Rep. Athena Hollins

Maddy summaryHF 1226 allows natural gas utilities in Minnesota to issue special "extraordinary event bonds" to cover costs from major disasters like storms, cyberattacks, or sudden gas price spikes. Utilities would recover these costs through a separate, nonbypassable "extraordinary event charge" added to customers' bills, distinct from regular rates. The bonds must have high credit ratings (AA or better), mature within 30 years, and only cover approved, necessary recovery costs after accounting for insurance and government aid. This directly affects all natural gas customers in Minnesota who pay utility bills, as the new charge would apply to their accounts following qualifying emergencies.

Maddy summaryHF 1565 designates July 6 as "Philando Castile Restoration Day" and July 7 as "Philando Castile Unity Day" each year to honor Philando Castile, a Saint Paul Public Schools nutrition supervisor killed by police in 2016. Restoration Day focuses on community connection, humility, and restoring relationships across differences, while Unity Day emphasizes collective remembrance of Castile and others lost to police violence. The bill requires the governor to issue annual proclamations for both observances. This measure directly affects Minnesotans by establishing formal annual commemorations centered on Castile’s legacy and community healing. It is a commemorative resolution with no new policy requirements beyond the designated dates and proclamations.

Maddy summaryHF 1312 prohibits hospitals and health systems from charging separate "facility fees" for nonemergency services at off-campus provider-based clinics (located at least 250 yards from main hospital buildings) and for specific services like outpatient evaluations. It directly affects patients receiving care at these clinics and hospitals that previously added such fees to professional service charges. The bill requires hospitals to submit annual reports by January 15, 2027, and each year after, detailing all facility fees charged, billed, and collected, including facility locations, patient visits, fee amounts, and revenue sources. These reports must be published publicly and include data on top procedures generating facility fee revenue.

Maddy summaryHF 1805 increases reimbursement rates for residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers in Minnesota. It adds a new provision that raises payment rates by 50% for specific residential SUD services starting July 1, 2025, compared to rates effective January 1, 2025. This directly affects licensed residential SUD treatment providers who meet state requirements under section 254B.05. The change applies only to certain residential services listed in the statute, not all SUD treatments. The bill aims to improve provider compensation for these specific care settings.

Maddy summaryHF 1657 modifies Minnesota's controlled substances laws to clarify that the weight of fluid used in water pipes is excluded when calculating possession thresholds, except when the mixture contains four or more fluid ounces of fluid. This change directly affects individuals who possess controlled substances (like cocaine, methamphetamine, or opioids) in water pipe fluids, as it prevents the fluid weight from counting toward criminal offense levels based on total weight. Key provisions amend sections 152.021, 152.022, and 152.023 of Minnesota Statutes to exclude water pipe fluid from weight calculations in possession crimes. The bill aims to align legal standards with practical realities of how substances are consumed, avoiding disproportionate penalties for fluid weight. It does not alter penalties for the substances themselves, only the method for measuring possession quantities.

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 1813 appropriates $2 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to 30,000 Feet, a nonprofit organization, to design, construct, and equip a Black Arts and Tech Center in St. Paul. The center will include an outdoor performance space, art room, and dance space to provide tech training and programming specifically for youth living in poverty. This funding is in addition to prior appropriations and remains available until the project is completed. The bill directly affects 30,000 Feet as the grant recipient and youth in St. Paul experiencing poverty through expanded access to arts and tech resources.

Maddy summaryHF 1640 appropriates $150,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund to preserve the oral histories of Hmong veterans who served in the U.S.-sponsored Secret War in Laos during the Vietnam War era. The funds are directed to Special Guerrilla Units Veterans and Families of USA, Inc. to collect, document, archive, and preserve these histories while creating public educational resources. This bill directly supports Hmong veterans and their families in Minnesota by safeguarding their wartime experiences and cultural heritage. The program aims to teach future generations about the Hmong community's history and contributions in Minnesota through documented oral histories and accessible programming.

Maddy summaryHF 1160 appropriates funds from the general fund for a one-time grant to Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The grant will support the design and construction of a new women and children's family shelter and transitional housing at 376 Western Avenue in St. Paul, as well as capital improvements at the men's campus at 435 University Avenue East in St. Paul. The appropriation is designated for fiscal year 2026 and remains available until the projects are completed or abandoned. This bill directly provides funding for specific facility projects at the nonprofit's St. Paul locations.

Maddy summaryHF 1818 appropriates $3 million from the general fund to the Minnesota Department of Education for a nonprofit to develop a statewide pilot program teaching students global competency skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making. The nonprofit must provide programming at multiple schools across Minnesota, use grant funds for teacher training and curriculum, and secure a 25% nonstate funding match. The program requires annual reports by the recipient to education committees starting June 2026, detailing participant demographics and program effectiveness through 2029. This bill directly affects Minnesota public school students participating in the pilot and the nonprofit administering the program. The funding is a one-time appropriation available until June 30, 2028.