Sen. Liz Boldon

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's Great Start Compensation Support Payments Grant Program by updating requirements for child care programs receiving funding. It mandates that programs submit applications for each payment period and allows staff break time, professional development hours up to 24 annually, and vacation time to count toward eligible staff hours. Programs must also submit enrollment and attendance data, agree to operate and serve a minimum number of children during funding periods, and spend received funds within six months. The bill includes exceptions for service disruptions related to public health guidance and planned provider vacations or holidays, with the commissioner setting maximum duration limits for these exceptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's medical assistance program (Medicaid) to cover prescription drugs that are already covered by a patient's primary third-party insurance plan (such as Medicare or private insurance), rather than denying coverage for those drugs. It also mandates that medical assistance cover in-network healthcare services regardless of whether the primary insurer's network or referral requirements would otherwise restrict access. These changes directly affect Medicaid recipients who have primary insurance coverage for medications or healthcare services. The policy removes barriers that previously prevented Medicaid from covering these items when primary insurance already provides coverage.

Maddy summarySF 3049 modifies Minnesota's physical therapy practice rules to clarify supervision requirements and delegation limits. It requires physical therapists to be physically present during at least every other treatment session with student physical therapists or student physical therapist assistants (replacing telecommunication as acceptable supervision). The bill also updates delegation rules, stating physical therapists cannot assign initial patient evaluations, treatment planning, or initial documentation to assistants or aides. These changes directly affect licensed physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students in training across Minnesota healthcare settings. The bill amends specific sections of Minnesota Statutes 2024 related to physical therapy practice.

Maddy summarySF 513 establishes a new Office of Gun Violence Prevention within Minnesota's Department of Health. The office will coordinate evidence-based efforts to reduce gun violence, conduct research, collect and report statewide data on gun incidents and deaths, run public health campaigns, support victims, and build partnerships with local and national experts. It requires an annual report to the legislature on the office's activities and appropriates funds for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support these efforts. The bill directly affects state health and public safety agencies and the public through its prevention and data-sharing mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Minnesota public high school districts and charter schools to participate in the direct admissions program starting with the 2029-2030 school year. It mandates participation under existing law (Minnesota Statutes section 136A.84), which connects high schools with postsecondary institutions for streamlined college admissions. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, but the participation requirement begins in 2029. This directly affects public high schools and charter schools across Minnesota by requiring them to engage with the state's designated admissions process.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals two Minnesota statutes (3.226 and 16C.053) that previously prohibited the state legislature and executive branch agencies from entering contracts with vendors engaging in discrimination against Israel or businesses operating in Israel. The repealed provisions barred contracts where vendors refused to deal with Israel-based entities or limited commercial relations based on nationality, with limited exemptions for small contracts or waivers. By removing these restrictions, the bill allows state government to contract with any vendor without considering their stance on Israel-related business practices. This change applies to new contracts issued on or after the effective date, affecting all state agencies and the legislature's procurement decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits private equity companies from owning single-family homes in Minnesota, while allowing natural persons, government entities, nonprofits, land trusts, and mortgage holders to retain ownership rights. It defines private equity companies as investors who raise capital to buy and manage assets for profit, while exempting housing developers, local governments, and nonprofit affordable housing providers from the restriction. The attorney general will enforce the law, which takes effect on August 1, 2026, and applies only to property interests acquired on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new right for tenants in Minnesota to repair certain violations in their rental units after giving landlords proper notice and an opportunity to fix the issues themselves. The law requires tenants to notify landlords in writing at least 14 days before making repairs, except in cases of immediate code violations, and mandates that tenants obtain bids from two contractors and choose the lower-priced option. Tenants can deduct the cost of repairs from their rent or request direct reimbursement from landlords, with limits of two months' rent in a 12-month period, and the bill prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who exercise these repair rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a licensing system for music therapists in Minnesota. It requires applicants to pass background checks (effective January 2026) and establishes definitions for "practice of music therapy" and "licensed professional music therapist" (effective July 2025). The law creates a Music Therapy Advisory Council to advise the health commissioner on licensure standards and enforcement. It directly affects individuals seeking to practice music therapy, requiring them to meet new state licensing requirements to use the protected title "Licensed Professional Music Therapist."

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health care entities - including hospitals, clinics, insurers, and pharmacy benefit managers - to report detailed ownership and control information to the Minnesota Commissioner of Health. It mandates annual public reports of this data and authorizes penalties for noncompliance. The law defines "health care entity" broadly and specifies that control is presumed if any entity owns 10% or more of another entity’s voting securities. These provisions aim to increase transparency about ownership structures within Minnesota’s health care system.