Sen. Carla Nelson

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes how health insurance plans in Minnesota must calculate an enrollee's contribution toward cost-sharing and out-of-pocket maximums. It requires health plans and pharmacy benefit managers to include all amounts paid by or on behalf of enrollees when determining these totals, including for prescription drugs covered under medical benefits. The law also specifies that these calculation rules apply only after enrollees meet their plan deductibles to avoid affecting eligibility for certain federal tax benefits. The provisions will take effect on January 1, 2027, for health plans offered, issued, or renewed on or after that date.

Maddy summarySF 3741 requires project owners to conduct independent groundwater testing before construction in rural Minnesota areas. It mandates testing all private and public wells within a two-mile radius of a project site (with landowner consent), establishing a baseline for groundwater quality. The results must be submitted to the Environmental Quality Board and Minnesota Geospatial Information Office for public database entry. This directly affects rural landowners whose wells may be sampled and developers planning projects requiring environmental assessments. The bill does not regulate construction but documents current water quality to inform future assessments.

Maddy summaryThis bill would change how school board elections are conducted in Independent School District No. 535 in Rochester, Minnesota, by requiring them to follow state election laws for school districts. The key provision shifts the election method from the current system to one governed by Minnesota Statutes chapter 205A, which includes rules about ballot design and candidate selection. The bill also specifies that incumbents must serve their full terms if the election method changes, and new members would take office at the next scheduled board meeting after election. Implementation requires local approval by the school district board by June 30, 2026, for the changes to apply to 2026 elections.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's local government correctional service retirement plan by lowering contribution rates and increasing postretirement benefit adjustments. It reduces employee contributions from 6.83% to 6% of salary and employer contributions from 10.25% to 9% of salary, with both changes taking effect on January 1, 2027. The legislation also raises the standard annual cost-of-living adjustment for retirees from 1% to 3%, with a maximum increase of 3% unless the plan's assets fall below certain thresholds, which would lower the maximum to 1.5%. These changes will affect current and future correctional service employees and retirees covered under the Public Employees Retirement Association plan.

Maddy summarySF 3849 requires Minnesota's Department of Human Services (DHS) and Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to disclose the existence of ongoing investigations into possible overpayments of public funds to service providers or recipients within 30 days of a written request. This affects service providers and recipients who may be under investigation for potential overpayments of state benefits. The bill amends existing law to mandate this 30-day disclosure timeline, replacing previous requirements that allowed agencies to withhold such information without a specific time limit. It does not change the substance of investigations or payment decisions, only the disclosure process for the investigation's existence.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota licensing boards to automatically suspend or revoke a license, or refuse license renewal, when a licensed professional or applicant is convicted of specific theft or fraud offenses. It directly affects individuals holding state-licensed professions (like healthcare, finance, or trades) who face convictions under listed statutes, including fraud (e.g., 609.23, 609.52) or theft (e.g., 609.2231, 609.496). The key provision mandates that boards take this action without discretion upon a court conviction for any of the 14 specified offenses. The law applies to all licensed professionals covered under Minnesota Statutes 214.10, effective immediately after enactment.

Maddy summarySF 3735 increases penalties for impersonating a peace officer in Minnesota. It raises the base offense from a misdemeanor to a felony (up to 2 years in prison or $4,000 fine), with higher penalties for specific acts like entering restricted buildings, directing others, or operating a vehicle marked to look like police. The bill also adds enhanced penalties for possessing a firearm while impersonating an officer (up to 10 years) or committing another crime while impersonating (e.g., a misdemeanor becomes a gross misdemeanor). It requires anyone impersonating an officer to identify their agency, name, and ID number upon request. This bill directly affects individuals falsely posing as law enforcement officers.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the amount of property value that can be excluded from Minnesota estate tax calculations to $4 million for estates of people who die on or after January 1, 2026. The change directly affects individuals in Minnesota who own property located in the state and are required to file an estate tax return. The bill updates the filing threshold to $4 million and adjusts the tax rate schedule to reflect this higher exclusion amount. Additionally, it modifies the calculation for small business and farm property deductions to align with the new exclusion limit. These provisions aim to reduce the taxable estate for more families while maintaining the existing tax structure for larger estates.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new regulatory framework for short-term rental platforms in Minnesota, requiring them to carry insurance that covers their damage reimbursement guarantees to homeowners. The law defines platforms like Airbnb and VRBO as "providers" and mandates they register with the state Commerce Department, pay an annual fee, and maintain insurance policies that step in if the platform fails to honor its damage protection promises. Key provisions require platforms to clearly disclose that their guarantees are not actual insurance, ensure trained staff handle damage claims fairly, and allow insurers to seek reimbursement from platforms after paying homeowners. The legislation establishes a new chapter in Minnesota statutes specifically governing these rental marketplace guarantees and their associated insurance requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the expiration date for Minnesota's pass-through entity tax provision, which allows certain business owners to pay state income tax at the entity level instead of individually. It directly affects qualifying owners (residents or nonresidents) of pass-through entities like partnerships, LLCs taxed as partnerships, and S corporations. The bill amends specific tax code sections to adjust when this tax option expires, without changing the tax rate or calculation method. This change ensures the existing tax mechanism remains available for affected businesses beyond its current expiration date.