Sen. Alice Mann

Maddy summaryHF 3453 amends Minnesota Statutes section 152.027 to raise the legal age for possessing kratom from 18 to 21 years. It makes it a gross misdemeanor to sell kratom to anyone under 21 and a misdemeanor for anyone under 21 to possess it. The bill directly affects minors under 21 and businesses selling kratom, prohibiting sales to this age group and restricting their possession. The change applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2026. This is a substantive policy change altering age restrictions under Minnesota's controlled substances law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Minnesota schools to provide at least 16 hours of paid orientation or professional development annually to paraprofessionals, Title I aides, and other instructional support staff. To help cover these costs, the state will reimburse schools for the wages and related taxes associated with this training, starting in the 2025 fiscal year. Additionally, the legislation sets higher minimum starting salaries for nonlicensed school personnel and mandates that schools consult with employee representatives when planning this training.

Maddy summaryThis legislation authorizes Hennepin County to impose a new local sales tax of up to one percent on purchases made after September 30, 2026. The revenue generated must be used to fund youth and amateur sports programs, extend library operating hours, and support a designated local teaching hospital with a level 1 trauma center. The county may issue bonds without a public election to finance these projects and is required to report annually to state legislative committees on how the funds are utilized. This measure directly affects residents and businesses within Hennepin County through the additional tax and the allocation of collected funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in Minnesota to cover specific cancer screenings for residents without charging co-pays, deductibles, or coinsurance. The legislation mandates that coverage for colorectal, breast, prostate, cervical, and lung cancer screenings must align with the current guidelines set by the American Cancer Society. It also ensures that follow-up tests and examinations following initial screenings are included in the required coverage. These rules will take effect on January 1, 2027, applying to any health plans offered, issued, or renewed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota statutes to adjust pension funding rules for teachers, specifically changing employer contribution rates and pension adjustment revenue calculations. It directly affects school districts and teachers in the Teachers Retirement Association and St. Paul Teachers' Retirement Fund Association by modifying how much employers contribute and how state pension revenue is distributed. The legislation updates contribution percentages for different districts and establishes new caps on pension adjustment revenue for specific fiscal years. These changes aim to standardize financial contributions and revenue limits across the state's teacher retirement system.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Minnesota's definition of drug compounding to explicitly exclude the use of flavoring agents. It directly affects pharmacists and healthcare providers who prepare customized medications for patients. The legislation adds a new definition for "flavoring agent" as a therapeutically inert substance used to improve a drug's taste and palatability. By clarifying that adding flavoring agents does not constitute compounding, the bill aims to distinguish between standard drug preparation and activities requiring special regulatory oversight. This change ensures that routine flavoring of medications remains outside the strict compounding regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the procedures for Minnesota's medication repository program, which collects and distributes donated prescription drugs to patients who cannot afford their medications. The legislation updates requirements for how central and local repositories must inspect, store, and handle donated drugs, including stricter rules on recall management and documentation of destroyed supplies. Additionally, the bill adjusts funding allocations, providing $450,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support drug purchases and program administration costs. These changes apply to pharmacists and practitioners working with the repository system and aim to improve safety and accountability in the donation process.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3899) renames the state office building at 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in St. Paul as the "Melissa Hortman State Office Building." It directly affects the building's official designation and all state documents referencing it. The bill requires the revisor of statutes to update "State Office Building" to "Melissa Hortman State Office Building" throughout Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Rules.

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota bill prohibits health insurance plans from using step therapy protocols to limit coverage for FDA-approved drugs treating neurological conditions. It directly affects people with neurological disorders and the health plans that cover them by requiring insurers to pay for these medications if they are on the plan's formulary and align with official medical guidelines. The law defines neurological conditions as any disorder causing neurological impairment and specifies that coverage cannot be denied based on step therapy if the drug is approved for the patient's specific condition and supported by clinical practice guidelines. The policy change will take effect on January 1, 2027, applying to any health plans offered, issued, or renewed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises Minnesota's legal age for kratom possession and sale from 18 to 21 years old. It makes it a misdemeanor for anyone under 21 to possess kratom and a gross misdemeanor to sell it to minors. The law applies to all kratom products containing mitragynine or related compounds, directly affecting young adults under 21 and businesses selling these products. The bill takes effect August 1, 2026.