January 16, 2025
Jodi Harpstead, the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), will leave her position effective February 3, Gov. Tim Walz announced on January 13.
Since her appointment in August 2019, Harpstead has overseen significant changes at DHS. Key among her accomplishments was supporting the enterprise-wide work to separate DHS into three distinct agencies, including the Department of Children, Youth, and Families as of July 1, 2024, and Direct Care and Treatment, which will become independent on July 1, 2025. Under her leadership, the State of Minnesota’s 2024 Medicaid renewals process achieved the goal of no disparities within the Black and overall American Indian communities for the first time, and an 80% auto-renewal rate, earning Minnesota the rank of eighth in the nation.
Prior to her appointment, Harpstead was the president and CEO of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS), a position she had held since September 2011. She also was the executive vice president and chief operating officer for LSS and spent 23 years in a variety of positions with Medtronic, Inc.
Harpstead has volunteered in leadership capacities for a variety of other organizations including Augsburg University, Lutheran Services in America and ARRM – the statewide association of community-based service providers for people with disabilities.
December 4, 2025
On December 4, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) released its budget forecast for the 2026-27 biennium, showing a short-term budget surplus of $2.5 billion for the current biennium, but warned of a long-term $2.96 billion deficit for the 2028-29 biennium.
December 4, 2025
On December 2, the Vaccine Integrity Project (VIP) released a study on the safety, effectiveness, and public health impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccinations at birth.
December 4, 2025
The Minnesota Department of Commerce (DOC) is now accepting public comments regarding proposed legislation to mandate insurance coverage of certain treatments.