Rep. Robert Bierman

Maddy summaryHF 2516 requires Minnesota public school districts and charter schools to adopt cell phone use policies by March 2025, prohibiting phones and smartwatches for K-8 students and restricting them to classrooms for grades 9-12 starting in 2026-2027, with exceptions for medical needs or disability accommodations. The bill appropriates funds for a statewide awareness campaign about screen overuse (2026-2027) and provides one-time grants to schools for implementing the policy, covering only one-time expenses like equipment, not staff salaries. It directly affects all Minnesota K-12 public schools and students, aiming to address concerns about cell phone impacts on behavior and academic performance. The funding mechanisms include specific annual appropriations for campaign costs and school implementation grants.

Maddy summaryHF 3293 creates the Minnesota Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (MCFPB) to enforce consumer financial laws and protect residents from unfair or deceptive practices in banking, lending, and other financial services. The bill establishes a commissioner appointed by the governor to oversee the bureau, which will investigate complaints, monitor financial markets, and enforce anti-discrimination rules in consumer finance. It appropriates funding for the bureau’s operations in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, and directs the commissioner to recruit staff with federal CFPB experience. The bureau directly affects Minnesota consumers and financial institutions operating in the state by providing a dedicated enforcement agency for consumer financial protection.

Maddy summaryHF 3240 establishes a two-year grant program administered by Minnesota's Department of Health to address outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (like measles) in communities with low vaccination rates. It appropriates funds for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support community health boards and nonprofit organizations working in these high-risk areas. Grant funds must cover culturally appropriate vaccine education, combating misinformation, and helping individuals access vaccines, with materials provided in primary languages of affected populations. The program directly targets geographic areas or populations experiencing or at risk of outbreaks due to low vaccination coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how utilization review organizations in Minnesota handle prior authorization requests for healthcare services and establishes new enforcement mechanisms. It requires these organizations to contact physicians before denying requests and mandates that adverse determinations be communicated within five business days with clear explanations and appeal information. The legislation also authorizes the commissioner of commerce to impose fines on organizations that reverse more than 40 percent of appeals over a 12-month period and creates a cause of action for wrongful denials. Additionally, the bill restricts the ability to revoke previously authorized services unless fraud or legal conflicts are proven, while requiring oversight from health licensing boards.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurance plans and utilization review organizations in Minnesota from requiring prior authorization for drugs that have been continuously prescribed to an enrollee for at least six months. The law applies to health benefit plans offered, sold, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, and directly affects patients who have been on stable medication regimens for half a year or longer. By removing this administrative requirement for ongoing prescriptions, the bill aims to reduce barriers to accessing medications that patients have already been using consistently. The provision is part of broader changes to Minnesota's health insurance laws that also limit prior authorization for emergency services, mental health treatment, cancer care, and preventive screenings.

Maddy summaryHF 2909 modifies Minnesota's medical assistance and MinnesotaCare coverage to require equal payment rates for pharmacists providing services within both pharmacists' and physicians' scopes of practice. It mandates that medical assistance programs and MinnesotaCare reimburse participating pharmacists for these services at the same rate paid to physicians for equivalent care. This applies to fee-for-service programs and managed care plans under sections 256B.69 and 256B.692. The changes take effect January 1, 2026, or after federal approval, whichever is later. The bill directly affects pharmacists and pharmacies providing covered services under these programs.

Maddy summaryHF 3738 modifies the due date for a report on Minnesota's pediatric hospital-to-home transition pilot program. It changes the submission deadline from December 15, 2026, to October 15, 2027, for the commissioner of human services. The bill does not alter the program's requirements or funding but delays the reporting timeline. This procedural change affects the human services commissioner and legislative committees overseeing health and human services. (Bill text: Section 47(d) amendment; Recent action: Introduced Feb. 25, 2026)

Maddy summaryHF 3628 appropriates $30 million from state bond proceeds to fund capital improvements at the Minnesota Zoo. The Minnesota Zoological Board will use these funds for asset preservation, including replacing outdated buildings, renovating trails and roads, and upgrading animal exhibits to meet modern welfare standards and safety requirements. The bill authorizes the state to issue up to $30 million in bonds under Minnesota statutes to cover these costs, with funds to be spent per specific guidelines in Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.307. This legislation directly affects the zoo's infrastructure and operations, focusing on physical facility upgrades rather than operational funding.

Maddy summaryHF 3632 allocates $40 million in state bond funds to improve Apple Valley's water treatment plant specifically to address PFAS chemicals (a type of contaminant found in drinking water) in the city's water supply. The funding covers all project phases, including planning, design, construction, and equipment for plant upgrades needed to remove these contaminants. This directly affects Apple Valley residents by enhancing the safety of their drinking water through infrastructure improvements. The state will issue bonds to finance this project, following Minnesota's bond procedures, with funds to be administered by the Public Facilities Authority.

Maddy summaryHF 3444 prohibits Minnesota's medical assistance program (Medicaid) from requiring prior authorization or step therapy for any FDA-approved drug used to treat opioid use disorder. This means Medicaid patients receiving treatment for opioid addiction will not face extra approval steps or forced trials of cheaper alternatives. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to add a specific exception blocking these requirements for opioid use disorder medications. It directly affects Medicaid patients and the state agency managing drug coverage policies.