Rep. Jeff Backer

Maddy summaryHF 93 establishes a state grant program to help ambulance services train and hire emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Licensed ambulance services that had at least 50% of their staff as EMTs in the prior year can apply for grants to cover specific costs, including EMT program tuition, certification fees, background checks, and up to $26 per hour in wages during training. The program appropriates $750,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $750,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund. Grants must be used solely for these defined training and staffing expenses, with applicants required to detail planned hires and training hours. This directly supports ambulance services in addressing staffing shortages by reducing training costs.

Maddy summaryHF 710 establishes a three-year pilot program (starting January 2026) to create a web-based single administrative system for nonemergency medical transportation under MinnesotaCare and medical assistance. The program, implemented by the human services commissioner with transportation commissioner coordination, will operate in at least two non-metropolitan counties and requires a system enabling real-time scheduling, eligibility checks, faster payments to providers, and patient feedback collection. The bill mandates annual reports to legislative committees on the pilot's progress and outcomes. This directly affects transportation providers serving MinnesotaCare and medical assistance beneficiaries by streamlining administrative processes.

Maddy summaryHF 837 requires Minnesota's commissioner of commerce to apply to the federal government by December 31, 2026, for a waiver continuation under federal law (42 U.S.C. § 18052). This waiver is needed to keep Minnesota's premium security health insurance plan operating after 2027, as its future depends on federal approval. The bill also directs a one-time transfer of $413 million from the state general fund to the premium security plan account in fiscal year 2026. This funding supports the state's health insurance program for qualifying residents. The bill directly affects Minnesota's health insurance program and state budget management.

Maddy summaryHF 2172 extends Minnesota's medical assistance (Medicaid) coverage to include audio-only telehealth services for Medicaid enrollees from July 1, 2025, through July 1, 2028. The bill requires health care providers to document that audio-only communication was used and meet existing telehealth documentation standards, including specifying the mode of transmission and service details. This change directly affects Medicaid recipients who use phone-based telehealth appointments and the providers delivering these services. The policy update does not alter coverage for in-person services but expands telehealth options during the specified three-year period.

Maddy summaryHF 897 amends Minnesota law to prohibit exposing children and vulnerable adults to fentanyl, methamphetamine, or related substances in specific locations. It makes it illegal for anyone to knowingly cause or permit such exposure in places like homes, public buildings, or overnight accommodations where children or vulnerable adults might be present. The bill adds criminal penalties for violations, including for exposing individuals to fentanyl (newly specified in the amendment) or methamphetamine-related materials. This directly affects caregivers, property owners, and anyone in environments where children or vulnerable adults could be present.

Maddy summaryHF 2463 modifies Minnesota's licensing requirements for businesses that test for or reduce radon levels in buildings. The bill requires these firms to obtain an annual license starting January 1, 2019, for services like radon detection, lab analysis, or mitigation performed for compensation. It clarifies that newly constructed homes (covered under separate rules) are exempt from these licensure requirements. The changes affect radon testing and mitigation companies operating across Minnesota, ensuring they meet state-established standards for indoor radon safety.

Maddy summaryHF 4 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Minnesota to return budget surplus funds to taxpayers. If approved, it would create a "Minnesota tax relief account" funded by revenue exceeding 105% of projected spending, using those funds to refund or reduce property and income taxes. Taxpayers would receive direct refunds or tax reductions, but only up to the amount they owe in taxes, with the account funded annually from the state's general fund surplus. The amendment must be voted on by voters in the 2026 general election.

Maddy summaryHF 1100 requires Minnesota's human services commissioner to establish a $4.50 per prescription payment to eligible community pharmacies in rural or underserved areas. This payment, added to existing fees, must be paid by managed care plans, county health programs, and pharmacy benefit managers to qualifying pharmacies that serve medically underserved populations or share ownership with 12 or fewer Minnesota pharmacies. The bill appropriates funds for this program in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with the payment ending if federal approval isn't obtained. It explicitly states this payment cannot replace or reduce other fees paid to pharmacies.

Maddy summaryHF 23 amends Minnesota Statutes section 181.932 to strengthen whistleblower protections for public employees. It expands the list of protected disclosures to include reporting gross mismanagement or waste of public funds (subsection 7), clarifies protections for health care quality concerns (subsection 4), and adds specific scenarios like reporting truthful scientific studies (subsection 5) or classified service communications about state services (subsection 6). These changes directly affect state and local government employees who report violations of law, safety risks, or financial misconduct. The bill modifies existing anti-retaliation language to explicitly cover these new disclosure types while maintaining that protected disclosures cannot override other legal data protections.

Maddy summaryHF 1380 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Human Services to set a minimum $1,800 per day rate for Clay County's psychiatric residential treatment facility. It appropriates $1 million in fiscal year 2026 for Clay County to cover equipment and remodeling costs to convert a juvenile center into an 18-bed facility for youth under 21. The bill also allocates $1 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1 million for 2027 to fund start-up and capacity-building grants for psychiatric residential treatment facilities statewide, with $200,000 specifically designated for Clay County's new facility. These are one-time appropriations, available until June 2029.