Rep. Athena Hollins

Maddy summaryHF 2427 provides $2.2 million in state funding for grants to small businesses in St. Paul (employing 25 or fewer people) that face significant disruptions like reduced access or parking during the Department of Transportation's construction and redesign of Arcade Street and East 7th Street. The grants cover payroll, operating, or facility costs during the project, but cannot fund bonuses, new equipment, or construction. The commissioner of employment and economic development must distribute funds through local nonprofits, prioritizing businesses based on revenue decline, construction duration, and traffic disruption severity. A report detailing all grants must be submitted annually starting January 2027.

Maddy summaryHF 1485 requires Minnesota health insurers and medical assistance programs to cover over-the-counter (OTC) contraceptive drugs, devices, and products without cost-sharing (like co-pays or deductibles). It applies directly to health plans and enrollees, mandating coverage of all FDA-approved OTC contraceptives at the point of sale without prescription requirements or quantity limits. The bill also requires health plans to list covered contraceptive services accessibly and cover provider-recommended methods based on medical necessity. This law takes effect January 1, 2026, for health plans offered, issued, or renewed after that date.

Maddy summaryHF 2323 appropriates $3 million from the general fund for a pilot program to train students in global competency skills through nonprofit organizations. The bill directs the commissioner of employment and economic development to award grants to nonprofits that provide statewide training in skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making, requiring recipients to contribute at least 25% of the grant amount in matching funds. This program, running through June 2028, funds costs such as teacher training and curriculum development for participating schools and nonprofit partners. It directly affects eligible nonprofits, schools, and students receiving this workforce-focused training.

Maddy summaryHF 1105 amends Minnesota law to require the state health commissioner to *conduct* maternal death studies annually, changing the previous language from "may" to "must." This directly affects the Minnesota Department of Health, which must now systematically analyze preventable maternal deaths to improve healthcare systems. The bill mandates these studies to identify preventable causes and inform medical, health, and welfare service planning. Its key provision is making the maternal death study process mandatory, aiming to reduce preventable deaths through data-driven system improvements. The law applies statewide to all maternal health outcomes covered under Minnesota's health system.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $375,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $375,000 for fiscal year 2027 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund to The Sanneh Foundation. The funding supports three specific programs: family nutritional distribution in the seven-county metropolitan area, senior community programming, and multicultural women's athletic programming. The Sanneh Foundation directly receives these funds to implement these community services.

Maddy summaryHF 2055 allows the city of St. Paul to issue on-sale alcoholic beverage licenses to the Science Museum of Minnesota (at 120 West Kellogg Boulevard) and the Union Depot (at 214 Fourth Street East), removing standard zoning restrictions and distance requirements from schools or churches. The bill amends Minnesota law to specifically authorize these venues to sell alcohol daily on their premises. This change directly affects the two organizations by enabling them to serve alcoholic beverages during regular operations. The policy modifies existing liquor licensing rules to grant these specific exemptions without altering broader state alcohol regulations.

Maddy summaryHF 1582 modifies Minnesota's Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) benefits for educators. It allows teachers with 30 years of service to retire at age 60 without reduced annuity payments (previously requiring 35 years), adjusts early retirement penalties, and increases postretirement cost-of-living adjustments. The bill also raises employer contribution rates for school districts (from 13.3% to 17.3% for basic members) and increases pension adjustment revenue rates for school districts starting in 2026. These changes directly affect current and future TRA members, school districts funding retirement costs, and the state's retirement system budget.

Maddy summaryHF 498 appropriates $400,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $400,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to provide a grant to the Urban League Twin Cities. The funds are specifically designated to support and expand the organization's workforce training and wealth-building programs. This one-time funding directly affects the Urban League Twin Cities' ability to deliver these services in the Twin Cities area. The bill provides concrete financial support for these existing community programs without altering broader policy.

Maddy summaryHF 1896 allows victims of sexual abuse that occurred when they were minors to file civil lawsuits even if the original time limit had expired, as long as they file on or after August 1, 2025. The bill retroactively extends the statute of limitations for these cases, applying to claims that were previously time-barred. It specifically covers lawsuits for damages related to sexual abuse or negligence by the abuser, where the victim was under 18 at the time of the abuse. This change directly affects minors who were abused and unable to file a lawsuit before the new effective date.

Maddy summaryHF 2144 appropriates unspecified funds from the general fund for the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program under Minnesota Statutes § 462A.204, for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The bill directly affects families in Minnesota at risk of homelessness by providing funding for prevention and assistance services. Key provisions include directing the Housing Finance Agency to administer the program using these allocated funds. This is a funding bill with no new policy requirements, solely authorizing budget resources for an existing state program.