Sen. Jim Abeler

Maddy summaryThis bill requires retailers in Minnesota to display multilingual signs by August 1, 2026, warning customers that selling skin-lightening products containing mercury is illegal and may cause health harm. The signs must be visible at all retail locations where such products are sold and must include text in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, French, Ethiopian, and Oromo. The Pollution Control Agency and Health Commissioner will develop the sign content with community input. This directly affects retailers selling skin-lightening products and aims to inform consumers about existing mercury-related restrictions.

Maddy summarySF 942 requires schools to report students with seven or more unexcused absences in a school year to local welfare agencies. It modifies the definition of "habitual truant" to include children under 12 with seven unexcused absences, and establishes new procedures for welfare agencies to respond to attendance concerns. The bill appropriates funds for grants to local welfare agencies to provide culturally appropriate services addressing school attendance, including family engagement and educational support. These services aim to prevent educational neglect and improve attendance outcomes for affected students.

Maddy summarySF 3155 cancels $15 million in previously allocated funds for ALS research and appropriates $15 million from the general fund for a one-time collaborative research partnership between the University of Minnesota Board of Regents and the Mayo Clinic. This funding supports ongoing ALS research with the goal of improving lives for those affected and finding a cure, directly impacting researchers at these institutions. The bill requires the University of Minnesota to submit annual reports starting January 2026 detailing how funds are used until 2030 or when fully expended. It repeals the prior ALS research appropriation law (Laws 2022, chapter 42, section 2) that had managed smaller, multi-year grant programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-time grant fund to support pretraining programs for direct support professionals in Minnesota. It appropriates money from the general fund for the Minnesota Ethnic Providers Network to develop tailored training curriculum, provide workforce readiness training for new workers, and expand recruitment efforts - particularly targeting diverse and underrepresented communities. The program aims to strengthen the direct care workforce by collaborating with community organizations and educational institutions. This funding directly benefits potential direct support professionals seeking entry into the field, especially those from groups historically underrepresented in the workforce.

Maddy summarySF 2554 appropriates $170,000 from the workforce development fund for a one-time grant to Equitable Development Action. The funding supports training and ongoing support for direct support professionals (DSPs) who provide 24/7 care to residents with disabilities, mental health needs, or chronic illnesses. Key provisions include implementing safety-focused training, establishing mental health resources and peer support networks, and offering specialized modules to improve care quality and reduce emergency calls. Expected outcomes include better resident safety, higher DSP job satisfaction, reduced turnover, and enhanced compliance with regulations. The appropriation is available until June 30, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot program (2026-2030) to compare two methods for reviewing healthcare services under Minnesota's state employee health insurance program. It requires health plans to use retrospective utilization review (evaluating care *after* it’s provided) instead of prior authorization (requiring approval *before* care) for state employee enrollees, while allowing health plans to optionally use prior authorization. The program mandates quality audits to track impacts on access to care, costs for enrollees/state, and payments to providers. Reports on these findings must be submitted to lawmakers annually through 2031. The pilot directly affects state employees covered by the group insurance program and the health carriers administering their coverage.

Maddy summarySF 2828 appropriates $4 million to Isuroon for a program supporting microbusinesses in underserved Minnesota communities. It provides loans, grants for start-up costs, business training, and a shared-resource incubator program, with priority given to businesses owned by women, immigrants, and people of color. The program requires Isuroon to report annually on loan/grant distribution, recipient demographics, and business outcomes like job creation by January 2027. This funding directly affects small, locally owned businesses seeking capital and support to grow.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota public schools to include overdose recognition, prevention, and response education in health classes for students in grades 6 through 12. It amends Minnesota Statutes section 120B.215 to add this specific curriculum requirement to statewide health education standards. The change applies to all public school districts and directly affects students in middle and high school. The bill updates existing health education standards without creating new funding or programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires a commemorative work honoring Minnesota's first recorded Italian immigrant to be installed on the State Capitol grounds. The Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board must lead the design process by consulting historians and Italian-American organizations, with the work completed by December 2027. The state appropriates funds from the general fund for the project, available until June 2028, to cover design, installation, and a dedication ceremony. It directly affects the Capitol complex and recognizes Italian-American contributions to Minnesota's history.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a one-time $1.5 million grant for 2026 and another $1.5 million for 2027 to Hennepin County Community Action Partners to address truancy. It directly affects children aged 8-18 in Hennepin County, with specific focus on African American youth involved in both truancy and the child protection system. The grant funds must create culturally welcoming spaces and support services including mentoring, family reconnection, job preparation, and trauma-informed life skills training. The funds are restricted to these specific interventions and cannot be carried over beyond the designated fiscal years.