Sen. Heather Gustafson

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes state licensure requirements for massage therapists and Asian bodywork therapists in Minnesota. It defines both practices (including specific techniques like kneading for massage and Chinese medical principles for Asian bodywork), sets educational standards, and requires passing a credentialing exam. The Minnesota Department of Health will issue licenses, enforce rules, and maintain a registry of practitioners. This directly affects individuals seeking to practice these therapies, their training programs, and the state agency responsible for oversight.

Maddy summarySF 933 establishes the Minnesota Health Plan, a state-run health care program guaranteeing universal coverage for all Minnesota residents. It requires the plan to cover all medically necessary care - including medical, dental, vision, mental health, and long-term services - without patient co-pays, with premiums based on income. The bill mandates cost reduction through provider price negotiations and administrative efficiency, not by restricting care, and ensures access to providers through simplified funding. Key provisions include eligibility for all residents (including temporary out-of-state residents and border communities), retention of retiree benefits, and a two-page enrollment process. The plan would operate under a new Minnesota Health Board and Fund, with funding appropriated through state budget.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands health insurance coverage for injured paramedics and emergency medical technicians in Minnesota who are disabled in the line of duty. It amends existing state statutes to include these first responders alongside peace officers and firefighters, ensuring their employers continue paying for health coverage for them and their dependents. The coverage duration depends on the type of disability benefits received, lasting until age 65 for those with total and permanent disability or for up to 60 months for others. The legislation also establishes a formal process for determining eligibility and allows for administrative review if the initial decision is contested.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $500,000 from the workforce development fund to support a local news talent pipeline program in Minnesota. The funds will be given to the Minnesota News Media Institute to create paid internships for Minnesotans interested in journalism careers across newspapers, television, radio, and digital news platforms. The program requires recipients to distribute opportunities geographically and consult with local news organization associations, while allowing up to five percent of funding for administrative costs. This one-time appropriation aims to strengthen Minnesota news outlets by encouraging more people to pursue careers in local news operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota Statutes to expand eligibility for school-age care programs. It allows these programs to serve prekindergarten students who qualify under specific criteria: children with disabilities (per Minn. Stat. §125A.02), children facing temporary family challenges, or kindergarten-aged children already enrolled in school. The change directly affects school districts and community providers offering school-age care, enabling them to include these pre-K students in their services. The policy update modifies the existing definition of "eligible children" in statute §124D.19, subdivision 11, without altering program structure or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes three key changes: (1) It lowers the property tax increase threshold for homeowners from 12% to 8% to qualify for a refund and raises the maximum refund from $1,000 to $1,500, effective for 2026 claims; (2) It creates a new monthly tax on social media companies collecting data from Minnesota users, with rates starting at $0.10 per user for 100,001-500,000 users and increasing to $0.50 per user for over 1 million users; (3) It establishes one-time public safety funding for local and tribal governments, requiring a report on the allocation of these funds. The changes directly affect Minnesota homeowners, social media businesses with significant Minnesota user bases, and local government entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual funding for the Minnesota Grown promotion program from $186,000 to $261,000 in fiscal years 2026-2027, sourced from the general fund. The additional funds will support grants to promote Minnesota-grown agricultural products, with appropriations secured through state budget forecasts. The bill also allocates separate funding for avian influenza testing ($750,000), pollinator research ($100,000 annually), and specific agricultural research priorities like potato studies, wild rice projects, and the Forever Green Initiative. These transfers directly affect Minnesota farmers, agricultural businesses, and state agencies managing research and promotion programs. The legislation specifies detailed spending categories but does not change existing funding levels for other programs.

Maddy summarySF 4011 requires teacher preparation programs in Minnesota to include a supervised early literacy field experience for candidates preparing to teach early reading. This applies to programs enrolling students in the 2027-2028 school year or later, mandating integration with evidence-based reading instruction and opportunities to apply proven literacy practices. The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board must create rules defining which licensure areas require this experience, setting scope and outcomes, ensuring school-based placements during instructional hours (with limited waivers), and requiring actionable feedback. The bill appropriates funds for the board's rulemaking process and takes effect July 1, 2026. It directly affects teacher candidates, preparation programs, and the state's educator licensing standards.

Maddy summarySF 4024 establishes a voluntary framework to improve Minnesota students' access to career-connected learning experiences, such as internships and work-based training, by coordinating education, workforce, and postsecondary systems. It requires the state education commissioner to review existing policies and create guidance for schools - without mandating participation - to align personalized learning plans, career education, and employer engagement. The framework focuses on removing barriers to high-quality career pathways, supporting local school flexibility, and using existing resources to connect high school experiences to postsecondary credentials and jobs. It does not create new funding or requirements but aims to streamline coordination across systems to better prepare students for careers.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota calculates compensatory aid for public school districts in fiscal year 2027. It requires districts to use the greater of their actual FY 2027 calculation or their FY 2024 calculation for determining aid amounts, protecting districts from potential funding decreases. The bill also sets a new statewide funding target of $857,152,000 for FY 2027 and later, up from previous levels. This directly affects school districts receiving compensatory aid, particularly those serving students from low-income households (based on free/reduced-price meal eligibility data).