Transcript Highlights:

• Paul, Minnesota, where he is celebrating his 25th anniversary there, as well as his 50th anniversary
• Please remain standing and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
• Paul, Minnesota, Tuesday, May 6.

Transcript Highlights:

• as everyone knows today um Minnesota as everyone knows Minnesota<00:07:43.800> struggles<00:07
• deliver mental health care in Minnesota deliver mental health care in Minnesota making<00:08:37.080
• Minnesota Minnesota now<00:21:07.400> if<00:21:07.520> you're<00:21:07.720> a<00
• Or is this all Minnesota-based?
• There are in Minnesota.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Pledge of Allegiance, please remain standing and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United
• Paul, Minnesota, Tuesday, March 11th, 2025.
• House File 28 is a collaborative effort to achieve the goal of bringing more data centers into Minnesota
• House File 28 is a collaborative effort to achieve the goal of bringing more data centers into Minnesota
• thank you madam speaker in Minnesota thank you madam speaker representative<00:10:00.800> Nisa

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Anyway, I'm willing to show that flag again and see if we get shot down.
• Minnesota for several years, and we even had the public health people from Minnesota, the Department
• University of Minnesota, learn about 50 of the procedures, and the dentists learn several hundred.
• in Minnesota.
• in Minnesota.

Summary: The committee first approved the previous meeting minutes and then heard a detailed annual report from Dr. Thomas Arnold, chair of the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, on maternal mortality trends and policy issues. He explained the committee’s review process, confidentiality protections, and national and North Dakota data showing that most maternal deaths are preventable and that mental health conditions, substance use, cardiovascular issues, infection, hemorrhage, and embolism are the leading causes. Members asked about suicide, domestic violence, midwife training, home births, and whether pregnancy testing at death scenes should be expanded; Dr. Arnold said better coroner education, more investigation of unexplained deaths, and possible post-mortem pregnancy testing could improve case identification, especially in rural areas. He also noted that deaths often occur well after 42 days postpartum and that mental health-related deaths remain a major concern. The committee then heard from State Fire Marshal Dr. Matthew Clark on cigarette reduced-ignition-propensity standards and related fire prevention issues. He recommended updating the state’s cigarette propensity law to current national standards and also raised a separate recommendation to require fast-breakaway oxygen tubing for home oxygen users, citing fatal fires linked to smoking around oxygen. Members asked about implementation, cost, insurance coverage, and whether the standards apply in tribal communities; Dr. Clark said he would provide follow-up information and was willing to help with any legislation, but no agency bill had yet been planned. Next, Christine Greff of the Department of Health and Human Services reported on the North Dakota Stroke System of Care. She described the statewide network of stroke-ready hospitals, registry-based quality improvement, and performance data showing continued improvement in stroke recognition, imaging, thrombolytic treatment, transfers, and EMS pre-notification. She highlighted new quality measures for inter-facility transfers and intracerebral hemorrhage care, and said the system remains strong but depends on continued legislative and hospital support. Committee members asked about participation by the VA hospital and were encouraged to consider outreach to include it more fully in the stroke system. Finally, the committee began a presentation on prior authorization and non-opioid pain treatment from Taha Khan of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. He argued that prior authorization can delay access to non-opioid acute pain medications, especially in the 24- to 72-hour post-discharge window when pain is most severe, and said delays can push patients toward opioids. He emphasized that prior authorization has a role in utilization management but should not create barriers in acute pain care, and he noted that current use of the company’s non-opioid product remains very low. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Minnesota House of Representatives.
• unwinding Illinois and Minnesota unwinding Illinois and Minnesota appropriated<00:18:51.840>
• ,<00:24:50.480> but particularly here in Minnesota, but particularly here in Minnesota, but
• and the space and the that Minnesota and the space and the that Minnesota wants<00:36:32.560>
• It's not just Minnesota.

Bills: HF3439, HF3763

Keywords: Medical Assistance, Medicaid, MNsure, MinnesotaCare, disability determination, expedited eligibility, state medical review team, compassionate allowance, rare disease, home and community-based services, long-term care, managed care, county-based purchasing, eligibility redetermination, periodic data matching, death master file, Social Security Administration, program integrity, income eligibility, asset test

Summary: The House Health Finance and Policy Committee met on March 4, 2026, approved the minutes from its February 25 and March 2 meetings, and then heard a presentation from Katherine Castanza of the National Conference of State Legislatures on Medicaid eligibility changes in the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR1/OB3). The presentation focused on provisions affecting Medicaid expansion adults ages 19 to 64, including new work and community engagement requirements, changes to retroactive eligibility, quarterly death master file checks, address verification requirements, six-month redeterminations for expansion enrollees, and new limits on some lawful permanent residents and other immigrant groups. Castanza also discussed state implementation issues, including the need for new data-sharing systems, system modernization, outreach, and options for helping people transition to other coverage if they lose eligibility. She said the work and community engagement rules take effect January 1, 2027, with states given flexibility on look-back periods, consecutive versus nonconsecutive months, and optional hardship exemptions, and noted that CMS guidance is not expected until June 2026. She also described federal support for implementation, including $200 million in grants and a 90% federal match for eligibility system work, while warning that the fast timeline could lead to coverage losses, churn, and challenges for special populations such as caregivers, people with behavioral health conditions, incarcerated individuals, and rural residents. She further explained that an erroneous payment provision could expose states to federal recoupment later if eligibility errors increase. During member questions, Representative Beerman asked about the overall size of the Medicaid cuts and the cumulative national impact; Castanza said estimates vary by state and cited KFF analysis suggesting states could lose 4% to 19% of federal Medicaid revenue, with a newer RAND analysis recently released. Beerman also asked about the history and effectiveness of state work requirements, but that discussion was not completed in the excerpt. Representative Elkins noted the presentation was not initially posted on the committee website, and the chair said it had since been posted.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:47.040> state ongoing now in Minnesota state ongoing now in Minnesota state government
• this kind of study is what the Minnesota this kind of study is what the Minnesota legislature<00
• Minnesota would be an outlier.
• Minnesota would be an outlier.
• Minnesota would be an outlier.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in Minnesota?”
• franchise tax in Minnesota.”
• Minnesota uh or incorporate<00:46:30.520> in<00:46:30.680> Minnesota?
• incorporate in Minnesota? incorporate in Minnesota? Mr.<00:46:32.880> Klayman.
• <00:47:52.440> Thank Minnesota. Representative Johnson. Thank Minnesota.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• 08:58.399> that's<00:08:58.720> introduced<00:08:59.040> and<00:08:59.279> flag
• <00:08:59.519> it every bill that's introduced and flag it every bill that's introduced and
• flag it for<00:08:59.839> a<00:09:00.000> potential<00:09:00.399> impact<00:09:
• partnered with an organization who's distributed this curriculum in several other states, brought it to Minnesota
• , have you looked at our stuff, and do you think we really need to write a law about that, or is Minnesota

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, I raise my voice in solidarity with the people of Minnesota.
• I rise my voice in solidarity with the people of Minnesota.
• I offer my condolences to the families of solidarity with the people of Minnesota.
• I’m standing here with my colleagues and all of our colleagues and counterparts in Minnesota.
• But I’ve been standing with people from Minnesota long before now.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota<00:03:56.480> statute<00:03:57.080> 245A.02 Minnesota statute 245A.02 Minnesota
• Minnesota Council. Minnesota Council.
• of Minnesota right now. of Minnesota right now.
• Minnesota council.
• 25:53.640> Law The Minnesota Minnesota Disability Law The Minnesota Minnesota Disability Law Center

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of you are probably aware, Minnesota of you are probably aware, Minnesota unfortunately<00:02:33.599
• to child protection law in Minnesota to child protection law in Minnesota recently<00:37:26.079>
• um adopted by uh the state of Minnesota. um adopted by uh the state of Minnesota.
• <01:09:09.759> it prevention act that is a Minnesota it prevention act that is a Minnesota
• to the Minnesota legislature. to the Minnesota legislature.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Legislative Audit Commission heard a presentation from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on its evaluation of the Office of Ombuds for Families (OBFF). Auditors said the office remains important because of Minnesota’s long history of racial disparities in the child protection system, but they found major problems with how OBFF is operating. The report said OBFF’s statutory duties are very broad compared with its small staff and budget, and that the ombuds persons are not carrying out all required duties while spending substantial time on activities not required by law. Auditors also said the office’s recent impact is unclear and that its complaint-handling work has significant deficiencies, including poor documentation, limited data, few policies, inconsistent handling, and failure to follow best practices. The presentation also focused on oversight and accountability. Auditors said OBFF’s three community boards, which are supposed to appoint and oversee the ombuds persons, have not provided adequate oversight: meeting requirements were often not met, attendance was low, and there was little evidence the boards were fulfilling their statutory duties. The auditors further said OBFF’s unusual structure, with no single designated leader and shared authority among the three ombuds persons, creates unclear lines of accountability. Their recommendations included revising OBFF’s statutory duties to better match legislative goals and resources, improving complaint-handling practices, strengthening board oversight, and establishing a single leadership position for the office. Members asked follow-up questions about racial disproportionality in out-of-home care, spending on nonrequired activities, and whether the ombuds persons met statutory qualification requirements. Auditors referred members to the report for more detailed data, said the office does not track expenditures by function, and noted that while the ombuds persons have relevant professional backgrounds, the evaluation raised concerns about whether they are meeting their duties as expected. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm asking is, when I hear from constituents about concerns that they see and read and watch in Minnesota
• About concerns that they see and read and watch in Minnesota and California with waste and fraud and
• I kind of like to flag... Chairman, I kind of have an idea what the motion coming up would be.
• I’d kind of like to flag this one to be discussed in August, and maybe come prepared to just touch on
• Let’s just flag it to be discussed in August, please. Thank you. So noted, Senator Hammer.

Summary: The Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met on June 5 and first adopted prior minutes and several committee reports. The executive committee report noted adoption of its minutes, staff updates on scheduled audits, approval of an annual financial audit for the City of Horseshoe Bend, and an update on the intern program. The Counties and Municipalities report covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, compliance follow-up with towns including Denning, Gum Springs, Omer, Fargo, Jericho, and Haynes, and review of current and deferred reports; the committee filed most current reports but deferred several and referred some matters to prosecutors and the Attorney General. The Educational Institutions report said 103 education audits were reviewed, most with no findings, while several school districts had findings and one Booneville School District finding was referred to law enforcement. The State Agencies report included findings at the Department of Finance and Administration and a deferred Department of Health report, and the committee filed 13 reports. The committee then received lengthy presentations on the State of Arkansas annual comprehensive financial report and the state single audit for fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. Legislative Audit issued unmodified opinions on the state financial statements, but identified two material weaknesses: insufficient internal controls at the Office of State Technology to monitor threats and unauthorized access, and improper methodology changes and documentation issues at the Division of Workforce Services affecting year-end estimates for unemployment-related accounts. The single audit covered $12.4 billion in federal awards across 469 programs, with 16 major programs reviewed. Auditors reported 33 findings overall, including 31 federal findings, $12.9 million in outstanding questioned costs, and qualified opinions for the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Child Care Development Fund cluster. Committee members questioned DHS, the broadband office, OST, DFA, Education, and Workforce Services about the findings, corrective actions, cyber protections, federal drawdowns, child care reporting, and accounting methodology changes. Several agencies described corrective steps. DHS said it had changed how it draws Summer EBT funds, addressed provider revalidation and incarceration-related Medicaid issues, and updated internal processes and staffing. The broadband office said the questioned costs reflected invoice documentation disputes rather than missing payments and expected Treasury review to resolve the issue. OST said it was expanding logging, endpoint detection, and enterprise monitoring, and described broader cybersecurity investments, training, and a roadmap. DFA and Workforce Services addressed the workers’ compensation and unemployment accounting issues, with Workforce Services saying it had updated its policy and submitted the methodology to DFA. After discussion, the committee voted to hold the two statewide audit reports over until the August meeting, with members asked to submit specific questions in advance so only needed agencies would return. The final item was a special report on the Hot Spring County Solid Waste Authority for January 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025. The audit reviewed compliance with laws, board procedures, bidding, payroll, permits, inspections, and cash handling. It noted prior private audit findings on segregation of duties, that recent private audit reports had not been obtained for 2023 through 2025, and that the current administrator said prior office staff and bookkeeping contractors resigned when he was hired. The authority’s operations and revenue sources were described, and the report was presented for committee review.

Transcript Highlights:

• chaplain for today is Pastor Luke Hollander from First English Lutheran Church in Cannon Falls, Minnesota
• Pledge of Allegiance, please remain standing and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United
• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. The clerk will take the roll.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota has made real progress in strengthening fraud prevention.
• > progress<00:01:03.280> in Minnesota has made real progress in Minnesota has made real
• a very um big problem here in Minnesota a very um big problem here in Minnesota and<00:03:13.280
• Um, the one thing I will flag for you.
• <00:35:52.320> has come up with a plan which Minnesota has come up with a plan which Minnesota

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c> chaplain The chaplain for today is Pastor Noah Money from Eaglebrook Church in Maplewood, Minnesota
• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands
• There being no quorum under the Constitution of the State of Minnesota, the House is adjourned until

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House convened with a prayer led by Pastor Noah Money of Eaglebrook Church in Maplewood, Minnesota. The chaplain’s remarks focused on reconciliation, asking for guidance for members to be refined in their hearts, to treat others with kindness, and to seek reconciliation with one another during a time of change and contention. After the prayer, the chamber recited the Pledge of Allegiance. No legislative business was taken up, and the clerk pro tem closed the roll. Because there was no quorum under the Minnesota Constitution, the House could not conduct business and adjourned until 3:30 p.m. Thursday, February 6, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um there was a Minnesota law today.
• Currently, once a chiropractor is licensed in Minnesota, they are always licensed in Minnesota.
• Minnesota, they are always licensed in Minnesota, they are always licensed in Minnesota.<01:02:55.560
• Minnesota. Minnesota.
• community health services in Minnesota. community health services in Minnesota.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul, Minnesota, Thursday, March 13, 2025.
• <00:11:20.160> DNR or restricted access the Minnesota DNR or restricted access the Minnesota
• <00:14:27.600> folks opportunity to show Min Minnesota folks opportunity to show Min Minnesota
• <00:46:15.440> tax into a newly established Minnesota tax into a newly established Minnesota
• like this into our Minnesota like this into our Minnesota Constitution<01:43:19.080> know

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• gone to greater Minnesota. gone to greater Minnesota.
• <00:11:01.400> for on it and so just wanted to flag for on it and so just wanted to flag for
• making sure to keep the Minnesota making sure to keep the Minnesota taxpayer<00:47:25.240> in
• the fastest growth in Minnesota. the fastest growth in Minnesota.
• > in<01:27:31.360> blue population in Minnesota in blue population in Minnesota in blue

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of Minnesota.
• Minnesota law contains provisions that amended Minnesota Statutes 211B.15 to bar so-called foreign influence
• Three of them are in southwest Minnesota, including Red Rock.
• With the Minnesota Association of Small Cities.
• I'm representing the Minnesota Association of County Officers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the A4 is a bill that was worked on by Minnesota Management and Budget.
• And I think Minnesota taxpayers don't really care where fraud occurs in terms of which agency or which
• <00:53:58.160> taxpayers<00:53:59.599> um and I I think Minnesota taxpayers um and
• or maybe it was inappropriate flagged or maybe it was inappropriate flagged.<01:54:00.719> Uh
• Uh and there's a mix of how flagged.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing opened with chairs explaining that the program integrity omnibus bill is a combined draft assembled from individual member bills and governor proposals, many of which had already been heard in committee. Members emphasized the compressed end-of-session timeline, said the language was not yet ready for enactment, and invited continued revisions as the bill moves next to judiciary and finance. Several speakers stressed the need for bipartisan collaboration, while also warning that the Legislature must act this session on program integrity rather than defer reforms. The fiscal staff then walked through a spreadsheet showing the bill’s overall budget effects and major provisions. The package includes DHS proposals on transforming human services, market- and receipt-based rate reform, enhanced program and payment integrity, uniform service standards, nursing facility rate changes, ICS reforms, and a repeal/redesign of housing stabilization, along with child care assistance integrity and human services redesign items in DCYF. Staff highlighted that the bill combines multiple sources, including governor proposals and member bills, and noted several items that are also in the supplemental human services budget. Committee discussion focused heavily on prepayment review, remote supports, ICS, and provider accountability. Chairs said the bill would codify prepayment review with a 60-day notice requirement after providers were caught off guard by prior rollout, and that remote supports and ICS language were placeholders or under active debate. One member argued the system needs stronger standards but cautioned against harming compliant providers, while another urged the committee to learn from good providers and warned against repeating failed implementations. Staff also reviewed thematic indexes covering billing and service delivery oversight, EVV, administrative reform, licensing and background studies, provider enrollment, sanctions, and child care provider compliance training. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided. The hearing ended with staff beginning the index walkthrough and members indicating that posted amendments would be considered as the bill advances through the remaining committees.