Sen. Bill Lieske

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurers from requiring co-payments for mental health services for children under 18. It directly affects children under 18 receiving mental health care and health insurers offering plans in Minnesota. The key provision bans co-payments for these services, with a specific exception for high-deductible health plans with health savings accounts (HSAs), which must charge the minimum co-payment needed to maintain tax-exempt status under federal law. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, applying to health plans offered, issued, or renewed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $40.8 million in state bond funds to construct bridges and interchanges on Interstate 35 at Dakota County State-Aid Highway 50 (CSAH 50) in Lakeville, Minnesota. It covers environmental analysis, design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction of two bridges over CSAH 50 plus associated ramps. The funds will come from bonds sold by the state under Minnesota law, with proceeds deposited into the trunk highway fund. The project directly affects Lakeville residents and commuters using this specific I-35 interchange by improving traffic flow and safety at the intersection.

Maddy summarySF 1288 establishes that direct primary care service agreements - where patients pay a flat fee directly to a provider for primary care services - are not considered insurance and are exempt from Minnesota's insurance regulations. This affects primary care providers (like physicians or nurse practitioners) who operate under this model and their patients, who pay a direct fee instead of traditional insurance. The bill amends statutes to clarify that such agreements are not subject to licensing requirements for insurance businesses (under chapters 60A, 62C, 62D, or 62N) and defines key terms like "direct primary care practice" and "direct fee." It creates a clear regulatory pathway for this care model without requiring insurance licenses. The policy change directly modifies how these agreements are classified under state law.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota bill (SF 1192) makes it a felony to perform castration or sterilization on any person under 18. It specifically prohibits physical/chemical castration (Section 1.10) and any surgery, procedure, or drug causing permanent infertility (Section 1.11). The law applies to anyone performing these acts on minors, imposing criminal penalties for violations. It takes effect on August 1, 2025, and directly affects minors under 18 and medical professionals or others who might conduct such procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the legal requirement to retreat when using force in self-defense outside one's home in Minnesota. It expands the definition of "dwelling" to include temporary living spaces like tents, porches, and mobile homes, and creates a legal presumption that someone acting in self-defense was justified. The changes apply to force used on or after August 1, 2025, and directly affect Minnesotans defending themselves in non-residential settings. The bill clarifies that reasonable force may be used without retreat when a person reasonably believes it's necessary to prevent imminent harm.

Maddy summarySF 1195 modifies Minnesota's individual income tax brackets to adjust for inflation. It sets new base tax brackets for married couples filing jointly ($38,770 at 5.35%), single filers ($26,520 at 5.35%), and heads of household ($32,650 at 5.35%), effective for 2025 tax years. The bill also requires annual inflation adjustments to these brackets starting in 2026, rounding amounts to the nearest $10 (with $5 amounts rounded up). This directly affects all Minnesota individual income taxpayers by preventing "bracket creep" as income rises with inflation. The changes apply to both standard tax calculations and the tax tables for low-income filers under section 290.06, subdivision 2c.

Maddy summarySF 1194 creates a Minnesota income tax credit for residents with children in K-12 non-public schools meeting specific criteria. It provides a credit equal to a set "credit allowance" multiplied by the number of qualifying children, defined as those meeting IRS requirements and receiving instruction from eligible private or religious schools in Minnesota. The credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024. This directly affects Minnesota families enrolled in qualifying non-public K-12 schools, offering a tax reduction based on the number of eligible children. The bill does not change public school funding or eligibility for public school students.

Maddy summarySF 1004 proposes a constitutional amendment that would limit Minnesota's state spending growth to match inflation plus population growth. If adopted, it would require the state to calculate annual spending limits using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index for Minneapolis-St. Paul and federal population estimates. The amendment excludes federal funds, tax refunds, and certain other spending categories from the calculation. It would require voter approval in the 2026 election and allows temporary exceptions with a 60% legislative vote. The bill directly affects how the state budgets for all programs except those specifically excluded.

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 1023 requires health insurance plans in Minnesota to cover medically necessary treatments for inherited metabolic diseases, including medical foods and low-protein modified food products. This directly affects individuals diagnosed with conditions like phenylketonuria (PKU) and their health insurance providers. The bill mandates that coverage cannot include special limitations such as cost-sharing, prior authorization, or delays specific to these treatments, requiring them to be covered similarly to other plan benefits. It defines "inherited metabolic disease" as a condition caused by an inherited metabolic abnormality and specifies "medical foods" as specially formulated products for dietary treatment under physician direction. The law applies to all health plans and aligns Medicaid coverage for these treatments with the same requirements.