skill development (like leadership and critical thinking), and accessibility for underserved students. It appropriates $2.5 million for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the general fund. The bill directly affects public school students and providers offering equitable outdoor education, aiming to address declining outdoor engagement and access disparities.