Sen. Melissa Wiklund

Maddy summarySF 1588 allows the city of Bloomington to issue on-sale beer and wine licenses to its municipally owned Dwan Golf Course, which currently cannot serve alcohol. The city would act as the licensee under Minnesota liquor laws, applying rules similar to those for municipal liquor stores. This change would enable the golf course to serve beer and wine on-site, effective after Bloomington approves the license and meets state administrative requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $300,000 from the workforce development fund for Bloomington's workforce programs during fiscal year 2026. The funds are specifically designated to support the city's "Bloom in Bloomington" youth summer internship program and other local workforce development initiatives. The appropriation is available until June 30, 2028, and is directed to the city of Bloomington through the commissioner of employment and economic development.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates funds from Minnesota's general budget to support research on sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC), directly affecting Minnesota-based research institutions, universities, and health systems. It creates a competitive grant program administered by the Commissioner of Health, allowing up to 5% of funds for administrative costs, with grants targeting causes, risk factors, and prevention strategies for SUDC. The bill requires annual reports from 2026 through 2030 detailing grant recipients, funding amounts, research purposes, and outcomes. This is a one-time appropriation, with unexpended funds remaining available until June 2029.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies requirements for physician assistants (PAs) in Minnesota to practice under collaborative agreements with physicians. It removes the current restriction that collaborative agreements must involve physicians licensed under Minnesota law (Chapter 147), allowing PAs to instead work under agreements with physicians licensed in other states or U.S. territories. The bill maintains the existing 2,080-hour practice requirement within a collaborative setting but broadens the pool of eligible collaborating physicians. This change directly affects PAs seeking licensure or renewal who need to establish collaborative arrangements to meet practice experience requirements.

Maddy summarySF 929 would establish the Minnesota Health Plan to guarantee comprehensive healthcare coverage for all Minnesota residents. The plan requires coverage for all medically necessary care - including medical, dental, vision, mental health, prescription drugs, and long-term services - with premiums based on ability to pay and no co-pays. It mandates automatic eligibility for all Minnesotans (including temporary out-of-state residents and border community visitors), while requiring cost reductions through negotiated provider prices rather than care restrictions. The bill also creates new entities like the Minnesota Health Board and Health Fund to administer the plan.

Maddy summarySF 731 prohibits health insurance companies in Minnesota from requiring prior authorization for any service, item, or treatment where the insurer's liability would be $100 or less if approved. This directly affects health plan companies and their members by eliminating administrative hurdles for low-cost services like minor procedures or routine care. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes §62M.07 by adding this new exception to the list of services already exempt from prior authorization (such as emergency care, mental health treatment, and cancer care). The provision takes effect January 1, 2026, applying to health benefit plans offered or renewed on or after that date. It aims to reduce unnecessary administrative delays for affordable healthcare services.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.5 million from the general fund to the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority for a one-time project to retrofit glass at U.S. Bank Stadium. The funds will be used to install exterior visual markers on four specific glass areas, following recommendations from a 2019 bird collision study and approved products listed by the American Bird Conservancy's Glass Collisions Program. The retrofitting must be completed by June 30, 2026, to reduce bird collisions at the stadium. The bill directly affects U.S. Bank Stadium operations and local bird populations.

Maddy summarySF 355 requires Minnesota's commissioner of children, youth, and families to create a plan by January 15, 2026, to reduce paperwork in child protection cases. The plan must be developed with input from counties, tribal governments, and child welfare agencies, and include specific changes, implementation timing, and ongoing feedback procedures. It directly affects social workers, foster care providers, tribal governments, counties, and child placing agencies by aiming to simplify administrative tasks. The bill focuses on streamlining current processes without altering child protection standards or outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10 million from state bond proceeds to fund the redesign and reconstruction of approximately 1.4 miles of Nicollet Avenue in Richfield, Minnesota, from 77th Street to 66th Street. The funds will cover roadway construction, replacement of water, sewer, and storm sewer infrastructure, and related planning and property acquisition. The project is intended for joint use by the city of Richfield and Hennepin County to upgrade transportation and utility systems along this corridor. The state will issue bonds to finance the appropriation, which must be used in coordination with local partners for the Nicollet Avenue reconstruction.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Department of Children, Youth, and Families in Minnesota, creating a new state agency to oversee child welfare, youth services, and family support programs. It grants the department's commissioner the authority to accept federal and private funding, make contracts with various organizations, and submit biennial reports on performance goals that focus on equity, program coordination, and reducing barriers for families. The legislation also reorganizes existing state laws by moving and copying relevant statutes into new chapters while repealing outdated sections to align with the new departmental structure.