SF 4187 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Notice of unlawfully transported infectious waste or pathological waste requirement

This bill strengthens Minnesota's regulations on infectious and pathological waste by requiring immediate notification when waste is mistakenly sent to unapproved facilities, mandating unannounced inspections of waste generators, and establishing annual internal audits for compliance. It imposes escalating financial penalties ranging from $200,000 to $2,000,000 for repeated violations and directs half of collected fines to the facility that received the waste while funding training programs for proper waste management. The law applies to healthcare facilities, laboratories, and other organizations that generate infectious or pathological waste, with specific exemptions for sharps used by non-employees.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 5, 2026 Last action Mar 26, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 5 edits · Mar 17, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended from its introduction to its first engrossment, expanding the scope of regulated waste from 'infectious waste' to include 'pathological waste.' This change broadens the bill's applicability to cover a wider range of biological hazards. Additionally, the text clarifies that penalties do not apply if waste is identified as infectious solely due to self-administered sharps, providing a specific exemption for individuals.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include pathological waste alongside infectious waste, and the definition of waste triggering penalties was refined to exclude cases involving only self-administered sharps.

SCOPE

The term 'infectious waste' was changed to 'infectious or pathological waste' throughout the bill, broadening the types of waste covered by the new regulations.

REQUIREMENT

Reporting requirements for facilities receiving unapproved waste were updated to require notices for any waste 'reasonably believed' to be infectious or pathological, rather than confirmed waste.

ENFORCEMENT

The statute reference for compliance audits was updated from sections 116.76 to 116.80 to sections 116.76 to 116.835.

ELIGIBILITY

A new provision was added stating that penalties cannot be assessed if waste is identified as infectious solely because it contains self-administered sharps.

DEFINITION

The title and summary of the bill were updated to reflect the inclusion of pathological waste and the new penalty exemption.

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Committee

Mar 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass and re-referred to Environment, Climate, and Legacy

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Health and Human Services

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Committee

Referred to Environment, Climate, and Legacy

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Introduced

Introduction and first reading

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors