Sen. Jim Abeler

Maddy summaryThis bill would eliminate the current income-based limits on subtracting Social Security benefits from Minnesota state taxable income, allowing taxpayers to fully subtract all Social Security benefits they receive. It directly affects Minnesota residents who receive Social Security benefits and file state income tax returns, removing the existing phaseout thresholds and maximum subtraction caps that currently apply. Under the new provisions, all Social Security benefits would be deductible from taxable income without any reduction based on the taxpayer's adjusted gross income, simplifying the calculation and potentially lowering state tax liability for retirees. The change would take effect for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3599) updates Minnesota's eviction rules for nonpayment of rent by expanding how tenants can avoid eviction through "redemption." It allows tenants to pay overdue rent plus interest, court costs, and a limited $5 attorney fee to regain possession, using new payment options: funds from government agencies, 501(c)(3) nonprofit rental assistance programs, or third parties with verified funds. The bill also clarifies that rental payments must first cover past-due rent from prior periods before applying to current rent. It directly affects tenants facing eviction for unpaid rent and landlords in these cases, effective for actions filed after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's rules for using "social work" or "social worker" titles in public settings. It requires county, city, and state agency social workers who use these titles to be licensed under state law, effective July 1, 2026, unless they were hired before July 1, 2027. The bill also mandates that licensed social workers must display specific designations (like LSW or LISW) when using their titles professionally. These changes directly affect government social workers in public-facing roles, ensuring title usage aligns with licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's SF 4061 establishes the Minnesota Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (MNSNAP) to maintain food assistance for Minnesotans who lost federal SNAP benefits due to new restrictions after July 1, 2025. It directly affects vulnerable groups like veterans, seniors, people experiencing homelessness, foster youth aging out, and working parents who lost jobs. Key provisions require counties to conduct face-to-face assessments within 30 days of enrollment to identify barriers to federal SNAP eligibility, and transition participants back to federal benefits when they qualify. The bill also mandates a moratorium on terminating benefits for those without medical or behavioral health assessments by July 2026, ensuring continuity of support.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies procedures for medication repositories in Minnesota that collect and distribute donated drugs. It requires pharmacists to inspect all donated medications for safety and proper labeling before dispensing, stores donated items separately from non-donated stock under appropriate conditions, and updates recall protocols - mandating immediate destruction of recalled drugs and detailed records of disposal. Repositories must also document controlled substance donations and notify recipients if recalled drugs were already distributed. These changes directly affect central and local medication repositories handling donated medications, ensuring safer distribution and clearer accountability for donated pharmaceuticals.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to support Minnesota's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Outreach Program. The funds will be administered by the commissioner of children, youth, and families to help connect eligible Minnesotans with food assistance programs. It directly affects low-income residents who may qualify for nutrition benefits but need help navigating the application process. The bill provides concrete funding for an existing outreach program under Minnesota Statutes § 142F.12, without changing eligibility rules or benefit amounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota health insurance plans to cover nonopioid pain management options, including at least two FDA-approved non-opioid drugs (not Schedule I-III controlled substances) and three non-drug, nonoperative treatments like physical therapy. It prohibits health plans from favoring opioid coverage or applying stricter rules for nonopioid drugs than for opioids. Health plans must also provide annual educational materials to providers and enrollees about these pain management options. The requirements take effect January 1, 2026, for all health plans offered, issued, or renewed after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans in Minnesota to cover augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems - devices that help people with severe speech disabilities communicate - as well as related habilitation services (like speech therapy for using these devices). It mandates coverage for medically necessary AAC systems and therapy without separate financial barriers or limits, and prohibits denials based on disability. Health plans must report costs to the Commerce Commissioner, who will reimburse them for coverage added by the law (not existing coverage). The law takes effect January 1, 2026, applying to all health plans offered, issued, or renewed after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's definition of "compounding" to explicitly exclude the use of flavoring agents when preparing medications. It clarifies that adding flavoring agents (inactive substances to improve taste) to drugs for patients is not considered compounding under state law. This change directly affects pharmacists and compounding facilities that currently add flavors to medications - commonly for pediatric or elderly patients - to improve palatability. The policy removes regulatory ambiguity around this routine practice, ensuring it remains exempt from compounding regulations.

Maddy summarySF 3733 modifies how fines collected from home care licensing violations are handled. Instead of general state funds, these fines now go to a dedicated account funding a competitive grant program for home care providers. The grants, starting at $1,000 each, must improve client care quality, workforce, and clinical outcomes, targeting providers licensed under the home care law. The bill also updates advisory council appointment rules but centers on redirecting fine revenue to support specific quality improvement projects.