Big Picture Issues

Family Medical Leave Bills Continue to Progress

Legislation that requires employers to participate in a state family and medical leave program continued moving forward this week. HF2 (Richardson, DFL-Mendota Heights) was heard an approved by the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee on Tuesday. It was approved and referred to the Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee which approved it on Thursday. SF2 (Mann, DFL-Edina) was heard and approved in the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee on Tuesday.   Business groups and local governments continue to express concerns about the bill, but the bill is whooshing through the Legislature and is expected to be signed into law by Governor Walz in the coming months.    

Bill Introductions

Gillman, Harder and Knudsen introduced:
H. F. 866, A bill for an act relating to insurance; allowing the sale of life insurance policies that convert to long-term care insurance policies; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 60A.06, subdivision 3; 61A.54; 62S.01, subdivision 18.

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce Finance and Policy.

Liebling, Fischer, Hassan, Hicks, Bierman, Bahner and Reyer introduced:
H. F. 1030, A bill for an act relating to health; eliminating enrollee cost-sharing under medical assistance and MinnesotaCare; prohibiting individual, small group, and State Employee Group Insurance Program plans from including cost-sharing; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 43A.23, by adding a subdivision; 256B.021, subdivision 4; 256B.04, subdivision 14; 256B.0631, subdivision 1; 256B.6925, subdivisions 1, 2; 256B.6928, subdivision 3; 256L.03, subdivisions 1a, 5; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62K; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 62K.06; 256B.063; 256B.0631, subdivisions 2, 3.

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy.

Agbaje and Feist introduced:
H.F. 1095, A bill for an act relating to human services; providing MinnesotaCare eligibility for undocumented noncitizens; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 256L.04, subdivision 10. 

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy.

Tabke, Pfarr, Edelson and Nadeau introduced:
H.F. 1158, A bill for an act relating to insurance; requiring the commissioner of commerce to defray costs to health plan companies for additional benefits; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 62J.26, subdivision 4, by adding a subdivision.

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Commerce Finance and Policy.

Senators Frentz and Rasmusson introduced:
S.F. No. 1037: A bill for an act relating to insurance; requiring the commissioner of commerce to defray costs to health plan companies for additional benefits; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 62J.26, subdivision 4, by adding a subdivision.

Referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Senator Klein introduced:
S.F. No. 1074: A bill for an act relating to health insurance; establishing a standardized health plan to be offered in the individual and small group insurance markets; requiring a report; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62E.

Referred to the Committee on Health and Human Services.