Sen. Liz Boldon

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's health and education departments to develop and post online informational materials about type 1 diabetes for parents by October 1, 2025. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, public school districts and charter schools offering preschool programs must distribute these materials to parents at least once annually. The materials must explain type 1 diabetes, its warning signs, screening processes, and recommendations for medical consultation after diagnosis. It directly affects parents of children enrolled in preschool programs under Minnesota Statutes sections 142D.05 through 142D.08.

Maddy summarySF 2759 establishes the "Great Start Affordability Scholarship" program to help Minnesota families with children from birth to kindergarten pay for child care. It provides scholarships to families earning under 150% of the state median income, capping child care costs at no more than 7% of their annual income. The program requires participating child care providers to meet quality standards and use scholarship funds to supplement, not replace, existing federal funding. It mandates transitioning eligible families from current child care assistance programs to this new system by July 1, 2028. The bill also requires the commissioner to create local input processes and develop funding mechanisms based on community needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $900,000 annually from the general fund to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for a triennial homeless study conducted by the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. The funds, starting in fiscal year 2026, support the foundation’s research on homelessness in Minnesota, with a requirement to submit findings to legislative committees by March 1, 2028, and every three years thereafter. The study must focus on activities directly related to assessing homelessness trends and needs. Unspent funds from fiscal year 2026 carry over to 2027, ensuring continuity of the study’s funding. The bill does not change existing homelessness services but establishes a regular, funded research mechanism for policy development.

Maddy summarySF 1687 requires Minnesota high schools to maintain at least two doses of opioid reversal medication (like naloxone) on-site for emergency use. It also allows high school students in grades 9-12 to possess and administer this medication to peers if they have written parental permission. Schools must follow a storage and administration plan, and students acting in good faith are protected from liability under the law. This policy directly affects students, parents, and school staff by expanding access to life-saving medication during opioid overdoses.

Maddy summarySF 852 appropriates funds from the general fund for grants to organizations that received victim services grants in 2024. These grants must support direct services and advocacy for victims of sexual assault, general crime, domestic violence, and child abuse. The funding covers direct client assistance, competitive staff wages, housing supports, culturally responsive programming, and prevention services like restorative justice, with priority for underserved communities. Up to 10% of the funds can cover grant administration. The bill targets organizations serving crime victims across Minnesota’s diverse communities.

Maddy summarySF 2760 establishes a state-funded program to provide payments to eligible rural child care programs in Minnesota communities with 2,500 or fewer residents. It directly affects family day care homes, licensed child care centers, tribally licensed programs, and other qualifying early learning providers. Key provisions require programs to apply for funding, submit enrollment data, maintain detailed records of staff compensation and attendance for six years, and use funds primarily to recruit/retain educators. The commissioner administers the program and may recover payments for non-compliance, including failure to meet attendance or record-keeping requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 2894) updates Minnesota's regulations for supplemental nursing services agencies by clarifying ownership definitions. It defines "direct ownership interest" as holding at least 5% equity in the agency and "indirect ownership interest" for entities owning through such holdings. The bill also requires the commissioner to conduct semiannual unannounced surveys every two years to ensure compliance with agency regulations. These changes primarily affect nursing agencies and their controlling persons/owners who must now meet these new ownership reporting standards.

Maddy summarySF 1354 establishes a School Health Advisory Committee in Minnesota to advise state leaders on school health policies. The committee, composed of 16 members including nurses, doctors, school staff, parents of children with health needs, and legislators, reviews school health practices and recommends evidence-based approaches to address health barriers to learning. It must identify essential student health data, develop coordinated care models for chronic conditions (like asthma or diabetes), and suggest funding strategies for school health services. The committee will report annually to the governor and relevant legislative committees by January 15 each year, focusing on improving health outcomes for all students, particularly those with special health needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $7.5 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to provide operating assistance to transit systems in Greater Minnesota (rural and non-urban areas outside Minneapolis-St. Paul). It directly affects local transit agencies that receive state funding under Minnesota Statutes §174.24, specifically replacing shortfalls when local funding falls below required state-mandated percentages. The funds must cover operating costs for these systems and are available only until June 30, 2027, as a one-time appropriation. This is a direct funding mechanism to stabilize transit services in underserved regions, not a policy change to existing statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases reimbursement rates for diagnostic testing facilities providing long-term heart monitoring services. Specifically, it requires the state to pay these facilities 100% of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rate (or higher) for external cardiac patch monitoring devices worn for 48+ hours, plus data interpretation to detect heart arrhythmias. The change applies to services starting January 1, 2026, and directly affects diagnostic testing facilities that offer this specific cardiac monitoring service. It does not change patient coverage or eligibility for the monitoring itself.