MMA Priorities Included in Omnibus Bills, On the Move at the Capitol

April 23, 2026

Several of the MMA's top legislative priorities continue to move at the Capitol, as the session enters its last month. 

Senate Health and Human Services Policy Omnibus Bill (SF 3295) 

On April 22, the Senate passed SF 3295 (Wiklund, DFL – Bloomington), which contains several MMA priorities.  

The bill includes language from SF 4583 (Boldon, DFL – Rochester), which would amend the MMA’s Treat Yourself First campaign, an MMA-led initiative to address healthcare professional burnout and improve wellness. 

This provision would extend confidentiality protections for participants in the wellness program to all healthcare professionals. The Treat Yourself First campaign could offer mental health services, and other resources to address burnout among the healthcare workforce in Minnesota. Current law only offers confidentiality protections for physicians who participate in the program. This provision would protect other healthcare professionals who participate in the program as well.   

Also included in the Senate omnibus policy bill is MMA-supported language to prohibit prior authorization and require coverage without cost-sharing for items listed on recommended immunization schedules. The bill also expands the definition of recommended vaccines to include those endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The MMA supports this legislation to provide clarity for patients amid evolving ACIP recommendations. 

The House Health Finance and Policy Committee did not finalize an omnibus policy bill. 

Senate Health and Human Services Finance Omnibus Bill (SF 4612) 

On April 16, the Senate Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee passed its budget omnibus bill SF 4612 (Wiklund, DFL – Bloomington), which largely prioritizes compliance requirements from the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The omnibus bill was heard in the Senate Finance Committee on April 23, the final stop before a Senate floor vote. 

The bill does include language from SF 1961 (Maye Quade, DFL – Apple Valley) that would require health plans to cover infertility diagnosis, treatment, and medically necessary fertility preservation services.  

The MMA has argued that access to fertility services is an essential part of comprehensive medical care. Without insurance coverage, infertility treatments and fertility preservation services can be prohibitively expensive, placing them out of reach for many patients, particularly those already facing serious illnesses. The bill aligns with established medical standards and national policy guidance by helping ensure that patients can access necessary care without undue financial burden. 

Additional provisions in the omnibus bill include approximately $17 million for community-based safety net provider grants, approximately $140 million for hospital stabilization grants, approximately $30 million for increased reimbursement rates for some mental health services, and a one-time $150 million stabilization grant for Hennepin Healthcare. 

The Senate Tax Committee also heard a complimentary tax bill to increase the Hennepin County sales tax, currently used for Minneapolis stadiums, from 0.15% to 0.25%, totaling about $85 million a year in new revenue. Of that, $21 million would support North Memorial’s trauma centers, $55 million a year would go to Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), and the remaining would go toward capital improvements at and around Target Field. In contrast, a House proposal HF 4841 (Agbaje, DFL – Minneapolis) would increase the tax up to 1% to redirect upwards of $350 million in ongoing funding to stabilize hospital operations. 

House Health Finance Omnibus Bill (HF 4466) 

On April 16, the House Health Finance and Policy Committee passed its omnibus health finance bill HF 4466 (Bierman, DFL – Apple Valley), which is significantly narrower than the Senate omnibus finance bill, and mostly prioritizes compliance requirements from the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” 

Federal compliance changes within the bill include: 

• implementing new federally mandated work requirements for adults without children using Medicaid; 

• establishing new six-month renewal requirements; 

• establishing cost sharing requirements across departments; 

• shortening retroactive coverage for adults without children from three months to one month. 

The House bill is expected to save the state $15.9 million in this biennium and $136 million in the next biennium, primarily from cuts around the state’s expansion population, or adults without children. 

Senate Licensure and Scope of Practice Omnibus Bill (SF 3298) 

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee passed its omnibus health professional scope and licensing bill,  SF 3298 (Wiklund, DFL – Bloomington), on March 26. The bill contains a provision that would change the statutory title of “physician assistant” to “physician associate.”   

The MMA, along with several specialty societies, opposed the legislation highlighting that it would add confusion and mislead patients. 

The House did not finalize an omnibus licensure or scope of practice bill, and did not hear legislation rebranding “physician assistant” to “physician associates.” 

However, the House committee did hear  HF 1794 (Virnig, DFL – Eagan) and referred it to the floor for a vote. This bill would remove the current requirement that newly licensed APRNs complete 2,080 hours of collaborative practice with a physician as part of their postgraduate training. 

The MMA strongly opposes the bill, stating that the collaborative practice period provides structured mentorship, supports patient safety, and helps integrate APRNs into physician-led care teams. 

The APRN language is not currently included in the Senate omnibus bill. 

Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Policy Omnibus Bill (SF 4365) 

On April 16, the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee passed its omnibus bill, SF 4365 (Klein, DFL – Mendota Heights).  

The bill contains MMA priority, SF 1856 (Maye Quade, DFL – Apple Valley) which would explicitly prohibit health insurance companies from using artificial intelligence in adverse utilization review decisions. 

The MMA has made the case that, if there is an adverse determination, that decision should be made by a reviewing health provider of a same or similar specialty, not a computer denying or delaying care based on an algorithm. The legislation does not limit the ability of health insurance companies to use AI to process claims and approve care – only that if there is a denial, an actual person must make the call. 

The omnibus bill will be heard in the Senate Finance committee on April 24, the final stop before a Senate floor vote.   

The House Commerce Committee did not compile a comprehensive companion omnibus bill.