This bill establishes a new support team within Minnesota's Department of Human Services to assist home and community-based services providers. The team will act as a liaison and help desk for providers, offering guidance on technical, regulatory, and operational questions while developing training materials and collecting data on provider challenges. It also coordinates various department functions like licensing and information technology to clarify requirements and support compliance, and makes recommendations to improve service delivery and program integrity. The legislation directly affects organizations and individuals who provide home and community-based services in Minnesota.
This bill modifies Minnesota's family law procedures to require courts to prioritize expedited hearings for temporary relief in specific situations. It directly affects parents involved in ongoing divorce or custody cases who face denial of parenting time or financial support. The key provision mandates that courts must schedule a priority hearing within 30 days when a party credibly alleges being denied parenting time for 14 consecutive days or more, or being unreasonably denied access to necessary financial resources. The amendment also clarifies that credible allegations of domestic abuse, substance abuse, maltreatment, or neglect can serve as a reasonable basis for denying parenting time, though priority hearings must still occur within 30 days when parenting time has been denied for 14 consecutive days. If temporary parenting time is granted, the court may also order temporary child support upon request.
This bill eliminates the requirement for individuals receiving public defender services to make co-payments, partial payments, or reimbursements for appointed counsel in Minnesota. It also removes the obligation for courts to collect these fees from defendants who qualify for public defense based on financial need. The legislation applies retroactively to forgive any unpaid co-payments, partial payments, or reimbursement orders that were referred to collections or entered as civil judgments before the law takes effect. These changes affect all defendants in Minnesota judicial districts who are financially unable to afford private legal representation. The bill becomes effective on July 1, 2026, and covers cases where appointments are made on or after that date.
This bill strengthens oversight and enforcement measures for Minnesota's medical assistance program by requiring the state commissioner to establish an advisory board focused on program integrity. It directs the commissioner to develop recommendations for updating provider enrollment standards, modernizing integrity systems, and implementing new interventions to prevent fraud and abuse. The legislation also expands the commissioner's authority to impose sanctions, including suspending payments or terminating program participation, without requiring a criminal conviction for certain violations. Additionally, the bill mandates regular audits and reporting to ensure accountability while appropriating funds to support these enforcement activities.
This bill prohibits the Minnesota commissioner from treating an employer's good-faith report of fraud as retaliation against an employee who uses paid leave benefits. It directly affects employers who report suspected fraud and employees who might fear retaliation for using paid leave. The law distinguishes between good-faith reports, which are protected from being labeled retaliation, and intentionally inaccurate reports, which would still be considered retaliatory. This change aims to encourage employers to report fraud without fear of legal repercussions while maintaining protections against false accusations.
This bill authorizes the state to issue up to $16 million in bonds to fund an indoor recreational dome facility in St. Paul. The money would be used to design, build, and equip the facility at the West Minnehaha Recreation Center for year-round sports and community programs. The legislation directs the state commissioner of employment and economic development to provide the funds as a grant to the city. The bill also sets the effective date as the day following its final passage.
This bill prohibits employers in Minnesota from requiring a valid driver's license as a condition for getting or keeping a job. It allows employers to ask for a driver's license only if driving is essential to the job or serves a legitimate business purpose, and it permits employees to use other forms of identification that meet federal standards instead. The law also clarifies that employers can still accept a driver's license if one is voluntarily offered, but doing so cannot be used as proof of discrimination. These changes would take effect on January 1, 2027, and apply to employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations.
This bill requires ambulance service providers in Minnesota to collect and report specific prehospital care data to the state's Office of Emergency Medical Services. The data must include information such as the total number of emergency calls, reasons for dispatch, transport destinations, patient fees, and mutual aid activities, organized by municipality. Ambulance companies must submit this annual report covering the previous calendar year, and the state director will make the collected data publicly available. The law takes effect on August 1, 2026, and applies to all licensed ambulance services operating within the state.
This bill establishes special license plates in Minnesota that display the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline logo. To receive these plates, vehicle owners must pay standard registration fees, a specific plate fee, and contribute $25 to a dedicated safety account. The money collected from these contributions will fund lethal means safety tools like gun locks and safes, which can be distributed through nonprofit organizations to the public. The plates can be transferred to another vehicle owned by the same person, and the program becomes effective on January 1, 2027.
This bill allocates $1.65 million in state funding to the Ignite Businesswomen Investment Group Foundation to support women entrepreneurs in Minnesota. The funds will be distributed in fiscal year 2027 through grants and low-interest loans, with a focus on women in underserved and economically disadvantaged communities. One portion of the money establishes a dedicated fund for working capital and business development, while the other provides training and resources like business planning, financial literacy, and technology support. The appropriation is designated as a one-time funding measure and will be managed by the commissioner of employment and economic development.
This bill changes how Minnesota handles government appointments by setting a 30-day deadline for legislative confirmation. If the Senate does not confirm a Senate-only appointment within 30 legislative days, or if both chambers do not confirm a joint appointment within 30 legislative days after receiving the appointment letter, the appointment is automatically rejected. The rule applies to most executive appointments but excludes the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. This amendment shortens the previous 60-day confirmation period to ensure faster decisions on appointed officials.
This bill authorizes a supplemental payment rate for housing support providers in Washington County that serve adults with mental illness, substance use disorders, or housing instability. It requires county agencies to negotiate an additional monthly rate of up to $1,028 for up to 29 beds at facilities that provide 24-hour supervision and related support services. The change amends existing state law to create this new funding category and applies retroactively starting April 1, 2026, once the bill is enacted.
