HF 4598 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Workers' Compensation Advisory Council 2026 recommendations adopted.

This bill modifies Minnesota's building code administration rules to allow municipalities to handle inspections and enforcement for certain state buildings and licensed facilities. It requires the state commissioner to enter agreements with municipalities that request these services and demonstrate they have enough trained personnel to perform them properly. The law also expands the list of simpler projects, such as roof replacements and HVAC upgrades, that municipalities can manage without state oversight if they meet specific criteria. Municipalities denied agreements can appeal the decision through a formal process, ensuring they have a chance to address any identified shortcomings.

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 23, 2026 Last action May 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 7 edits · Apr 20, 2026

MODERATE

This bill updates Minnesota's Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association by replacing outdated sections with new rules for distributing excess surplus and assessing deficiencies. It raises the maximum legal fees for workers' compensation attorneys and increases permanent partial disability compensation amounts. The bill also expands the definition of occupational diseases to include specific mental health conditions for public safety workers.

Scope change

The bill shifts the focus from building code administration to workers' compensation, expanding the scope of covered occupational diseases and modifying how surplus funds are distributed among insurers and employers.

FISCAL

Increased the maximum legal fee for workers' compensation attorneys from $26,000 to $55,000 and raised the compensation threshold from $130,000 to $275,000.

Updated permanent partial disability compensation tables, increasing the maximum payout from $567,840 to $682,045.

ELIGIBILITY

Added presumptions that mental impairments (such as PTSD) are occupational diseases for firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and other public safety workers.

Expanded the definition of occupational disease to include mental impairment diagnoses by licensed psychologists and psychiatric nurse practitioners.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the municipal agreement for building code enforcement with new procedures for distributing excess surplus and assessing deficiencies to self-insurers and insured employers.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'policyholder' and clarified rules for distributing refunds to insured employers and the assigned risk plan.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date for the new mental impairment occupational disease rules to injuries occurring on or after October 1, 2026.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 11, 2026

Committee

Referred to Chief Clerk for comparison with SF3720

lower

May 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Committee

Joint rule 2.03, Deadlines, re-referred to Rules and Legislative Administration

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended

lower

Mar 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduction and first reading, referred to Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors