Rep. Athena Hollins

Maddy summaryHF 3001 establishes a pilot program providing direct cash grants of at least $500 monthly for 18 months to eligible low-income Minnesota residents. It directly affects individuals or families with household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level or currently receiving public benefits. The bill requires grantees (local governments, tribes, or nonprofits) to administer the payments while ensuring the stipends do not count as income for other benefits like food assistance or housing support. Grantees must collect data on participants' economic, health, and housing outcomes and submit a final report to the legislature by January 2028.

Maddy summaryHF 1005 adjusts payment rates for healthcare providers under Minnesota's medical assistance program. It increases reimbursement rates for certain residential services, sets a new statewide rate for behavioral health home services, and adjusts physician professional service rates. These changes directly affect hospitals, clinics, and care providers receiving state medical assistance payments for these specific services. The bill amends existing statutes to implement these rate adjustments while requiring budget neutrality for hospital payments. It does not create new programs but modifies existing payment structures for covered services.

Maddy summaryHF 474 appropriates $200,000 from Minnesota's general fund to replace the existing statue of Henry Mower Rice in the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall with a statue of Hubert H. Humphrey. The funds cover removing Rice's statue, transporting it to the Minnesota Historical Society, recasting Humphrey's statue (currently at the state capitol), and erecting the new statue. This one-time appropriation is specifically for the physical replacement project in the Capitol. The bill directly affects Minnesota's representation in the Statuary Hall collection.

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 summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota law to clarify and limit optometrists' authority to prescribe or administer certain drugs. It specifically sets new time limits: oral antivirals may not be prescribed for more than 10 days, oral steroids for more than 14 days (requiring physician consultation), and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors for more than seven days. These changes apply directly to licensed optometrists in Minnesota who prescribe medications for eye conditions under the Board of Optometry's rules. The bill maintains existing restrictions on intravenous injections, invasive surgery, and Schedule II/III oral drugs.

Maddy summaryHF 989 appropriates $400,000 for fiscal year 2025 and $400,000 for fiscal year 2026 from the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development. The funds are designated for a grant to 30,000 Feet, a nonprofit organization, to support specific programs targeting African American youth. These programs include youth apprenticeship jobs, wraparound support services, after-school activities, and summer learning loss prevention. The bill directly affects the nonprofit organization and the youth participants in these targeted initiatives.

Maddy summaryHF 1779 authorizes an unreduced early retirement annuity for probation agency employees in Minnesota who separate from service after reaching age 60 or with at least 35 years of service, meaning they receive their full pension amount without reduction starting January 1, 2028. It also increases the employee contribution rate for these workers, requiring a higher percentage of their salary toward retirement benefits beginning January 1, 2026. The bill defines "probation agency employees" as county or state employees who provide community supervision services or oversee probation programs, including probation officers, supervisory staff, and program managers. These changes specifically affect probation staff in Minnesota's county and state agencies.

Maddy summaryHF 2148 establishes a locally controlled housing fund within Minnesota's housing development fund to finance affordable housing projects. The fund provides loans to eligible recipients - including cities, counties, tribes, community land trusts, and housing authorities - to acquire, rehabilitate, or build housing where local entities maintain at least 75% ownership control. Projects must include 30% of units for households earning ≤50% of area median income (AMI) and 30% for households earning 50-100% of AMI, with all housing meeting accessibility standards and avoiding income-based segregation. Repayments to the fund are reinvested to support additional affordable housing production in the recipient’s jurisdiction.

Maddy summaryHF 2282 allocates $250,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the arts and cultural heritage fund to support the Minnesota Urban Debate League. The funding, administered through the Minnesota Humanities Center, will directly help the League provide improved professional development for staff and expand its youth services to additional geographic areas across Minnesota. This bill specifically provides concrete financial resources for existing programming rather than creating new rules or regulations. The appropriation is intended to enhance access to debate opportunities for young people in more communities.

Maddy summaryHF 2833 requires a commemorative work honoring John Francis "J. Frank" Wheaton, Minnesota's first African American state legislator (elected 1898), on the Capitol complex. It mandates the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board to design and install the memorial by 2027, with annual progress reports to the legislature. The bill also requires the commissioner of education to develop school curriculum materials about Wheaton’s legacy and the Minnesota Historical Society to create public programs and an annual "J. Frank Wheaton Legacy Day." It appropriates funds from the general fund for these efforts, available until June 2028. The bill directly affects Capitol grounds, public schools, and historical programming, focusing on recognizing Wheaton’s civil rights advocacy and paving the way for future Black legislators.