Rep. Kristi Pursell

Maddy summaryThis bill requires a ten percent reduction in state aid to any Minnesota county or city that displays a state flag different from the design certified by the State Emblems Redesign Commission. To enforce this penalty, local governments must notify the commissioner of revenue by December 31 each year if they have used the incorrect flag, and the aid reduction applies to payments made in the following year. The law takes effect for aid distributed in 2027, directly impacting local municipalities that choose to fly a flag other than the officially certified version.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale and use of paraquat dichloride, a pesticide, in Minnesota. Starting January 1, 2027, no one can sell or distribute this product, and by January 1, 2028, its use is also banned. The commissioner of agriculture must collect and dispose of any remaining stock of this pesticide and submit a report on its historical use and current supply chain status by January 1, 2028. The law directly affects pesticide sellers, distributors, and agricultural users who currently handle or apply this chemical.

Maddy summaryHF 3476 establishes Minnesota's Patient-Centered Care program, which directly affects medical assistance and MinnesotaCare enrollees by changing how healthcare providers are paid. The bill requires the state to pay healthcare providers directly for services (instead of through managed care plans), authorizes contracting with administrative organizations for tasks like claims processing (without financial risk), and mandates care coordination services. Key provisions include fee-for-service payments to providers, flat payments for primary care coordination, and funding for community outreach to help vulnerable patients access care. This replaces existing managed care contracts and aims to improve health outcomes while increasing transparency for public health programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands financial assistance for manufactured home owners in Minnesota who are forced to move due to significant increases in lot rent or utility costs. It defines "economic displacement" as a rent increase of over ten percent in one year, twenty percent over three years, or thirty percent relative to the owner's annual income. The legislation removes the previous cap on funding from the Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund, allowing more resources to be available for relocation expenses. Additionally, it clarifies how park owners can collect fees to contribute to this trust fund and outlines specific situations where owners are exempt from paying relocation costs.

Maddy summaryHF 3609 prevents drug manufacturers from restricting how 340B program drugs are delivered to participating hospitals and clinics. It adds enforcement by treating violations as deceptive trade practices, allowing the attorney general to take action. The bill permanently removes an expiration date (previously set for July 1, 2027), making these restrictions permanent. This directly affects safety-net healthcare providers that rely on the 340B program for discounted medications.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits operating motorized watercraft in uncultivated wild rice beds in Minnesota, directly affecting boaters and watercraft operators in affected waterways. The law requires that any watercraft entering these areas must be propelled by hand, such as a canoe or skiff, and bans operating at speeds greater than slow-no-wake within 150 feet of uncultivated wild rice beds. These restrictions aim to protect wild rice habitats from damage caused by boat motors and wake. The bill amends existing Minnesota statutes to add these specific protections for uncultivated wild rice beds.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the issuance of state bonds to fund community tree-planting grants through the Metropolitan Council in Minnesota. It appropriates up to $5,000,000 from bond proceeds to support these grants, which will help communities plant trees. The bill requires the commissioner of management and budget to sell and issue state bonds following established legal procedures. Funding becomes available immediately after the bill is enacted, allowing the Metropolitan Council to distribute grants to eligible communities for tree-planting projects.

Maddy summaryHF 3454 modifies Minnesota's social work licensing rules to clarify when professionals can use titles like "social worker." It requires county social workers without a social work degree or license to stop using those titles in public by July 1, 2026, unless they were already employed by the county before July 1, 2027. The bill also mandates that all social workers using public-facing titles must display their license designation (e.g., LSW, LISW) and prohibits misleading claims about their qualifications. These changes directly affect county agency social workers and ensure title usage aligns with licensing status.

Maddy summaryHF 309 amends Minnesota Statutes §84.523 to tighten mining restrictions in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) and Rainy River headwaters. The bill requires the commissioner of natural resources to determine that proposed mining (for taconite, sand, gravel, or granite) in the Rainy River headwaters would not harm the BWCA before any permits are issued. This modifies existing law by adding this specific assessment step, directly affecting mining operations seeking approval in these areas. The change maintains the general prohibition on mining without legislative approval but adds a new administrative requirement for the commissioner to evaluate environmental impacts. The bill focuses on protecting the BWCA's wilderness character through stricter permitting conditions.

Maddy summaryHF 3794 prohibits businesses from using automated systems to set individualized prices or wages based on surveillance data about consumers or workers. It directly affects companies that collect and analyze personal data like browsing history, location, biometrics, or purchase habits to adjust pricing or pay. The bill defines key terms (e.g., "surveillance data" includes inferred behaviors and biometrics) and allows exceptions for cost-based pricing, publicly available group discounts (like for veterans or seniors), and insurance risk assessments. It creates new legal standards to prevent discrimination tied to personal data collection, without banning all personalized pricing.