Authority of hospital districts to support additional health care services and providers expanded.

This bill expands the authority of Minnesota hospital districts to provide financial and in-kind support to a wider range of licensed health care providers and facilities beyond hospitals and nursing homes. It allows hospital districts to enter into agreements with organizations such as primary care clinics, behavioral health providers, dental clinics, home health agencies, urgent care centers, and community-based health service organizations to support their operations. The bill requires that any funding agreements specify how the money will be used for identified programs benefiting district residents, mandate regular financial reporting from recipients, and prohibit the use of funds for executive compensation, shareholder dividends, or profit distribution. Hospital districts must also establish internal policies to ensure compliance with these requirements, while the legislation clarifies that this expansion does not grant additional taxing authority to the districts.