Sen. Alice Mann

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate Bill 477 modifies supervision requirements for mental health case managers, behavioral aides, and rehabilitation workers. It allows case managers without a bachelor's degree to qualify through experience (e.g., 3+ years as a case manager associate) instead of education, reduces annual supervision hours from 40 to 38, and permits secure electronic messaging for case management contacts. The bill also exempts certain residential treatment providers from client rights requirements and adjusts critical incident reporting timelines for mental health residential programs. These changes directly affect mental health service providers and their staff who deliver care to adults with serious mental illness.

Maddy summarySF 1815 authorizes Minnesota local jurisdictions (like cities and counties) to adopt ranked choice voting for local elections, such as mayoral or city council races. The bill establishes procedures for communities to implement the system, defines key terms like "active candidate" and "batch elimination," and allows electronic voting systems with reallocation features. It specifies that ranked choice voting requires voters to rank candidates by preference, with ballots transferring support to higher-ranked candidates if lower-ranked ones are eliminated. The bill applies only to local offices, not state or federal elections, and amends election statutes to incorporate these changes. Local governments would need to pass their own ordinances to adopt the system.

Maddy summarySF 1739 establishes a Prior Authorization Commission to review medications with high denial rates for prior authorization. The commission, composed of nine members representing health agencies, pharmacy benefit managers, health plans, and medical associations, will analyze the top 25 medications with the highest denial rates using criteria like cost, effectiveness, and population utilization. It will recommend specific medications for inclusion in a list where prior authorization is prohibited, requiring health plans to cover these medications without prior review. The commission must submit annual reports to the legislature starting in 2026, detailing its analysis and recommendations, directly affecting health plans, pharmacy benefit managers, and patients seeking covered medications.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota Medicaid to cover home birth services for low-risk pregnancies under specific conditions. It directly affects pregnant people choosing home births and eligible providers (certified midwives, nurse-midwives, physicians, or physician assistants). To qualify, recipients must be deemed low-risk with documented prenatal care, have a care plan including consent forms and hospital transfer options, and receive services from an approved provider. Coverage includes prenatal, labor, birth, and postpartum care, with providers paid at 100% of physician rates and facility services at 70% of hospital rates for uncomplicated deliveries.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale or transfer of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons in Minnesota, directly affecting owners and sellers of these firearms. It defines such weapons as specific models (like AR-15s, AK-47s, and Uzis) and firearms with features including folding stocks, detachable magazines, or pistol grips. The bill also authorizes a state-funded buyback program for these weapons and amends Minnesota law to implement the ban. The definition excludes weapons permanently made inoperable.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires hospitals, outpatient surgical centers, and large medical or dental practices (with specific revenue thresholds) to publicly post their standard prices for services. It defines "standard charge" to include all pricing tiers - like cash payments, negotiated rates with insurers, and the highest/lowest negotiated rates - so the public sees a complete picture of costs. Providers must list these prices on their websites, making healthcare costs more transparent for patients. The law applies to facilities generating over $50 million in annual revenue in 2024, decreasing to $10 million by 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to the Birth Justice Collaborative to plan and develop an African-American-focused "Homeplace" model in Hennepin County. The model aims to improve access to culturally centered pregnancy and postpartum care, targeting better maternal and child health outcomes for Black mothers. The grant requires the Collaborative to report on implementation progress and outcomes by December 15, 2026, including recommendations for future expansion. The funding is available until June 30, 2028.

Maddy summarySF 1573 establishes a state grant program to support occupational medicine residency programs in Minnesota. It appropriates funds from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to provide grants to eligible, not-for-profit programs that train medical residents in occupational medicine (specializing in workplace health and safety). The grants cover costs like faculty salaries, resident training, equipment, and new residency positions, with priority given to creating new positions. Programs must use the funds to supplement, not replace, existing funding sources. This directly affects Minnesota's occupational medicine training programs and aims to expand physician capacity in workplace health.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 1597 eliminates fees for certified birth certificates for newborns under one year old. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 144.226 to require that parents not be charged any fees for certified birth records when the child is less than a year old. This directly affects new parents who need official birth certificates for their infants. The key provision removes financial barriers to obtaining these essential documents during a child's first year of life.

Maddy summarySF 1595 prohibits the use of lead ammunition for hunting in Minnesota state parks, scientific natural areas, and peatlands starting immediately, and bans it statewide for all hunting after a future effective date. It also bans the sale, manufacture, and use of lead fishing tackle. The bill requires shooting ranges and school shooting sports programs to use only nontoxic ammunition, mandates educational components about lead's toxicity and alternatives, and establishes a voucher program to provide hunters with low-cost nontoxic ammunition. Violations carry civil penalties starting at $500 for the first offense.