Sen. Lindsey Port

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the maximum tax rate that housing and redevelopment authorities in Minnesota can levy on property within their districts. It increases the cap from 0.0185% to 0.037% of a property's estimated market value, effectively doubling the allowable tax rate. Property owners within these authority districts will be subject to this higher tax, which is collected alongside regular local property taxes by county auditors. The revenue generated must be deposited into a dedicated "housing and redevelopment project fund" and spent exclusively on projects authorized under Minnesota Statutes sections 469.001 to 469.047.

Maddy summarySF 1890 establishes a $30 million reproductive health equity grant fund to expand access to abortion care in Minnesota. The fund provides one-time grants to abortion providers, government entities, and nonprofit organizations that facilitate abortion access, with specific focus on supporting staff retention, funding free or low-cost care for uninsured patients, enhancing facility security, and improving cultural competency training. Grants must be used to grow abortion care capacity, ensure affordability regardless of income, and secure physical/digital infrastructure for providers. The fund becomes operational by January 2026, with the commissioner required to award grants within 30 days of application.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies background check requirements for child care providers in Minnesota. It requires the commissioner to request, every six months, information from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension about any National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notifications matching a provider's background study details. If this information leads to a disqualification, the commissioner cannot disclose the specific reason (related to the missing/child exploitation data) to the provider. The change directly affects family child care providers, licensed centers, and nonlicensed child care programs under Minnesota law.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $96.5 million annually for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 from the state general fund to expand the Early Learning Scholarships program. It directly provides funding for low- and middle-income families to access early childhood education services through licensed providers. The program, administered by the Commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families, increases available scholarship funds under Minnesota Statutes §142D.25. This is a concrete funding increase, not a new program or eligibility change.

Maddy summaryThe Minnesota Starter Home Act (SF 2229) allows municipalities to permit single-family homes, duplexes, and accessory dwelling units in most residential zones without requiring new comprehensive plan amendments until 2029. It directly affects local governments (which must adopt these zoning changes), homeowners (who can build or rent these units), and developers (who can construct these housing types). Key provisions include exempting these housing types from complex planning processes, defining "affordable housing" as units with income restrictions for 10+ years, and requiring only a simple majority vote for affordable housing amendments. The bill aims to increase housing options by streamlining local zoning rules for starter homes.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $X (amount unspecified in text) from the general fund for one-time grants in fiscal year 2026 to support transitional housing. It provides funding to eligible organizations to renovate existing facilities into transitional housing sites, renovate current sites, build new sites, or improve safety, sanitation, accessibility, and habitability of existing sites. The funds are specifically designated for use under Minnesota Statutes section 256K.48, targeting organizations operating transitional housing programs. The bill directly affects providers of temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness, enabling facility improvements through state grants.

Maddy summarySF 830 appropriates $2.2 million for fiscal year 2026 and $2.2 million for fiscal year 2027 to fund a statewide housing mediation program administered by Community Mediation Minnesota. The program provides dispute resolution services to renters and residential property owners, focusing on eviction prevention, mediation, and navigation assistance. It specifically aims to increase access for seniors, renters with disabilities, and culturally diverse communities while partnering with culturally specific organizations. The funds also support staff training, expanding mediator diversity, and connecting participants with legal and court resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurance companies in Minnesota from requiring prior authorization for antineoplastic cancer treatments that follow National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, directly affecting cancer patients and insurers. It specifically bans prior approval for non-medication cancer treatments (like certain therapies or procedures), while medications for these treatments still require prior authorization but must be processed under faster timelines. The change applies to health benefit plans offered, sold, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027. This eliminates administrative delays for covered cancer treatments, streamlining access to care without altering coverage for medication-based treatments.

Maddy summarySF 1567 establishes Minnesota's Office of Patient Protection to directly assist residents facing healthcare access or quality issues, such as denied services or restricted provider choices. The office, led by a governor-appointed director, will collect and share health plan quality and satisfaction data on its website, help consumers navigate insurance or public program concerns, and annually report to the legislature with recommendations to simplify healthcare systems. It specifically does not provide healthcare or insurance but focuses on consumer advocacy and transparency. This bill directly affects Minnesotans interacting with health insurers or providers and requires health plans to be transparent about quality metrics. The office must submit its first annual report by February 15, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurance plans in Minnesota from charging cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) for office visits to infants, children, and adolescents that meet two specific criteria: (1) the visit is for evidence-based preventive care or screenings recommended by the Health Resources and Services Administration, and (2) the visit lasts 15 minutes or less. It directly affects health insurance companies, healthcare providers, and families of children under 18 who rely on preventive care. The law requires insurers to allow providers to bill separately for these preventive services without cost-sharing, ensuring access to routine check-ups. This amends Minnesota Statutes to add a new provision under health insurance coverage rules.