Sen. Rob Kupec

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota law to clarify the definition of "currently unavoidable use" for PFAS chemicals within the pesticide control chapter. It directly affects agricultural regulations and the classification of certain pesticide uses by providing a more specific legal standard for what constitutes unavoidable applications. The key provision updates the statutory language to specify that unavoidable use means applications essential for health, safety, or societal functioning where alternatives are not reasonably available, while allowing consideration of pest resistance and potential health and environmental impacts of alternative products. This change aims to create clearer guidelines for when pesticide use can be deemed necessary under state pesticide control regulations.

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 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 exempts veterinary products from Minnesota's ban on products containing PFAS chemicals. It directly affects veterinarians, animal healthcare providers, and manufacturers of veterinary supplies by ensuring these products are not restricted under the state's PFAS prohibition. The key provision adds veterinary products to a list of exemptions alongside prosthetics, medical devices, and FDA-regulated items, recognizing that federal laws may govern their composition. This change allows veterinary products containing PFAS to remain legal for sale and use in Minnesota, provided they fall under existing federal oversight or medical device regulations.

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 summaryThis bill appropriates $150,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of agriculture for a grant to the Women's Environmental Institute. It directly supports aspiring Black, Indigenous, and People of Color farmers facing limited land access by funding direct farm expense grants, training in regenerative organic farming, infrastructure, and project coordination. One-third of the funds must serve communities outside Minnesota's seven-county metro area. The one-time appropriation expires June 30, 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies licensing requirements for speech-language pathologists and audiologists in Minnesota, specifically affecting professionals seeking licensure through reciprocity with other states. It mandates that audiologist applicants passing a practical exam as part of their reciprocity application while allowing those with equivalent credentials to waive certain testing requirements. The legislation also updates renewal procedures by requiring applications to be received at least 30 days before expiration and introduces fee proration for licenses expiring within two years. These changes aim to streamline the licensing process for out-of-state professionals while maintaining standards for public health occupations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires food manufacturers and brand owners to test packaged food products for ortho-phthalates (a group of chemicals used in plastics) and report the results to Minnesota's Department of Agriculture. It applies to most packaged foods sold in the state, excluding fresh meat, deli cheese, bakery items, and produce sold at retail locations. Manufacturers must submit detailed reports including the product's UPC code, test results showing detectable levels or absence of ortho-phthalates, lab accreditation details, and testing methodology. The reporting requirement takes effect July 1, 2026, and testing must be conducted by laboratories accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards.