Sen. Liz Boldon

Maddy summarySF 1839 establishes a Minnesota grant program to help poultry producers prevent avian influenza spread from wild birds to domestic flocks. The bill provides funding for producers to install specific prevention measures like lasers, visual deterrents (air socks, decoys), and sound systems, with applicants required to cover 20% of costs (reducible by up to $2,000 for labor). Eligible recipients must document expenses, report annually on effectiveness, and allow monitoring by the Agriculture Commissioner. The program appropriates funds for fiscal years 2026-2027, directly affecting Minnesota poultry operations seeking to implement these prevention methods.

Maddy summarySF 1561 establishes two new grant programs to improve children's mental health services in Minnesota. It creates a "youth care professional grant" to fund trauma-informed training for direct care staff working in children's residential facilities, certified programs, and day treatment settings. The bill also creates "high-fidelity wraparound grants" to support community-based providers and counties in delivering comprehensive, child-driven mental health services for children with serious challenges. Both programs require specific training curricula, documentation of service costs, and the creation of a registry for trained staff, with funding administered through the Department of Human Services.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurance plans in Minnesota from charging cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) for office visits to infants, children, and adolescents that meet two specific criteria: (1) the visit is for evidence-based preventive care or screenings recommended by the Health Resources and Services Administration, and (2) the visit lasts 15 minutes or less. It directly affects health insurance companies, healthcare providers, and families of children under 18 who rely on preventive care. The law requires insurers to allow providers to bill separately for these preventive services without cost-sharing, ensuring access to routine check-ups. This amends Minnesota Statutes to add a new provision under health insurance coverage rules.

Maddy summarySF 2230 requires Minnesota-licensed homeowner's insurance companies to disclose two specific financial details in all advertisements (print, TV, radio, electronic). The bill mandates that ads include the insurer's total advertising and marketing spending from the previous calendar year, and for publicly traded companies, the change in their stock price during that same period. This applies to all companies offering homeowner's coverage as defined under Minnesota law. The law directly affects insurers advertising in Minnesota, aiming to provide transparency about their marketing costs and financial performance. It creates a new requirement under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 72A, without altering insurance coverage terms.

Maddy summarySF 1315 modifies Minnesota's child care licensing process by changing how providers can challenge correction orders from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. It requires providers to submit written reconsideration requests within 20 days, including specific errors, explanations, and supporting documentation. The bill also creates an expedited review option for licensed family child care providers facing significant costs or program changes to comply with a correction order. Additionally, it delays public posting of correction orders until after the 20-day reconsideration period or until the department issues its final decision. This bill directly affects licensed child care providers and centers operating under Minnesota Statutes section 142B.16.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Northstar Care for Children benefits to provide full payments to specific children under age six in kinship or adoption assistance programs. It requires that children entering these programs while under six and placed with relatives (under section 260.773 placement preferences) receive the full benefit amount, rather than the previous 50% rate. The change applies to children who enter the program while under six or are transferred into it, eliminating the reduced rate for these cases. The bill also adjusts state funding calculations to reflect this change in benefit payments. It directly affects children under six in relative care and their families receiving Northstar Care for Children assistance.

Maddy summarySF 2252 appropriates $5 million for county grants and $40 million for state agency IT upgrades in human services. It provides one-time funding to Minnesota counties to offset costs for implementing new service delivery systems and modernizing information technology infrastructure that connects with state agencies like the Department of Human Services and Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Counties will receive grants based on population served, while the $40 million targets specific system improvements for the Children, Youth, and Families Department. The bill focuses on enabling counties to interface with legacy state systems and supports collaborative IT projects between larger and smaller counties. All funding is designated for fiscal year 2026 with the state agency funds available until June 2027.

Maddy summarySF 1175 creates a presumptive disability process for Minnesotans under 65 who need medical assistance but haven't been formally determined disabled by Social Security. It requires state agencies to refer applicants meeting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) criteria but not yet classified as disabled to a state medical review team for a disability determination. This allows faster access to medical assistance while awaiting formal disability verification, directly affecting disabled Minnesotans under 65 who face delays in eligibility. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to establish this process, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families to conduct a statewide assessment of out-of-school programs for youth under age 21, including current funding, program availability, and community access barriers. The assessment must include direct input from youth, families, program providers, and experts to identify gaps and improve service quality. By February 15, 2026, the commissioner must submit a report with findings and recommendations to legislative committees. The bill appropriates one-time funding from the general fund to cover the assessment and reporting process.

Maddy summarySF 1675 establishes licensure requirements for clinical art therapists in Minnesota. The bill defines clinical art therapy as a specialized practice using art-based methods to address mental, developmental, and emotional disorders, and sets standards for education through accredited programs. It modifies the Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy to include five licensed clinical art therapists as board members, alongside other licensed professionals. The legislation also imposes fees for licensure, establishes civil penalties for violations, and appropriates funding for the board's operations. This directly affects clinical art therapists seeking licensure and their clients, ensuring regulated practice under defined standards.