STATE OF MINNESOTA NINETEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
HEALTH FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Representative Robert Bierman, Chair of the Committee on Health Finance and Policy, called the meeting to order at 1:01 P.M. on Monday, February 23, 2026, in Room 120 of the State Capitol Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members Present:
BIERMAN, Robert (DFL Chair)
BACKER, Jeff (GOP Chair)
REYER, Liz (DFL Vice Chair)
NADEAU, Danny (GOP Vice Chair)
BAHNER, Kristin
CARROLL, Ned
DIPPEL, Tom
ELKINS, Steve
FRANSON, Mary
GILLMAN, Dawn
LEE, Xp
HUOT, John
KEELER, Heather
KNUDSEN, Krista
LIEBLING, Tina
MAHAMOUD, Anquam
PERRYMAN, Bernie
PURSELL, Kristi
REPINSKI, Aaron
SCHOMACKER, Joe
VAN BINSBERGEN, Scott
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie
A quorum was present.
Representative Reyer moved to approve the minutes of February 18, 2026. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF362 (Pinto) Licensure for massage therapy and Asian bodywork therapy established, fees established, criminal penalties provided, and money appropriated.
Chair Bierman moved HF362 to be re-referred to the Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee.
Chair Bierman moved to adopt the DE1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Chair Bierman moved to adopt the A2 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Pinto presented HF362, as amended.
Testifier:
• Ellie Larsen, Massage therapy Chair, Northwestern health Sciences University
• Tom Rotman, Owner, Eagan Massage Center
• Carrie Borchardt, Resident of Apple Valley
• Barabara York, Minnesota Therapeutic Massage Network
• Leo Cashman, President, Minnesota Natural Health Legal Reform Project
• Petra Brokken, Attorney
• Nicole Guida, Massage Therapist
• Mary Jo Majerus, Healing Touch Spas Owner
• Barbara Hager, Resident of Minneapolis
• Rachel Romanelli, Massage Therapist
Chair Bierman renewed the motion that HF 362, as amended, be re-referred to Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF2590 (Norris) Clinical art therapist licensure established, Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy membership modified, fees and civil penalties imposed, and money appropriated.
Chair Bierman moved that HF2590 be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
Chair Bierman moved to adopt the A1 amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Norris presented HF2590, as amended.
Testifier:
• Briana Colton, Art Therapist
Chair Bierman renewed the motion that HF2590, as amended, be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. The bill, as amended, was laid over.
HF 2760 (Mahamoud) Reimbursement procedures for federally qualified health centers modified.
Representative Mahamoud moved that HF2760 to be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
Representative Mahamoud presented HF2760.
Testifier:
• Becky Howard, Community Health Services Inc.
• Dr. Ryan Kelly, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Addiction Primary Care, Community University Health Care Center.
Representative Mahamoud renewed the motion that HF2760 to be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. The bill was laid over.
HF 3444 (Mahamoud) Use of prior authorization and step therapy for drugs used in the treatment of opioid use disorder under medical assistance prohibited.
Representative Mahamoud moved HF3444 to be laid over possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.
Representative Mahamoud presented HF3444.
Testifier:
• Dr. Ryan Kelly, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Addiction Primary Care, Community University Health Care Center
• Jason Urbanczyk, a member of Impact MN's Executive Committee
Representative Mahamoud renewed the motion that HF 3444 to be laid over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill. The bill was laid over.
Representative Van Binsbergen moved to reconsider HF362, as amended.
Representative Van Binsbergen requested a roll call vote for HF362. The result is as follows:
AYE
BIERMAN, Robert
REYER, Liz
CARROLL, Ned
ELKINS, Steve
LEE, Xp
HUOT, John
KEELER, Heather
MAHAMOUD, Anquam
PURSELL, Kristi
SCHOMACKER, Joe
NAYS
BACKER, Jeff
NADEAU, Danny
DIPPEL, Tom
FRANSON, Mary
GILLMAN, Dawn
KNUDSEN, Krista
LIEBLING, Tina
PERRYMAN, Bernie
REPINSKI, Aaron
VAN BINSBERGEN, Scott
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie
ABSTAIN:
BAHNER, Kristin
There being 10 AYES, 11 NAYS, and 1 ABSTAIN, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:46 PM.
_______________________________________
Representative Robert Bierman, Chair
Saynab Jama, Committee Legislative Assistant