Rep. Pete Johnson

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $4 million in state funding for Minnesota food shelf programs during fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It directs the state agency overseeing food shelves to use these funds to support community food banks that serve people facing food insecurity. The money comes from the state general fund and is added to existing base funding for these programs. This directly affects food shelves across Minnesota and the families and individuals they serve.

Maddy summaryHF 3406 makes specific firearm permit data public, including details about permit revocations, suspensions, or voidances, and information on permit holders who died by firearm suicide or police use of force. It extends retention requirements for certain records: sheriffs must keep data on denied or revoked permits, voided permits due to prohibited possession, and the specified deaths for six years instead of purging it annually. This applies to government entities like county sheriffs that collect firearm permit information in Minnesota. The bill changes public access to limited permit-related data while ensuring specific records are preserved longer.

Maddy summaryHF 2698 appropriates $20 million from state bond proceeds to fund a new wastewater filtration system at the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District's treatment facility in Duluth. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $20 million to cover this cost, with the funds provided as a grant to the sanitary district. This directly affects the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District and the residents of Duluth who rely on its wastewater services. The key mechanism is the bond issuance and appropriation specifically for constructing the new filtration system at the Duluth facility.

Maddy summaryHF 2779 requires Minnesota health care entities - including hospitals, clinics, insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, and provider organizations - to report ownership and control details to the commissioner of health annually. These entities must disclose information about their ownership structure, and the commissioner will publish a public report each year summarizing this data. The bill also establishes enforcement mechanisms and penalties for non-compliance, with funding appropriated to support these requirements. This law aims to increase transparency about who owns and controls health care organizations operating in Minnesota.

Maddy summaryHF 2617 modifies Minnesota's child care licensing system to improve clarity and support for providers. It requires the commissioner to create standardized inspection timelines and conduct rules for child care centers and family child care providers by January 2026, replacing mandatory technical assistance with a structured process for non-imminent violations. The bill also updates the definition of "education" to include relevant postsecondary coursework for staff qualifications and establishes a dedicated background study liaison to speed up processing for license holders. Additionally, it appropriates $50,000 for developing the standardized inspection system, directly affecting licensed child care providers and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Maddy summaryHF 255 establishes Minnesota's Patient-Centered Care program to improve health outcomes and lower costs for medical assistance and MinnesotaCare recipients. The bill shifts payments directly from the state to individual health care providers (not managed care networks) for services, drugs, and vaccines, while ending contracts with existing managed care plans. It also authorizes monthly care coordination fees for primary care providers and community health workers, with higher rates for clinics serving populations facing health disparities. Additionally, the bill funds community outreach through grants to hire staff who connect homeless, mentally ill, or underserved patients to care and help them enroll in health programs.

Maddy summaryHF 1508 appropriates $15 million from state bond proceeds to fund predesign, design, and preconstruction work for a new Academic Health Center facility at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. The facility will house the Duluth College of Pharmacy and Medical School, colocated in downtown Duluth's emerging Medical District. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $15 million in bonds to cover these costs, following Minnesota's bond issuance procedures. This funding directly supports the University of Minnesota-Duluth's planning for a new health-focused campus building.

Maddy summaryHF 3023 creates additional unemployment benefits for iron ore mining workers laid off due to reduced operations between March 15 and June 16, 2025. It provides up to 26 weeks of benefits at the same weekly rate as their regular unemployment benefits, available only after workers exhaust their standard unemployment benefits. Eligibility requires being laid off by an employer in the iron ore mining industry that cut 50%+ of its workforce during the specified period, or by an explosive manufacturer serving that industry. The benefits are retroactive to March 15, 2025, and do not apply to those receiving federal Trade Readjustment Allowance.

Maddy summaryHF 2059 requires Minnesota local governments with over 5,000 residents to create automated online platforms for approving residential solar permits. These platforms must instantly issue permits for small solar systems (up to 200-amp capacity on single- or two-family homes) without manual review, processing at least 75% of typical applications. Local governments must submit an initial compliance report within 60 days of adopting the platform and annual reports starting in 2027 detailing permit usage and progress toward the 75% processing goal. The bill directly affects municipal permitting offices and residential solar customers by streamlining the approval process for rooftop solar installations.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2 million from state bond proceeds to fund cleanup efforts at Lake Superior College's Emergency Response Training Center, specifically targeting PFAS contamination. The funds will cover designing, engineering, and constructing infrastructure like wells, equipment, and treatment facilities to remove PFAS from the site. The state will issue up to $2 million in bonds to finance this project, as authorized under Minnesota's bond laws. The funding is directly tied to the college's campus improvements for environmental remediation.