SF 2043 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Spoken language health care interpreter working group establishment and appropriation

SF 2043 establishes a 15-member work group to improve spoken language health care interpreting services in Minnesota. The group, composed of interpreters, LEP patients, health plans, agencies, and government representatives, must develop recommendations on interpreter certification standards, reimbursement, rural service gaps, and telehealth requirements by October 2025. It directly affects healthcare interpreters (especially those serving uncommon languages or rural areas) and patients with limited English proficiency. The bill appropriates funds for the work group’s operations and requires public input in Minnesota’s five most common languages.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 3, 2025 Last action Mar 17, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

1st Engrossment → 2nd Engrossment · 6 edits · Mar 17, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from the 1st to the 2nd Engrossment with an updated posting date. Substantively, the bill reorganized the structure of the Spoken Language Health Care Interpreter Work Group, replacing a previous 'Establishment' section with a detailed 'Composition' section that specifies exactly how the 15 members are selected. The duties of the work group were expanded to include specific tasks like addressing rural barriers and suggesting telehealth changes. The timeline for appointments and initial meetings was set, and the reporting deadline was established for November 2026.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a general mandate to establish a work group to a specific mandate defining the exact composition of the group and its detailed duties.

DEFINITION

The section title and introductory text were updated to reflect the new focus on the work group's composition rather than general definitions.

REQUIREMENT

A new 'Composition' section was added, replacing the old 'Establishment' section, which details the specific 10 categories of the 15 appointed members, including requirements for interpreters of uncommon languages and rural representatives.

The work group's duties were expanded to include specific tasks such as addressing barriers for interpreters in rural areas, reimbursing interpreting services, and suggesting changes to telehealth requirements.

TIMELINE

Specific deadlines were added: members must be appointed by August 15, 2025, and the first meeting must occur by October 1, 2025.

The section was assigned an expiration date of November 2, 2026, or upon submission of the final report.

TECHNICAL

The bill was renumbered from the 1st Engrossment to the 2nd Engrossment, and the posting date was updated to reflect the current version.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Health and Human Services

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to State and Local Government

upper

Mar 3, 2025

Committee

Referred to Health and Human Services

upper

Mar 3, 2025

Introduced

Introduction and first reading

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors