Video & Transcript Research : '919'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Rep. Paul Novotny departing member remarks 5/18/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
Representative Novotny delivered a farewell speech on the House floor reflecting on his years of service and announcing his departure from the legislature. He described the job as similar to his 33 years in law enforcement, emphasizing long hours, stress, criticism, and the need for perspective, and he joked about the demands of session life, including caffeine, junk food, and long meetings. He also thanked House staff, especially the clerk staff and Chief Clerk Patrick Murphy, for keeping the chamber running smoothly despite the disruptions caused by legislators working in their space.
Novotny offered personal thanks to colleagues and allies, including members of the COP Caucus, Representative Moller, his legislative assistant Mary McNamara, and John Hallquist, whom he credited with helping him remember past ideas and discussions. He singled out Representative Nathan Nelson as a close colleague and hunting partner, and he also thanked former Representative Nick Zerwas for encouraging him to serve. He spoke warmly about his family, including his daughters, his wife Nicole, and a future grandchild expected around July 4.
The speech was largely humorous and sentimental, with repeated expressions of gratitude to constituents, colleagues, and staff. Novotny said serving in the House had been an honor and that he was ready to hand the role off to someone else. Speaker Demuth thanked him for his service and for presiding with the gavel, and the chamber responded with applause.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Rep. Mike Wiener departing member remarks 5/18/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
Representative Mike Wiener delivered a farewell-style floor speech as he prepared to move from the House to the Senate. He thanked colleagues for the experience, said he had learned from listening to speeches and committee work, and urged members to remember they represent the whole state, not just their districts. Much of his remarks focused on civility, warning against division, political factionalism, and an “eye for an eye” approach, and calling on lawmakers to set a better example for future generations.
He also reflected on patriotism and the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary, saying he hoped to see more love of country and less animosity. In a lighter moment, he joked about his name being misspelled and received laughter from the chamber. He closed by saying he would carry the lessons from the chamber into the Senate and would try to bring a calmer voice.
Wiener also offered a policy-related critique, saying he would like to see fewer massive omnibus bills and more single-subject bills, which he said were a positive development this year. He argued that public service should not be a career, endorsed term limits in principle, and said elected officials should work for the people and make decisions in the public interest. The chamber responded with applause at the end of his remarks.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Rep. Bernie Perryman departing member remarks 5/18/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
Representative Perryman of Stearns delivered a farewell speech to the House, explaining that she is leaving the chamber to run for the Minnesota Senate rather than retiring from public service. She thanked her district, family, friends, colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and legislative staff for their support over her four years in the House, and reflected on the challenges, debates, and important decisions of her tenure.
Her remarks emphasized gratitude, the value of public service, and the belief that people in office generally want to make a difference despite disagreements. She said she tried to lead with integrity, compassion, and empathy, and noted that one of the greatest gifts of the experience was meeting people from many walks of life and hearing their concerns.
Perryman closed by expressing pride in what was accomplished, optimism for the future, and confidence that the next generation of leaders will continue the work. She ended with a personal saying, "don't take the bait, and watch your own bobber," and received applause from the chamber.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 5/17/26 - Part 4
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
The House first considered a motion to take House File 2133 from the table, described as the tax vehicle bill. Representative Law opposed the motion, saying it was last year’s tax vehicle and not the agreed-upon bill for this year. The motion was nondebatable, a roll call was taken, and it failed on a 67-67 tie.
The chamber then received a Senate message returning House File 4492, a veterans-related bill, with Senate amendments. Representative Bliss moved concurrence, and Representative Mueller explained that the amended bill included REACH Act and literacy-related provisions, including technical changes, expanded disability access language for the deaf and hard of hearing community, revisions involving the dyslexia community, and transparency around literacy material review. Representative Clardy described the bill’s teacher-preparation and early literacy components, and Representative Jordan noted it also provides high school diplomas to veterans of the Korean and Vietnam Wars who were unable to complete them because of service.
The House concurred in the Senate amendments, then took up third reading and final passage of House File 4492 as amended. The bill passed unanimously, 134-0, and its title was agreed to. Afterward, Representative Niska moved a recess to the call of the Speaker, and the House recessed.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 5/17/26 - Part 6
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
The House took up House File 719, the capital investment/bonding bill, and members spent much of the debate praising committee staff and describing the bill as a bipartisan product shaped by statewide bonding tours and negotiations. Supporters highlighted major infrastructure and public facility projects, including water and sewer work, transportation projects, housing, natural resources, and specific local needs such as Grand Marais, the Manomomen County hospital/nursing home, and airport tower funding. Several members emphasized that the bill was a “Team House” effort and argued that infrastructure funding should not be treated as partisan.
During debate, members also focused on the bill’s water infrastructure investments and the need for broader, dedicated funding to address lead pipes, PFAS contamination, and rising wastewater costs. Representative Lee noted that more than $400 million in the package went to water infrastructure, while other speakers pointed to transportation funding and a one-time reduction in tab fees as important elements of the bill. Representative Franson and others urged support, saying the package reflected statewide needs and was a down payment on larger asset-preservation needs.
The House adopted three technical amendments to House File 719, then gave the bill its third reading. After floor discussion, Representative Niska moved to lay House File 719 on the table, and the motion prevailed, tabling the bill. The chamber then moved on to House File 2484, the cash portion of the infrastructure package, where members again described the measure as a small but important funding bill and discussed a Lower Sioux Indian Community Dakota language item and the limited size of each caucus’s cash allocation.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House passes bill to expand Medicaid fraud investigation unit 5/17/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
The House took up House File 2354, a consumer protection bill dealing with medical assistance fraud. Representative Norris described the measure as a crackdown on Medicaid fraud that would add investigators and prosecutors, increase penalties, and broaden the fraud definition to cover more sophisticated schemes. He also emphasized the federal three-to-one match for state spending on the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
The chamber adopted amendment A11 by a roll call vote of 134 yeas and 0 nays. Norris said the amendment narrowed subpoena powers to align with language from the other body, moved the appropriation to the general fund to satisfy a leader agreement and secure the federal match, and made technical cross-reference corrections.
On third reading, Representative Schumacher said the bill had been worked through several Human Services Committee hearings and discussions with the Attorney General’s office and was now in workable form. Norris thanked bipartisan authors and staff and urged a green vote. The final roll call passed the bill 118 yeas to 16 nays, and House File 2354 was finally agreed to.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House DFL Leader Media Availability 5/17/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
House DFL leaders reflected on the end of session, saying the legislature accomplished major priorities despite a narrow partisan split and a tense political environment. They highlighted passage of a $705 million package to stabilize HCMC, anti-fraud measures, IT upgrades, property tax cuts, tab fee cuts, and a housing bill that included $40 million for rental assistance. They also said the session was unusually orderly and productive compared with recent years, and credited the power-sharing arrangement with reducing prolonged floor fights and encouraging more individual bills and conference committee work.
At the same time, they emphasized several disappointments, especially the failure to pass meaningful gun violence prevention measures and legislation to curb ICE abuses or respond to Operation Metro Surge. Leaders argued Republicans blocked even modest gun safety proposals, including enhanced extreme risk protection orders, and said they would take those issues to voters in the next election. They also said the campaign message would focus on affordability, health care costs, hospital stability, gas and energy prices, and school safety.
In response to questions, leaders defended the transparency of the session’s negotiations, saying the underlying ideas had been debated publicly for months even if final packages were released late. They also said the $40 million rental assistance funding was intended to help people affected by Operation Metro Surge, and argued that maintaining Minnesota’s road network requires adequate long-term funding even if the distribution of costs changes.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 5/17/26 - Part 1
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and a quorum present. The journal of the previous day was approved, Senate File 4515 was read for a second time, and House Files 5156 through 5160 were introduced and given first reading. The chamber also received a Senate message regarding Senate File 2077, which had been taken from the table and assigned new Senate conferees.
The House agreed to the Senate’s request for a conference committee on Senate File 2077, and the Speaker later appointed Representatives Heinsman, McDonald, Vang, and Fischer to that committee. The Rules and Legislative Administration Committee brought forward resolutions to authorize continued House operations in advance of organization, direct correction and approval of the final House journal, and retain parking for members and employees between sessions; each was adopted. Members briefly discussed the continued operations resolution, with support noted as a housekeeping measure aligned with prior practice.
The House also adopted a resolution recognizing May as American Indian Month in Minnesota. The resolution highlighted Minnesota’s 11 federally recognized tribes, the state’s long recognition of American Indian Month, and the contributions and resilience of Dakota and Anishinaabe peoples, while urging collaboration with tribal nations. During announcements, Representative Vang noted the death of former Representative Michael Nelson and asked for a moment of silence. Representative Long asked about Senate File 4067, the gun violence prevention package, and was told it was being reviewed with other omnibus bills. The House then adopted a motion to adjourn until 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 18, 2026, and stood in recess.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 5/17/26 - Part 5
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
The House received a message from the Senate announcing concurrence in the conference committee report on Senate File 2077, an environment and natural resources appropriations bill. Representative Heintzeman explained that the report incorporated language from the Legacy and Lands bill, an extension of unemployment insurance benefits for miners, and an $80,000 appropriation for the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute. Representative Vang urged adoption, noting the bill had already passed earlier in the day with strong support.
Several members spoke in favor of the conference report and the bill, emphasizing its outdoor heritage and conservation provisions, support for the Iron Range miners’ UI extension, and the related land and water protection measures. Representative McDonald and Representative Gilman highlighted the bill’s legacy and conservation benefits, while Representative Fischer and Representative Igo praised the work of the authors and the inclusion of the miner unemployment insurance extension.
The House adopted the conference committee report and then took up third reading of the bill as amended by conference. After further supportive remarks, the clerk called the roll and the bill was repassed as amended by conference by a vote of 111 ayes and 22 nays, with the title agreed to. The chamber then adopted a motion to recess to the call of the Speaker.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Republican Media Availability 5/17/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
House Republican leaders in Minnesota gave a post-session recap focused on what they described as major accomplishments in a tied legislature. They highlighted passage of the Office of Inspector General bill to combat fraud, along with tax and fee relief measures including $125 million in property tax relief and $250 million in car tab reductions. They also pointed to funding for hospitals and uncompensated care, county IT modernization, school safety and mental health programs, public official safety at the Capitol and judicial branch, and a $1.2 billion bonding bill for infrastructure.
Leaders repeatedly contrasted this session with the prior Democratic trifecta, arguing Republicans blocked new tax increases and helped make government more accountable and affordable. They said the OIG bill had been a top priority, had previously been blocked in the House, and was now signed into law. On health care, they said the final package included support for hospitals and denied that discussions about 340B involved pharmaceutical companies, saying offers on that issue were rejected by House Democrats.
In response to questions, leaders said the tie forced public negotiation and that Minnesotans were the real winners because lawmakers worked together. They also defended the lack of final floor votes on gun-related proposals, saying those measures had been voted on multiple times in committee and on the floor but did not have the votes to pass. On transparency, they said the process was as open as possible and that bonding projects had been heard in committee and reviewed by the bonding team before inclusion.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House repasses HF4492, READ Act modifications 5/17/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
The House received a message from the Senate returning House File 4492, an act relating to veterans, with amendments and requesting concurrence. Representative Bliss moved to concur, and members discussed the bill as a combination of veterans-related provisions and changes to Minnesota’s READ Act and literacy law.
Representative Mueller and Representative Clardy explained that the bill includes technical READ Act changes, expanded disability access language to better serve deaf and hard-of-hearing students, revisions involving dyslexia-related language, transparency in ongoing literacy material review, and a timeline adjustment after the Department of Education did not complete phase two work on time. Clardy described the literacy provisions as requiring universities to develop programs to better prepare teacher candidates to teach reading using science-based methods. Representative Jordan added that the bill also provides high school diplomas to veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars who did not previously receive one because of their service.
The House approved concurrence, then took up third reading of the bill as amended by the Senate. After further brief remarks urging a green vote, the roll was called and the bill passed unanimously, 134 ayes and 0 nays. The bill was repassed as amended by the Senate, its title was agreed to, and the House then adopted a recess motion to the call of the speaker.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 5/17/26 - Part 2
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
The House first took up Senate File 334, a bill to modernize county human services technology used to administer programs such as Medicaid and SNAP. The author and several members described the current systems as outdated “green screen” platforms that are slow, duplicative, and difficult for workers and applicants, and argued modernization would improve service, retention, and fraud prevention. The bill would create a technology modernization fund with about $90 million over time, capped at $50 million, route funds through Minute, establish an interagency group with county representation, create a legislative working group, and provide $15 million for Office of Inspector General technology. Members from several counties spoke in strong support, citing local system failures, cyberattacks, and the need for better tools; one member noted the bill was about 20 years overdue. The bill passed third reading by a vote of 134-0, and a title was agreed to.
The House then considered Senate File 4401, the cannabis bill. The author described it as a maintenance and cleanup package developed with more than 80 stakeholders over months of meetings, including business owners, labor, tribal representatives, and medical cannabis interests. The bill was presented as making noncontroversial adjustments to support small businesses, clarify statutes, improve privacy protections, adjust event and transporter rules, address good-faith errors, strengthen enforcement against unlicensed operators, and support local governments and municipal cannabis dispensaries. It also included a first step toward a medical psilocybin program and changes intended to make the medical cannabis market more sustainable, including easing the grow-and-sale ratio issue. The transcript cuts off before final action on this bill, but members speaking in support emphasized collaboration and the need for practical regulatory fixes.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House passes bill to help upgrade county human services IT across state 5/17/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
The House took up Senate File 334, a bill to modernize Minnesota’s county-administered human services technology systems, including those used for Medicaid, SNAP, and related programs. The author described the current systems as outdated “green screen” platforms from the late 1980s and early 1990s that are cumbersome for county workers, slow service delivery, and make it harder to retain staff. The bill would create an integration layer over legacy systems, establish a long-term technology modernization fund with about $90 million in spending over time and a $50 million cap, and place MNIT in charge of holding and disbursing funds. It also creates governance structures, including an interagency group with county representation and a legislative working group, and includes a $15 million fund for the Office of the Inspector General’s technology needs.
Several members spoke in strong support, emphasizing that modernization would improve efficiency, help counties serve residents better, and strengthen fraud detection and data sharing. Representatives from Winona, Washington, Olmsted, Stearns, Hennepin, and others cited local experiences with hacked county systems, obsolete software, and the difficulty of recruiting workers to outdated systems. One member urged that the effort be made enterprise-wide and suggested adding the Office of Legislative Auditor to oversight. Another noted the bill’s potential to improve identity verification tools and support broader agency collaboration.
No amendments were offered. After third reading and debate, the clerk called the roll and the House passed the bill with 134 ayes and 0 nays; the title was agreed to.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House passes omnibus tax package, HF2438 - Part 1 5/17/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
The House considered the conference committee report on House File 2438, the 2026 tax bill. Representative Gomez outlined the main provisions, saying most fiscal changes were tied to federal tax conformity. He also described several other items in the report, including a two-year extension of the pass-through entity tax workaround, a sustainable aviation fuel provision, a one-time $125 million increase in homestead credit property tax refunds, a one-year removal of the cap on the beginning farmer tax credit, a four-year tax exemption for PGA tickets, permanent aid to certain school districts, a direct file program, changes related to homestead resort classification thresholds, local property tax and income tax provisions, local government aid for the new city of Northern, a four-year extension of local homeless prevention aid, and Department of Revenue policy, technical, TIF, local, and public finance items.
After the report was presented, the House adopted the conference committee report and ordered the bill repassed as amended by conference. The clerk then gave the bill its third reading as amended.
Following third reading, Representative Niska moved to lay House File 2438 on the table. The motion prevailed, and the bill was tabled.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 5/17/26 - Part 3
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
The House considered Senate amendments to House File 3629, a grants-management and anti-fraud bill. Representative Bonner explained that the bill clarifies definitions so grants can be terminated for individuals and related parties convicted of fraud, narrows agency exception authority, strengthens whistleblower privacy protections, and allows agencies to permanently withhold payments when there is a credible allegation of fraud. It also incorporates provisions from another Senate bill and adds annual program integrity reporting from DHS and DCYF with a five-year look-back. Representative Cleghorn and Representative Nash spoke in support, emphasizing anti-fraud protections and the bill’s bipartisan support in the Senate.
The House concurred in the Senate amendments and then passed the bill on third reading. A roll call vote followed, and House File 3629 was repassed as amended by the Senate by a vote of 134 yeas and 0 nays, with the title agreed to. The chamber then received first readings for House Files 5161 and 5162.
Later, members offered remarks thanking House staff, including the Sergeant at Arms Office, nonpartisan research and fiscal staff, the Revisor’s Office, the Chief Clerk’s Office, and front desk staff. The session then shifted to parliamentary inquiries about Senate File 3699, a comprehensive response package related to Operation Metro Surge and gun violence prevention, with the Speaker stating the bills were still under review. After further questioning and a point of order, Representative Niska moved a recess to the call of the Speaker, and the House recessed.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 5/17/26 - Part 7
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
The House first took House File 719, the capital investment or bonding bill, from the table and reconsidered its third reading so a technical correction could be made. An amendment to fix the project scope was adopted, and the bill was then read and debated as amended. Supporters described it as a good bonding bill and urged a yes vote, while the final roll call passed the bill overwhelmingly, 122 ayes to 11 nays, with its title agreed to.
The chamber then considered a motion to suspend the rules and bring up House File 5149, described as a clone of a Senate-passed comprehensive ICE response package. Supporters argued the bill was needed to protect immigrant communities and sensitive spaces such as schools, hospitals, child care centers, and courthouses, and to require accountability and limit masked federal agents. Opponents said the bill misdiagnosed the problem, would create no-go zones, burden public employees, and improperly interfere with federal law enforcement. The motion failed on a roll call, 67 ayes to 63 nays.
Next, the House considered an urgency motion for House File 1849, a proposed constitutional amendment to impose a two-term limit on the offices of governor and lieutenant governor beginning with candidates elected in 2026. Supporters said it had moved through committee and should be a free vote; opponents said it was not urgent and would not take effect until 2030. The motion to suspend the rules and advance the amendment failed, 64 ayes to 69 nays. The House then adjourned until the following Monday morning.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House passes omnibus cannabis bill 5/17/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
Senate File 4401, a cannabis bill, was presented as a broad maintenance package developed through months of work with more than 80 stakeholders, including small businesses, labor, tribal representatives, medical licensees, and the Office of Cannabis Management. The author said it makes a series of technical and policy adjustments, including support for small businesses, hemp QR codes, privacy protections, event coordinator changes, clearer product definitions, investor and timeline changes, and a bridge for hemp businesses to enter cannabis. It also addresses medical cannabis access by renaming medical combination licenses as macro licenses, eliminating the grow-and-sale ratio, correcting canopy estimates, requiring key products to be stocked, and creating a first step toward a medical psilocybin program with a report and federal funding directive.
Representative West supported the bill overall but criticized the canopy reduction for medical combination licenses, arguing it changes the rules midstream and could lead to litigation and taxpayer costs. He said the bill helps social equity applicants by allowing more outside investment and described the hemp provisions as a way to save that industry. The author responded that the bill right-sizes a temporary system and reflects stakeholder agreement on needed changes.
After discussion, the author again urged a green vote and thanked staff and prior cannabis workers for their help. There were no amendments at the desk, the bill was given a third reading, and the House passed Senate File 4401 by a vote of 92 ayes to 42 nays, with the title agreed to.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House passes omnibus tax package, HF2438 - Part 2 5/17/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
The House took House File 2438, the tax bill, from the table and proceeded to third reading on the conference committee report. Representative Olson spoke in support of a disabled veteran homestead market value exclusion increase, arguing that veterans’ organizations had requested the change and that the property tax impact on other taxpayers would be small. He said the bill did not include the increase and urged action next year. Representative Acom thanked the committee for including language to require a thorough, unbiased study of nuclear energy, comparing its life-cycle costs, health and environmental impacts, accident risks, transmission needs, and liabilities against other generation sources, with findings due next year.
Representative Davids also supported the bill, while noting several local projects and provisions that were not included, such as local option sales tax authority for Saint Paul and projects in Blaine, Virginia, Plymouth, and Minnetonka. He thanked Chair Gomez, committee staff, legislative staff, and others involved in the tax process, and said the bill was appropriately named. After discussion, members voted on the conference committee report.
The roll was taken, including remote participation, and the conference committee report on House File 2438 passed with 126 ayes and 8 nays. The bill was repassed as amended by conference, and its title was agreed to.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 5/16/26 - Part 3
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Summary:
The House first adopted a conference committee report on House File 3900, a constitutional amendment related to state government and school trust lands. Members from both parties praised the work on the bill and said the conference committee returned a clean version of the House-passed measure. The report was adopted without opposition, and the bill was repassed as amended by conference on a 134-0 roll call.
The chamber then took up Senate File 4282, a forecast-adjustments bill covering K-12 education, human services, children and families, and transportation. Representative Youakim explained that the conference report restored all four forecast articles plus several no-cost education items, including school fund transfers, utility-payment authority, a paraprofessional licensing clarification, a grant extension, and school trust lands language. Representative Mueller moved to refuse adoption, arguing the report had become a catchall and omitted agreed-upon literacy language; that motion failed 62-72. The House then adopted the conference report, and the bill was repassed as amended by conference on a 94-37 vote.
Next, the House concurred in Senate amendments to House File 4138, the social media bill aimed at restricting addictive social media harms for minors. The Senate had removed House “threat alert” language, and the author said that was the only substantive difference. Supporters said the bill would protect kids online and require parental permission for social media accounts for children 15 and under. The House concurred and repassed the bill as amended by the Senate on a 131-2 vote.
The House then began consideration of Senate File 2373, a labor and industry bill exempting minor league baseball players from minimum wage and overtime requirements. Through a series of amendments, members added provisions on rural cancer research, disability services and employment access, unemployment insurance for certain laid-off Iron Range miners, and agricultural funding items such as depredation, local foods, down payment assistance, and meat processing grants. One proposed amendment to remove the double-fencing requirement for farmed cervidae was strongly opposed as a threat to deer health and was defeated 61-72. The transcript ends during debate on that amendment, before final disposition of the bill is shown.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Conference Committee on HF4188 5/16/26
Summary:
The conference committee on House File 4188 met on May 16, 2026, with a quorum present and indicated it was intended to be the final meeting. The main issue discussed was an amendment to the 62J language concerning home care nursing services for children with complex medical needs. Chair O'Driscoll said the amendment would direct the Departments of Commerce and Health and Human Services to review the fiscal impact on the state, families, and health plans, and to develop possible legislation for 2027. Supporters described the proposal as a pause to allow more review, while also acknowledging it was not a complete solution.
Senator Bolden and others testified strongly against allowing the coverage changes to stand, saying the issue affects roughly 200 to 250 families statewide, many of them children who need hospital-level care at home. They warned that capping or denying private coverage would shift costs to Medicaid waivers, strain family waiver budgets, increase state costs, and potentially force more children into hospitals, reducing critical care capacity. Committee members also questioned Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold and department staff about the distinction between home care nursing and home health services, statutory definitions, billing units, essential health benefits, waiver budgets, and the effect of enforcement actions involving HealthPartners.
The committee adopted the A30 amendment by voice vote, and the motion prevailed. Members then took up another provision, described by staff as the meat raffle/paddle wheel language, and adopted an amendment to add the game of Haus und Pfeffer before approving the provision as amended. In final remarks, members from both chambers praised the committee’s work and professionalism, but several expressed regret that the home care nursing issue was not resolved in the conference report and said it would need further work next session. They also noted other items that did not make it into the bill, including reinsurance and certain other policy provisions.