STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTY-EIGHTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Health Finance and Policy Committee
MINUTES
Representative Backer, Chair of the Health Finance and Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM, on March 25th, 2026, in Room 120 of the State Capitol Building. A quorum was present.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
BACKER, Jeff, GOP Chair
BIERMAN, Robert, DFL Chair
NADEAU, Danny, GOP Vice-Chair
REYER, Liz, DFL Vice-Chair
BAHNER, Kristin
CARROLL, Ned
DIPPEL, Tom
ELKINS, Steve
FRANSON, Mary
GILLMAN, Dawn
HUOT, John
KEELER, Heather
KNUDSEN, Krista
LEE, Xp
LIEBLING, Tina
MAHAMOUD, Anquam
PERRYMAN, Bernie
PURSELL, Kristi
REPINSKI, Aaron
SCHOMACKER, Joe
VAN BINSBERGEN, Scott
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie
Vice-Chair Reyer moved the minutes of March 23rd, 2026 be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 4493 (Baker) Pharmacists authorized to initiate, prescribe, administer, and dispense drugs for the treatment of opioid use disorder; and grounds for disciplinary action for pharmacists and pharmacist interns modified.
Representative Van Binsbergen moved HF 4493 before the committee.
Representative Van Binsbergen moved that HF 4493 be recommended to pass and placed on the General Register.
Testifiers:
Jordan Banister, PharmD, CDCES, Ambulatory Care Pharmacist, CentraCare.
Robert Cole Pueringer, MD, Addiction Medicine Specialist and Medical Toxicologist, Substance Use and Addiction Care Program, Essentia Health, MMA Board Member.
Cammie LaValle, Healthcare Advocate.
Todd M. Hess, MD, Anesthesiologist/Pain Management Specialist.
Representative Perryman renewed the motion that HF 4493 be recommended to pass and be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3133 (Franson) Physician and medical resident eligibility for loan forgiveness under the health professional education loan forgiveness program modified.
Representative Franson moved HF 3133 before the committee.
Representative Franson moved that HF 3133 be recommended to pass and placed on the General Register.
Testifiers:
Edward Reief, Director of Community Relations and Development, Alomere Health
Nathanal Olson, Disability advocate
Representative Franson renewed the motion that HF 3133 be recommended to pass and be placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 4595 (Schomacker) Modifying requirements for licensure by reciprocity for marriage and family therapists.
Representative Schomacker moved HF 4595 before the committee.
Representative Schomacker moved that HF 4595 be recommended to pass and placed on the General Register.
Testifiers:
Leah Seeger, President of the MN Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Representative Schomacker renewed the motion that HF 4595 be recommended to pass and placed on the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 4143 (Nadeau) Assessment of the hospital surcharge temporarily stopped.
Representative Nadeau moved HF 4143 before the committee.
Representative Nadeau moved that HF 4143 be rereferred to the committee on Ways and Means.
Representative Nadeau renewed his motion that HF 4143 be rereferred to the committee on Ways and Means.
Representative Van Binsbergen requested a roll call vote. The result is as follows:
AYES
BACKER, Jeff
NADEAU, Danny
DIPPEL, Tom
FRANSON, Mary
GILLMAN, Dawn
KNUDSEN, Krista
PERRYMAN, Bernie
REPINSKI, Aaron
SCHOMACKER, Joe
VAN BINSBERGEN, Scott
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie
NAYS
BIERMAN, Robert
REYER, Liz
CARROLL, Ned
ELKINS, Steve
HUOT, John
KEELER, Heather
LEE, Xp
LIEBLING, Tina
MAHAMOUD, Anquam
PURSELL, Kristi
ABSTAIN
BAHNER, Kristin
On a vote of 11 Ayes to 10 Nays and 1 Abstain. THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
HF 4142 (Nadeau) Medical assistance coverage of prescription drugs solely for weight loss prohibited.
Representative Nadeau moved HF 4142 before the committee.
Testifiers:
Claudia Fox, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota.
Carolyn Bramante, MD, MPH, University of Minnesota.
Aaron S. Kelly, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota.
Matt Prokop, Director, State Government Affairs, American Diabetes Association.
Mallie Callaghan, State Government Affairs, Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition.
Natalie Ikeman, PA-C, Obesity Medicine Specialist, Bhatti Weight Loss.
Debera Gau, Board Member, Obesity Action Coalition.
Chair Backer laid HF 4142 over for possible inclusion in a omnibus bill..
HF 1724 (Gillman) Direct primary care service agreements established.
Representative Gillman moved HF 1724 before the committee.
Representative Gillman moved that HF 1724 be recommended to pass and be placed on the General Register.
Testifiers:
Dr. Najaha Musse, MN Academy of Family Physicians.
PJ Mitchell, MN Department of Commerce.
Dr. Leslie Surbeck, Evergreen Primary Care.
Representative Gillman renewed the motion that HF 1724 be recommended to pass and be placed on the General Register.
Representative Hout asked for a division. On a vote of 13 Ayes and 9 Nays. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 4568 (Knudsen) Providing life-sustaining treatment for unemancipated minor patients.
Representative Knudsen moved HF 4586 before the committee.
Representative Knudsen moved that HF 4586 be rereferred to the committee Judiciary Finance and Civil Law.
Testifiers:
Mary Kellett, Pre-Natal Partners for Life
Laurie Nelson, Parent.
Nathanal Olson, Disability advocate.
Representative Franson requested a roll call vote. The result is as follows:
AYES
BACKER, Jeff
DIPPEL, Tom
FRANSON, Mary
GILLMAN, Dawn
KNUDSEN, Krista
PERRYMAN, Bernie
REPINSKI, Aaron
SCHOMACKER, Joe
VAN BINSBERGEN, Scott
ZELEZNIKAR, Natalie
NAYS
BIERMAN, Robert
REYER, Liz
BAHNER, Kristin
CARROLL, Ned
ELKINS, Steve
HUOT, John
KEELER, Heather
LEE, Xp
LIEBLING, Tina
MAHAMOUD, Anquam
PURSELL, Kristi
On a vote of 10 Ayes, 11 Nays, THE MOTION DID NOT PREVAIL.
HF 2291 (Mahamoud) Palliative Care Advisory Council funding provided, and money appropriated.
Representative Mahamoud moved HF 2291 before the committee.
Representative Mahamoud moved that HF 2291 be rereferred to the committee on Ways and Means.
Representative Mahamoud the H2291A1 amendment before the committee. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifiers:
Amanda West, MA, JD, CHC, HEC-C, Chair, MDH Palliative Care Advisory Council.
Ryan Hamilton, Catholic Health Association of Minnesota.
Representative Mahamoud renewed her motion that HF 2291, as amended, be rereferred to the committee on Way and Means. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 4547 (Bierman) Department of Human Services and Department of Children, Youth, and Families forecasted program adjustments made.
Chair Bierman moved HF 4547 before the committee.
Chair Backer laid over HF 4547 to be considered at a later date.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:56 PM.
Representative Backer, Chair
Liam Edgar, Committee Legislative Assistant