Sen. Erin Maye Quade

Maddy summarySF 548 amends Minnesota law to increase the income limit for medical assistance eligibility for two groups: people with disabilities and Minnesotans aged 65 and older. The bill raises the allowable income threshold from 100% to 133% of the federal poverty guidelines for these individuals, making it easier for them to qualify for medical assistance without losing benefits. This change applies to those covered under specific sections of Minnesota Statutes related to medical assistance eligibility. The amendment is set to take effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's unemployment insurance rules for workers involved in labor disputes. It changes the eligibility timeline: workers participating in a dispute lose benefits until the dispute ends, while non-participants lose benefits until the dispute begins. Exceptions include cases where workers quit due to safety violations, lockouts, or being discharged before a dispute starts. The bill directly affects Minnesota workers who stop working because of workplace labor conflicts. It does not change the core definition of "labor dispute" but clarifies eligibility periods and adds specific exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's rules for optometrists prescribing and administering prescription medications. It removes previous restrictions on optometrists prescribing oral antivirals (limited to 10 days), oral steroids (14 days without physician consultation), and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (7 days). The changes specifically allow optometrists to prescribe these medications within the new time limits, while maintaining existing restrictions on intravenous/intramuscular drug administration, invasive surgery, and Schedule II/III oral drugs. These provisions directly affect optometrists practicing in Minnesota, expanding their limited prescribing authority for specific eye-related treatments.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that Minnesota's Commissioner of Health must conduct maternal death studies, changing the requirement from optional ("may") to mandatory ("must"). It directly affects the Minnesota Department of Health, requiring them to use these studies to improve medical, health, and welfare systems. The key provision is the explicit mandate for these studies to help reduce preventable maternal deaths in the state. The bill does not create new programs but ensures existing requirements are clear and actionable.

Maddy summarySF 1240 establishes new privacy rights for Minnesotans regarding brain activity data collected through neurotechnology. It grants individuals the right to mental privacy (preventing government collection of brain data without consent), cognitive liberty, mental integrity, and psychological continuity. The bill requires companies using brain-computer interfaces to obtain separate, informed consent for each data use and third-party sharing, and prohibits "consciousness bypass" (manipulating brain activity without awareness). Violations carry civil penalties up to $10,000 per incident, with amended criminal statutes adding penalties for unauthorized access to neurodata. This bill directly affects individuals using neurotechnology devices and the companies handling their brain activity data.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $825,000 in bonds to fund the reconstruction of Dakota County Technical College's driver training track. The funds would be provided to the college's board for this specific facility upgrade, directly affecting the college's driver education program and students using the track. The bill establishes the mechanism for selling state bonds under existing bond law (Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631-16A.675) to cover the project costs. It does not create new programs or regulations but provides targeted capital funding for infrastructure at a specific technical college.

Maddy summarySF 1034 appropriates $250,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to create a Community Engagement Response Team in Rochester. The funds will be provided as a grant to a nonprofit organization, which must form a team of community leaders and volunteers. This team will directly serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities by acting as liaisons between these communities and law enforcement, mediating conflicts, curating opportunities, and providing advocacy to improve public safety. The bill focuses on funding a specific local initiative rather than creating new statewide policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a trust to hold Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for foster children in Minnesota, ensuring these funds are used exclusively for the child's care. Child welfare agencies must send all SSI benefits they receive for foster children to a state trust account within 90 days, keeping these funds separate from general agency budgets. The trust requires agencies to report annually on how these funds are managed, and children aged 18+ must be notified about accessing their trust benefits. This directly affects foster children receiving SSI and the agencies responsible for their care.

Maddy summarySF 978 legalizes and regulates mobile sports betting in Minnesota for adults aged 21 and older. The bill establishes licensing requirements for operators, prohibits local governments from banning sports betting, and creates a tax structure for revenue. It defines key terms like "mobile sports betting" (placing wagers via apps) and "athletic event" (excluding high school sports and fantasy contests), while requiring operators to maintain player accounts tracking deposits, wagers, and winnings. The legislation also sets civil and criminal penalties for violations and amends multiple existing statutes to implement these changes. This directly affects Minnesotans who place bets, licensed betting operators, and tribal casinos operating under existing compacts.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1.5 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1.5 million for fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the commissioner of health. The funds are designated for grants supporting sexual and reproductive health services, distributed under Minnesota Statutes section 145.925. These grants directly support health service providers offering such care, including clinics and community organizations. The bill creates no new requirements but allocates existing state funds to expand access to these services. It does not change eligibility criteria or create new program rules.