Minnesota Senate votes to end taxpayer-funded MinnesotaCare coverage for undocumented adults

The Minnesota Senate passed House File 1 on a 37-30 roll call, voting to end state-funded MinnesotaCare coverage for undocumented adults. Senator Rasmussen, the bill’s sponsor, urged colleagues to approve the measure as a budget restraint and said the state cannot continue what he called a “failed experiment.”

The bill’s author, Senator Rasmussen, said the MinnesotaCare expansion for undocumented adults opened Jan. 1 and enrollment has far exceeded early projections: “By mid April, more than 20,000 illegal immigrants had enrolled in this program,” he told the chamber, adding that the February forecast estimated fewer than 5,800 enrollees. Rasmussen argued the program is fully state-funded and that the cost growth threatens spending on nursing homes and other critical services.

Opponents repeatedly framed the change as harmful to public health and to workers. Senator Wiklendt, who identified herself in debate as an original supporter of the earlier expansion, said she “rise[s] in opposition to the bill” and argued removing coverage would increase uncompensated emergency care and worsen pressure on hospitals. Multiple lawmakers delivered constituent stories describing essential workers whose health and ability to work they tied directly to MinnesotaCare access.

Debate included a withdrawn amendment that would have exempted people with serious health conditions and those who became eligible as children. Senator Maquade described that proposal as seeking to spare people who need dialysis or cancer care and said she withdrew it rather than force a roll call dividing members over those narrow protections.

Supporters emphasized fiscal arguments and compared Minnesota’s program to policies in other states. Rasmussen referenced California and Illinois as states that have scaled back similar programs after cost increases.

The measure cleared an initial procedural motion to suspend rules and secure expedited consideration, and final passage followed a roll call where 37 senators voted aye and 30 voted no. After the vote the Senate read additional bills and continued its special‑session agenda.

What the bill means now: the enacted language removes state-funded MinnesotaCare eligibility for undocumented adults as of the effective date in the bill text. Several senators warned the move could shift costs to hospitals and local programs; supporters said it will save hundreds of millions over multiple years compared with higher enrollment scenarios.

Votes: The Senate voted 48-16 to suspend rules earlier in the day so House File 1 could receive second and third readings. Final passage was 37 ayes, 30 noes. The author of the bill asked members to vote for final passage; opponents urged no.

The bill now goes to subsequent steps for enrollment and enactment noted in the bill’s text. The Senate debate drew dozens of floor speeches and hours of constituent testimony on the floor; advocates on both sides said they will continue the policy fight in public and at the voting booth.

Sources on the record: the transcript of Senate debate and roll call recorded during the special session.