Minnesota Bills

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 4801: Provisions governing prior authorization of health care services modified, and managed care contracts under medical assistance modified.

This bill modifies Minnesota laws to restrict how health insurance plans and managed care organizations require prior authorization for medical services. It directly affects health plan enrollees by prohibiting the denial or limitation of coverage for care that was not previously approved if the service would have been covered under the plan's rules. Key provisions ban prior authorization for emergency services, specific outpatient mental health and substance use treatments, certain cancer therapies, recommended preventive care, pediatric hospice, and neonatal abstinence programs. Additionally, the bill prevents authorization for chronic condition treatments from expiring unless the standard of care changes, the condition no longer qualifies as chronic, or the treatment no longer meets medical standards. These changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2027, for health plans offered or renewed after that date.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 4844: Power of People Leadership Institute for the Girls Taking Action and Boys of Hope programs grant funding provided, and money appropriated.

This bill directs $2 million from the state's general fund to the Power of People Leadership Institute to support its Girls Taking Action and Boys of Hope programs in fiscal year 2027. The funding will provide grants to offer mentoring, academic help, counseling, and career guidance to students, with a specific focus on girls of color facing various barriers. These one-time appropriations aim to improve graduation rates, encourage higher education, and reduce violence and behavioral issues in participating schools across the seven-county metropolitan area and St. Cloud. Additionally, the bill requires that part of the money for the girls' program be used to expand services beyond the main metropolitan region.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SF 4935: Study of critical materials in the waste stream appropriation

This bill allocates funding from the state's general fund to the Pollution Control Agency to conduct a study on critical materials found in Minnesota's waste stream. The study will focus on items listed on the federal 2023 Critical Materials List and must be completed by October 1, 2028, with results submitted to relevant legislative committees. Key findings will include estimates of how much critical material enters the state's economy, how much is currently recovered through recycling or extraction, and the total volume of these materials present in waste. The legislation directly affects the state's environmental agency and provides data to inform future policy decisions regarding resource recovery and waste management.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 4834: Restrictions on a tenant's ability to participate in a class action prohibited, and civil remedies provided.

This bill prohibits landlords in Minnesota from including clauses in residential leases that stop tenants from joining class-action lawsuits. It declares any such restriction in a lease agreement invalid and unenforceable, regardless of whether it is written or spoken. If a landlord violates this rule, the tenant is entitled to recover three times the actual damages or $1,000, whichever is higher, plus reasonable attorney fees. The law cannot be waived or changed by agreement between the tenant and the landlord.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 4818: Minnesota Transportation Museum grant funding provided, and money appropriated.

This bill allocates $500,000 from the workforce development fund to the Minnesota Transportation Museum for a one-time grant in fiscal year 2027. The funding is intended to help the museum remove financial obstacles and broaden its programs so that students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds can learn about skilled trades like welding, carpentry, and rail work. The money will be managed by the commissioner of employment and economic development and must be used by June 30, 2028.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 4800: State-paid free school lunches limited to families with incomes at or below 500 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, school wellness and resiliency aid established, resources for school-linked behavioral health grants increased, and money appropriated.

This bill modifies Minnesota's school lunch funding and eligibility rules, primarily affecting school districts and families based on income. It establishes a new "enhanced school meals program" where state-paid free lunches are available to students whose families earn up to 500 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, rather than just those meeting the lower standard for traditional free meals. The legislation also sets specific state reimbursement rates for different types of meals and requires schools to adopt policies that protect student dignity by prohibiting "lunch shaming" or withdrawing food from students with unpaid balances. Additionally, the bill creates new funding streams for school wellness, resiliency, and behavioral health services. These changes are designed to take effect starting in the 2027 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 4861: Appropriations for local government aid and county program aid increased.

This bill increases state funding for cities and counties in Minnesota, with the new money becoming available for aid payments starting in 2027. It establishes a base dollar amount for these funds and requires that the total be adjusted annually based on changes in the national inflation rate for government spending. Additionally, the legislation sets aside specific portions of the county aid to support public defense services and administrative costs related to local government reporting.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 4823: Read Act provisions modified.

This bill modifies the Read Act to require Minnesota school districts to provide evidence-based reading instruction focused on foundational skills like phonics, phonemic awareness, and fluency for all students by the 2026-2027 school year. It mandates that districts screen every student in grades K through 3 three times annually to identify reading difficulties and characteristics of dyslexia, with specific rules for multilingual learners and dual language immersion programs. Additionally, the legislation requires districts to train teachers and library specialists on these evidence-based methods and submit annual reports detailing screening results and intervention efforts to the Department of Education.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SF 4964: Nondiscrimination and faith-statement restrictions removal on eligible institutions and enrollment options

This bill updates Minnesota law to clarify that eligible postsecondary institutions, including public colleges and private trade schools, are not required to ask students for faith statements or make admission decisions based on race, creed, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs. By removing these specific restrictions from the statute, the legislation ensures that current enrollment options for concurrent enrollment courses remain free of such nondiscrimination mandates. Additionally, the bill provides a one-time appropriation in fiscal year 2026 to cover legal fees and expenses awarded to the plaintiff in the Loe v. Jett lawsuit, should the court grant such an award.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 4817: Blaine; National Sports Center asset preservation funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

This bill authorizes the state to issue up to $23,740,000 in bonds to fund asset preservation projects at the National Sports Center in Blaine. The money raised from these bonds will be given to the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission specifically for maintaining and improving facilities at the sports center. Once passed, the state will immediately begin the process of selling these bonds to raise the necessary funds. This legislation directly affects the National Sports Center by providing financial resources for its upkeep and the state's budget by committing to future debt repayment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 4857: White Earth Reservation community center funding provided, and money appropriated.

This bill allocates $5,000,000 from the state's general fund to support the construction and equipping of a community center on the White Earth Reservation. The funding is designated for the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and will cover costs such as design, site preparation, construction, and furnishing. The new facility is intended to offer space for health, wellness, and community gatherings for both Tribal and non-Tribal residents. This one-time appropriation becomes effective immediately upon the bill's final passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 4859: Jordan; SCALE regional public safety training facility burn structure and system upgrades funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

This bill authorizes the issuance of up to $1.788 million in state bonds to fund upgrades at the SCALE regional public safety training facility in Jordan. The funds will be used to replace aging burn structures with a new fire training tower that meets current safety standards and to improve the technical systems for existing training areas. This legislation directly affects the Scott County Association for Leadership and Efficiency Joint Powers Board, which manages the facility. The money will come from a dedicated bond proceeds fund, and the bill takes effect immediately upon final passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results