Sen. Jordan Rasmusson

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state to issue up to $7,267,000 in bonds to fund waste management projects for the Prairie Lakes Municipal Solid Waste Authority, which serves five counties in western Minnesota. The funds will support the design and construction of an ash recovery and recycling plant that turns landfill ash into road construction material and recovers metals, as well as a waste transfer station to consolidate trash for regional processing. The money is allocated through a grant to Otter Tail County, which manages the joint powers board representing the participating counties. Once enacted, the state will sell the bonds to raise the necessary capital for these infrastructure improvements.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's electronic visit verification rules for home and community-based human services, such as personal care and home health assistance. It updates the required data points to include the full names and titles of service providers and adds a mandatory digital signature from the service recipient or their guardian confirming the accuracy of the information. The legislation also directs the state commissioner to create flexible methods for collecting these signatures that accommodate the needs of recipients, guardians, and parents. These changes apply to providers and agencies delivering the specified services and aim to ensure more accurate documentation while maintaining accessibility for vulnerable populations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates how Minnesota local governments calculate the base amount for property tax levy limits, starting with taxes payable in 2027. It changes the calculation method to use the final certified tax levy from the previous year instead of older levy aid bases, and adjusts how population growth and inflation factors are applied. The new formula allows local governments to increase their tax levy limits based on changes in the implicit price deflator and population, with additional adjustments for years after 2027 that account for differences between certified and final levies. These changes directly affect school districts, cities, counties, and other local taxing units that rely on property taxes to fund their operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs Minnesota's commissioner of health to conduct a comprehensive study on how the state can support innovations in cell and gene therapies for treating rare diseases. The study will examine current research capacity, healthcare infrastructure, workforce needs, funding options, and access barriers across the state, with input from patients, healthcare providers, industry experts, and other stakeholders. By January 1, 2028, the commissioner must submit a report to the legislature with findings and recommendations for strategic investments, policy changes, and regulatory actions to advance these therapies. The bill also defines key terms such as cell and gene therapy and rare disease to establish a clear framework for the study.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires high-risk medical assistance providers in Minnesota to complete compliance training and establish specific internal policies. It mandates that license applicants and holders implement drug and alcohol policies for staff, create grievance procedures for clients, and designate authorized agents for communications with state officials. The legislation also requires providers to disclose consultant use when preparing license applications and establishes new teams for licensing oversight and provider support. These changes aim to strengthen oversight of medical assistance programs while streamlining application processes through updated reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies retirement rules for teachers in Minnesota's Teachers Retirement Association, lowering the age for retirement and return-to-work agreements from 62 to 59½. It allows teachers at or above the new age to retire and sign a written agreement to return to teaching, with work terms mutually agreed upon by the teacher and school district. The legislation also extends the temporary suspension of earnings limitations for retired teachers who return to work, covering salary earned through 2030 and annuity payments through 2031. These changes affect current and future teachers seeking to retire and potentially return to the classroom while receiving pension benefits.

Maddy summaryHF 3378 requires Minnesota's Commissioner of Human Services to immediately release unredacted initial reports produced by Optum, Inc. under contract with the Department of Human Services. These reports, defined as those announced in a February 6, 2026 department news release, must be made public without edits or redactions - except for limited redactions requested by Optum to protect proprietary information. The bill directly affects the Department of Human Services' reporting obligations and ensures public access to these documents. It takes effect 14 days after final enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the city of Erhard to issue an on-sale liquor license for its Community Park, allowing the city to operate as a municipal liquor store at that location. The provision permits the sale of intoxicating liquor at the park while applying standard state liquor laws, except where they conflict with this authorization. The bill becomes effective once the Erhard City Council approves it and the city complies with relevant state requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires housing agencies in Minnesota to verify that every adult in a household has proof of citizenship or lawful immigration status before providing rental assistance or down payment assistance. The change directly affects housing programs under Minnesota Statutes 462A.07 by adding a new requirement for documentation of legal residency. Agencies must check these documents for all adults in a household before issuing any financial aid for housing. The legislation does not specify which forms of documentation are acceptable, leaving that determination to the agencies implementing the rule.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's local government correctional service retirement plan by lowering contribution rates and increasing postretirement benefit adjustments. It reduces employee contributions from 6.83% to 6% of salary and employer contributions from 10.25% to 9% of salary, with both changes taking effect on January 1, 2027. The legislation also raises the standard annual cost-of-living adjustment for retirees from 1% to 3%, with a maximum increase of 3% unless the plan's assets fall below certain thresholds, which would lower the maximum to 1.5%. These changes will affect current and future correctional service employees and retirees covered under the Public Employees Retirement Association plan.