The Minnesota Legislature completed its ninth week on April 24, 2026. Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) lobbyist Megan Verdeja provides an update on key issues impacting family physicians, including omnibus bill tracking, HCMC funding, health updates and key dates.
End-of-Session Negotiations Continue
With just over three weeks left in session, legislative leaders and the Governor’s Office are engaged in high-level negotiations to reconcile policy and budget differences. Lengthy floor debates continue in the House and Senate as omnibus bills move through the process.
Key Issues at the Legislature
HCMC Funding
Minnesota lawmakers have not yet reached an agreement on how to support Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), though bipartisan consensus exists that action is necessary. The debate centers on two approaches: one-time funding or a sales tax increase. Republicans have consistently opposed raising taxes. At a recent press conference, Governor Walz did not indicate a preference.
Fraud
Legislation to create a dedicated Office of the Inspector General is gaining traction after previously stalling in the House. Supporters argue it would strengthen oversight and centralize investigative authority across state programs. Lawmakers are also advancing a separate proposal to increase the number of fraud prosecutors within the Attorney General’s Office to speed up case reviews and expand enforcement capacity. Together, the measures reflect a broader push to bolster fraud prevention and prosecution across state government.
Tracking Omnibus Bills
- Human Services: HF 4338 (Representatives Noor/Schomaker)/ SF 4476 (Senator Hoffman)
- Health: HF 4466 (Representative Bierman)/ SF 4612 (Senator Wiklund)
Senate HHS Omnibus Policy Bill
The Senate’s Health and Human Services (HHS) omnibus policy bill passed the full Senate and now heads to the House. The bill includes a prohibition on prior authorization and cost-sharing for items listed in the immunization schedules of the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. It also clarifies that flavoring a drug does not constitute drug compounding.
An amendment offered by Senator Jim Abeler (Republican) on behalf of Senator Bill Lieske (Republican) added the direct primary care (DPC) bill, which states that DPC should not be considered insurance. The amendment passed on a bipartisan vote.
Senate HHS Omnibus Budget Bill
The Senate Finance Committee amended the Senate HHS omnibus budget bill to narrow infertility treatment insurance coverage to the large-group insurance market only, eliminating any state cost (see the week 8 legislative update). The bill now awaits a full Senate floor vote before heading to conference with the House Health omnibus budget bill.
Senate Commerce Omnibus Bill
The Senate Commerce omnibus bill was heard in Senate Finance on April 24, 2026. Provisions with a fiscal impact were removed and folded into the larger Senate Finance omnibus bill. The version that passed out of the Finance Committee was renamed the Senate Commerce Policy Omnibus bill. It can now be matched with the House Commerce Policy bill and sent to a conference committee to negotiate the final policy package. The bill is currently awaiting a full Senate floor vote. Provisions included in the policy-only bill can be found in the Week 8 update.
Coming Up in the House and Senate
The House floor will take up the following health bills:
- HF 1794 removes advanced practice registered nurse postgraduate collaborative practice requirements. The bill’s Senate companion is neither moving as a standalone nor an omnibus. The MAFP has weighed in with concerns about this bill.
- HF 3832 is a standalone bill that clarifies that the use of a flavoring agent to flavor a drug is not considered drug compounding.
- HF 4493 authorizes pharmacists to initiate, prescribe, administer and dispense certain drugs for opioid use disorder treatment.
Senate Finance will take up a bill to create a standalone Gun Violence Protection Package.
House Health will hold an informational hearing on the status of HCMC finances, a presentation on the shutdown of UCare and outstanding debts, and a discussion of legislation solutions.
House Ways and Means will take up the House Health omnibus budget bill.
Senate Taxes will take up the Senate omnibus tax bill. It remains unclear whether the bill will include the Hennepin County stadium tax proposal to help stabilize HCMC and related facilities.
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