Rep. Sydney Jordan

Maddy summaryHF 1812 establishes a state-run Minnesota Health Plan to guarantee comprehensive, affordable health care for every Minnesota resident. The plan covers all necessary medical, dental, vision, mental health, and long-term care services without co-pays, with premiums based on income. It creates new state entities including the Minnesota Health Board, Health Fund, Office of Health Quality and Planning, a patient advocacy ombudsman, and an auditor for the plan. The bill also requests a federal waiver under the Affordable Care Act to modify certain health insurance requirements and appropriates funding for implementation.

Maddy summaryHF 1654 appropriates $995,000 from the state general fund for fiscal year 2026 to grant the Como Community Center in Minneapolis. This funding will renovate and repurpose the historic Como Congregational Church into a community center, public meeting space, and auditorium. Up to $100,000 of the appropriation may reimburse the center for eligible project costs incurred after October 1, 2024. The grant is a one-time allocation, available until the project is completed or abandoned.

Maddy summaryHF 1625 appropriates $600,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $600,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to provide a grant to Emerge Community Development. This funding directly supports three specific programs in Minneapolis: the Emerge Career and Technical Center, Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center, and Emerge Second Chance programs. The bill establishes a concrete financial mechanism to reinforce workforce development initiatives at these locations. The grant is intended to support critical workforce training and services for residents in the Minneapolis community.

Maddy summaryHF 1359 increases funding for solid waste management by changing how fees collected from waste management are allocated. Starting in 2026, 7% of these fees will go to a resource management account (rising to 20% in 2027 and 30% after 2028), instead of the general fund. The funds must be distributed to counties for waste management programs under state law. This directly affects counties receiving these allocations and changes the percentage of fees dedicated to environmental resource management over time. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 1418 transfers teacher grant programs from the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) to the Minnesota Department of Education. It requires the Department of Education to collaborate with PELSB and other agencies to produce an annual report by November 3 each even-numbered year, detailing state-funded programs aimed at increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of teachers. The report must include recommendations for policy changes, plans for sharing best practices among grant recipients, and whether an advisory council should be created to address teacher diversity shortages. This bill directly affects state education agencies, school districts receiving grants, and teacher recruitment programs focused on diversifying the workforce.

Maddy summaryHF 420 establishes a refund program for beverage containers in Minnesota, requiring retailers to offer refunds of 10 cents for containers 24 ounces or smaller and 15 cents for larger containers. This directly affects consumers (who receive refunds when returning containers), beverage producers (who fund the program via fees), and retailers (who must allow redemption mechanisms). The bill creates a "distributor and importer responsibility organization" to manage the program, set redemption targets (85% rate required), and handle unclaimed refunds for administrative costs. It also includes civil/criminal penalties for non-compliance and mandates annual reporting on redemption rates.

Maddy summaryHF 1486 prohibits 18 specific chemicals in packaging sold, distributed, or imported into Minnesota starting January 1, 2028. The bill bans chemicals like PVC, polystyrene, bisphenols, halogenated flame retardants, and certain additives (e.g., oxo-degradable plastics) used in food containers, consumer goods packaging, and other products. Manufacturers must stop selling affected packaging and respond to health department inquiries about chemical composition, with violations carrying a $25,000 penalty per offense. The Minnesota Department of Health will maintain and update the banned chemical list every three years based on new health risk assessments.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $500,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to fund lead risk assessments specifically for children with elevated blood lead levels. The funds are split equally: $250,000 for the Minneapolis Health Department and $250,000 for the St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health Department. The bill requires all funds to be used directly for assessments under Minnesota Statutes §144.9504, with no money allocated for administrative costs. It directly affects children in Minneapolis and St. Paul who have high lead levels in their blood, enabling health departments to conduct targeted risk evaluations.

Maddy summaryHF 383 appropriates $5.7 million from state bond proceeds to fund planning, design, engineering, environmental work, and construction of a new water distribution facility in Minneapolis, located in Hennepin or Anoka County. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $5.7 million to cover these costs, with funds administered through the Public Facilities Authority to the city of Minneapolis. This directly affects Minneapolis by providing capital for critical water infrastructure upgrades. The legislation enables the city to advance a specific water system project without immediate state budget expenditure.

Maddy summaryHF 265, also known as "Brent's Law," requires Minnesota 911 call centers to identify mental health crisis calls and prioritize mental health crisis teams as primary responders when available. It mandates that 911 telecommunicators receive specific training or mental health staff screen calls to recognize crises, and establishes protocols for public safety answering points to comply. The bill also creates a civil lawsuit option for individuals or families harmed by violations, allowing claims for damages, attorney fees, and up to $15,000 in punitive damages for willful violations. This directly affects all Minnesota public safety answering points and the government entities operating them.