Minnesota Bills

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 4858: Sellers required to accept United States currency for purchases.

This bill requires sellers in Minnesota to accept United States currency, including Federal Reserve notes, as payment for goods and services. The law applies specifically to in-person transactions and allows businesses with multiple sales points to comply by accepting cash at just one location. Several exceptions exist, such as for banks and credit unions, as well as for situations involving security deposits or cash-to-card conversions that meet specific conditions like having no fees and no expiration dates. Violations of this requirement could result in a civil penalty of up to $250 for each transaction where cash is refused. The provisions would take effect on January 1, 2026.

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SF 4944: Housing cooperatives organization and operation modifications

This bill modifies Minnesota laws to clarify how housing cooperatives are organized and operated, directly affecting residents and owners of these communities. It establishes that membership interests in cooperatives count as personal property for tax and legal purposes while ensuring each unit qualifies for homestead exemptions. The legislation also defines key terms like "assessment" to include all charges for operating expenses, taxes, and reserves, and clarifies that cooperatives must carry insurance and maintain their properties. Additionally, the bill updates various sections of the state statutes to provide clearer guidance on member rights, financial responsibilities, and the legal status of cooperative units.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 4835: Tenants provided with a right to repair violations in a residential rental unit, notice required, and tenant permitted to make deductions from rent.

This bill allows tenants in Minnesota to pay for necessary repairs to their rental units and deduct those costs from their rent if the landlord fails to fix violations after being notified. Before making repairs, tenants must provide written notice to the landlord at least 14 days in advance, giving the landlord a chance to address the issue themselves. If the landlord disputes the need for repairs, they must arrange an inspection within 14 days, or the tenant may proceed with the work. Tenants must obtain bids from two contractors and choose the lowest price, while the total amount they can deduct from rent is limited to two months' worth of rent within a year. The law also prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants, such as by evicting them or raising their rent, for exercising these repair rights.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 4852: Formulary Committee members with a potential conflict of interest permitted to participate in committee communications and discussions, commissioner of human services required to develop a public comment process for recommendations, and committee required to seek expertise from the Minnesota Rare Disease Advisory Council.

This bill modifies the rules for Minnesota's Formulary Committee, which decides which prescription drugs are covered by state medical assistance programs. It allows committee members who have potential conflicts of interest to still attend meetings and discuss issues, provided they disclose these interests and step away from specific votes where a conflict exists. The legislation also mandates that the committee seek expert input from the Minnesota Rare Disease Advisory Council before making decisions on prior authorization requirements or placing orphan drugs on preferred lists. Additionally, the bill requires the commissioner of human services to create a public process for receiving comments on the committee's recommendations and sets specific criteria for committee membership and compensation.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

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

Bill results