Rep. Joe Schomacker

Maddy summarySF 3210 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities by public or private entities receiving state funding in Minnesota. The bill requires these organizations to provide reasonable accommodations and ensures people with disabilities cannot be excluded from services or denied benefits due to their disability. It specifically bans the denial of access to service animals in public places like restaurants and hotels, and prohibits charging extra fees for service animals. This law directly affects state-funded organizations and individuals with disabilities across Minnesota.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota laws regarding assisted living facilities and fee awards in state proceedings. It raises the revenue threshold for small businesses eligible to receive fees and expenses in certain legal actions from $7 million to $13.5 million. The legislation requires assisted living facilities to provide residents with a 24/7 means to request health and safety assistance, though this requirement does not apply to residents with moderate to severe cognitive impairment who cannot reliably use alerting devices. Additionally, the bill exempts assisted living facilities from the provider tax and updates the definition of health care provider for state purposes.

Maddy summaryHF 2354 strengthens Minnesota's response to Medicaid fraud by expanding the Attorney General's authority to subpoena records from entities like phone companies, financial institutions, and healthcare providers. It establishes criminal penalties for submitting false Medicaid claims, including fines up to $100,000 and up to 20 years in prison for fraud exceeding $35,000, with lesser penalties for smaller amounts. The bill directly affects Medicaid providers and individuals who submit fraudulent claims for medical assistance funds. Key mechanisms include new subpoena powers for investigations and tiered penalties based on the value of the fraudulent claims. The law amends existing statutes (256B.12, 609.467) and repeals outdated provisions.

Maddy summarySF 476 expands Minnesota's medical assistance program to cover "care evaluations" - face-to-face assessments to develop or update home care plans (excluding personal care). It modifies payment rates for homemaker services, home health agencies, and home care nursing. The bill directly affects home care recipients (including seniors and people with disabilities) and the providers delivering these services. Key changes include adding care evaluations to covered services and requiring county public health nurses to conduct certain assessments and updates. All provisions take effect January 1, 2026, or after federal approval.

Maddy summaryHF 2380 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in services, programs, or activities receiving state funding in Minnesota. It directly affects public and private entities (like schools, hospitals, and businesses) that receive state money. The bill requires these entities to provide reasonable accommodations and bans exclusion or denial of benefits due to disability. It also specifically prohibits businesses from banning service animals or charging extra fees for them, defining "disability" broadly to include conditions substantially limiting major life activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's assisted living facility regulations and tax rules while adjusting who can recover legal fees in certain proceedings. It raises the revenue threshold for small businesses eligible to recover fees and expenses in legal proceedings from $7 million to $13.5 million, and includes individual owners of those businesses in this eligibility. The bill also exempts assisted living facilities from the state provider tax and updates requirements for how facilities must allow residents to request assistance for health and safety needs. Additionally, it creates an exception for residents with moderate to severe cognitive impairment who cannot reliably use alerting devices, allowing facilities to not provide 24/7 request assistance systems for those specific individuals.

Maddy summaryHF 3379 repeals provisions related to "housing stabilization services" in Minnesota law. The bill removes references to these services from multiple statutes governing provider enrollment, background checks, and fee structures for home and community-based waiver programs. This change directly affects providers who previously offered housing stabilization services and their clients, as it eliminates the program's legal framework. The repeal applies to sections of Minnesota Statutes covering background studies, cost recovery fees, and provider requirements. The bill does not create new requirements but formally ends the existing housing stabilization services program.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the requirements for marriage and family therapists to obtain a Minnesota license through reciprocity with other states. It allows the state licensing board to issue licenses to out-of-state therapists who meet specific criteria, including holding a valid license in good standing elsewhere, passing a Minnesota jurisprudence exam, and having no criminal convictions or disciplinary actions. The changes streamline the application process by clearly outlining five conditions that applicants must satisfy, such as completing the required application and fees. Therapists seeking to practice in Minnesota from other jurisdictions would need to demonstrate their qualifications meet these new standards before receiving a state license.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Minnesota to permit residents to consume and display alcoholic beverages under specific conditions. The changes require that alcohol be consumed only by residents during resident-focused activities, with no one under 21 allowed to drink and all staff serving alcohol being at least 18 years old. Additionally, the bill prohibits selling alcohol or treating it as part of a commercial transaction within these facilities. The legislation directly affects nursing home operators, assisted living facility managers, and the residents who live in these care settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how Minnesota determines eligibility for nursing facility level of care when applying for certain home and community-based waiver services, including elderly, brain injury, and community access for disability inclusion waivers. It updates the legal definitions to include new assessment methods like the Patient Driven Payment Model and clarifies criteria for determining when an individual qualifies as needing nursing facility care, such as requiring daily clinical monitoring or assistance with multiple daily living activities. The changes apply to individuals seeking medical assistance payment for long-term care services and will take effect on January 1, 2027, or upon federal approval, whichever comes later.