Healthcare (Children) in Minnesota

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 5, 2026

SF 5257: Parent's Bill of Rights

SF 5257, titled the Parent's Bill of Rights, establishes a legal framework in Minnesota to protect parental authority over the upbringing, education, and health care of their minor children. The bill explicitly reserves these rights to parents and prohibits government entities from obstructing them, requiring written consent for medical procedures, biometric scans, and the storage of biological samples unless a medical emergency exists. It also mandates that parents be notified if a crime is suspected against their child and prohibits employees from coercing children to withhold information from parents. While the act affirms these protections, it clarifies that it does not authorize child abuse, neglect, or actions that would end a child's life, nor does it restrict the legal authority of courts and law enforcement.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Tags Children Families

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SF 5018: Number increase of physical therapy visits available to children under medical assistance

This bill expands the number of covered physical therapy visits available to children under Minnesota's medical assistance program. It establishes a limit of 30 visits per year for children recovering from hospital-based surgeries, while maintaining a limit of 14 visits for all other recipients. The legislation also clarifies reimbursement rates for physical therapy assistants, ensuring they are paid the same as physical therapists when working on-site, but at 65 percent of the standard rate when working remotely. These changes take effect the day after final enactment, with the new visit limits for children applying starting January 1, 2027, or upon federal approval, whichever occurs later.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals Tags Children

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 23, 2026

HF 4547: Department of Human Services and Department of Children, Youth, and Families forecasted program adjustments made.

This bill adjusts the forecasted budget for Minnesota's Department of Human Services and Department of Children, Youth, and Families for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It modifies existing appropriations from the general fund and other named funds to reflect updated financial projections for various programs. The changes specifically affect funding levels for services including general assistance, housing support, MinnesotaCare, and medical assistance. The bill provides updated financial figures that state agencies will use to plan and allocate resources for these human services programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics State Budget Tags Children

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 18, 2026

HF 4432: Child care assistance program absent days limit exemption established, and technical changes made.

This bill modifies Minnesota's child care assistance program rules regarding how providers are reimbursed for days when enrolled children are absent. It maintains a standard limit of 25 absent days per child per year but creates exemptions for children with documented medical conditions, young parents pursuing education, and families affected by extraordinary events like natural disasters. The legislation also clarifies how partial-day absences are counted, establishes notification requirements for families about their absent day usage, and allows parents to substitute cultural or religious holidays for standard state and federal holidays.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Tags Children

passed · Minnesota · House May 12, 2026

HF 4546: Human services and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families forecasted program adjustments made.

This bill adjusts the forecasted program budgets for Minnesota's Department of Human Services and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It modifies existing appropriation amounts from the general fund and the Health Care Access Fund to reflect updated financial projections for various programs. The changes specifically affect funding levels for services including general assistance, housing support, MinnesotaCare, and medical assistance. The legislation provides updated budget figures to guide how these state agencies allocate resources in the coming years.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Tags Children

in committee · Minnesota · House May 4, 2026

HF 4548: Department of Human Services and Department of Children, Youth, and Families forecasted program adjustments made.

This bill adjusts the forecasted budget for Minnesota's Department of Human Services and Department of Children, Youth, and Families for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It modifies existing appropriations by adding or subtracting specific amounts from various funds, including the General Fund and Health Care Access Fund, to reflect updated financial projections. The changes primarily affect programs such as General Assistance, Minnesota Supplemental Aid, Housing Support, MinnesotaCare, and Medical Assistance, with significant increases planned for several of these services. The bill provides updated funding figures that state agencies will use to plan and administer human services programs over the next two fiscal years.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics State Budget Tags Children

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SF 4581: Child care assistance program absent days limit exemption establishment

This bill amends Minnesota's child care assistance program to create exemptions for the standard limit on reimbursable absent days, which currently caps reimbursement at 25 full-day absences per child per year. The legislation allows children with documented medical conditions, young parents pursuing education, and those affected by extraordinary events like natural disasters to exceed this limit. It also clarifies that absences due to a parent or sibling's medical condition do not count against the limit and expands the definition of extraordinary events to include mechanical breakdowns and extreme weather. Additionally, the bill updates procedures for holiday reimbursement and requires providers to notify families of absent day usage throughout the year.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Tags Children

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 11, 2026

SF 4324: Licensed child care centers and licensed family care governing policies and rules encodement and modernization provisions

This bill modernizes and updates the rules governing licensed child care centers and family child care programs in Minnesota. It directly affects child care providers, workers, and families by establishing new requirements for staff ratios, facility safety, health standards, record-keeping, and operational policies. The legislation creates new statutory chapters to organize these regulations and repeals outdated sections of existing child care laws. By updating definitions and operational standards, the bill aims to improve consistency and clarity in how child care facilities are regulated and operated.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Tags Children

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 12, 2026

HF 4217: Medical assistance allowed to be paid for any person receiving foster care benefits past 18 years of age, terminology and definitions modified, and eligibility criteria and requirements related to extended foster care modified.

This bill expands medical assistance coverage to individuals who were in foster care and remain in the system past age 18, extending eligibility up to age 26 for those who were enrolled in Medicaid while in care. It modifies the definition of "child in foster care" to include youth for whom permanent custody is transferred to relatives after age ten, and requires social services agencies to notify children in foster care six months before their 18th birthday about extended care options. The legislation also updates eligibility requirements for continuing in foster care past 18, allowing youth to remain in the system until age 21 if they are completing education, participating in employment programs, working at least 80 hours monthly, or have a medical condition preventing them from meeting other criteria. Additionally, the bill mandates that independent living plans be updated for youth in foster care immediately before their 18th birthday and allows individuals who left foster care before age 18 to reenter the system with support services up to age 21.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Medicaid Tags Children

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 12, 2026

HF 3603: Commissioner of children, youth, and families directed to request a federal waiver to prohibit the purchase of certain items with SNAP benefits.

HF 3603 directs Minnesota's Commissioner of Children, Youth, and Families to request a federal waiver by January 1, 2027, to prohibit SNAP (food stamp) benefits from purchasing candy, energy drinks, and soda. The bill defines "candy" as sugar-based products like chocolate bars, "energy drinks" as caffeinated beverages marketed for energy (excluding coffee/tea), and "soda" as carbonated sugary drinks (excluding low-sugar options). If approved, this waiver would restrict SNAP recipients in Minnesota from using benefits for these specific items. The bill does not change current SNAP rules but seeks federal permission for this targeted restriction.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Tags Children

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