House approves wide-ranging human services policy bill, adopts opioid-settlement alignment

The Minnesota House on a third reading passed House File 2115, a multi-article human services policy bill, adopting several technical and policy amendments before a final roll call of 121 yeas and 13 nays.

Representative Schumacher, the bill’s author, described HF 2115 as “the policy bill for the human services committee,” saying the measure combines provisions ranging from disability services to behavioral health and long-term care supports.

The bill’s articles include changes to supports for people with disabilities (expanding qualifications for positive support analyists and establishing a review process for long-term care service denials), medication-training requirements for nursing facility staff, provisions addressing direct care and treatment, and several behavioral-health measures aimed at workforce and reimbursement challenges. The bill also clarifies that counties cannot charge residents for accessing the 988 lifeline and updates who may conduct substance-use-disorder comprehensive assessments and the timeline for diagnostic assessments.

During floor consideration, members approved a series of amendments. Representative Schumacher’s technical amendment (A7), described on the floor as clarifying reporting requirements, was adopted without recorded individual votes. Representative Baker’s amendment (A5) added language aligning Minnesota’s statute with national opioid settlements so the state can process and distribute settlement funds — including provisions that 25% of certain funds flow to the Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council (ORAC) and the remainder to counties and large cities — and was adopted.

Representative Fisher offered an amendment (A6-1) addressing county case-management accountability and proposing a phased return of contracted case management into county control over a multi-year period; Fisher withdrew that amendment on the floor after describing problems with contracted case management, including examples of clients who had lost services or gone without emergency assistance because of turnover or unresponsive contractors. Representative Robbins discussed a proposal to extend anti-kickback language to cover grants and nonprofit recipients, noting prior fraud reports, but withdrew that amendment at the desk due to deadline timing.

Representative Frederick noted changes in language from “chemical dependency assessment” to “comprehensive assessment” so assessments reflect mental-health as well as substance-use needs, and said Medicaid coverage will pay for such assessments when eligible. Representative Zalesnikar thanked the chairs for clarifying that the statute’s support-person provision applies to residents in nursing homes, assisted living and disability group homes as well as patients in hospitals.

After final discussion the clerk called the roll. The chief clerk reported 121 yeas and 13 nays; the bill was passed as amended and its title agreed to.

Votes at a glance - Amendment A7 (technical reporting clarification). Mover: Representative Schumacher. Outcome: adopted (voice vote). Vote record: not specified. - Amendment A5 (opioid settlement claims-bar alignment and distribution language). Mover: Representative Baker. Outcome: adopted (voice vote). Vote record: not specified. Key detail: text aligns state process so settlement dollars can be received and distributed; transcript notes 25% to ORAC, remainder to counties/large cities. - Amendment A6-1 (case management accountability; phased transfer of contracted case management to counties). Mover: Representative Fisher. Outcome: withdrawn. Note: Fisher described multiple constituent cases and asked chairs to continue conversations with the Senate. - Amendment A8 (expand anti-kickback language to cover grants/nonprofits). Mover: Representative Robbins. Outcome: withdrawn (missed deadline). Transcript discussion cited OLA reports and recent fraud cases. - Final passage of House File 2115 as amended. Mover: not specified. Outcome: approved. Tally: yes 121, no 13.

The bill contains a mix of policy and technical provisions affecting long-term care, behavioral health, recovery community organizations, and oversight of certain funding flows. Several members urged continued conference negotiations to secure additional funding for facilities and services noted in discussion; Representative Frederick said he hopes conference committee work will consider money to replace the Anoka facility.

The House debate included floor descriptions and multiple withdrawn amendments; no final conference report text or governor’s action was recorded in the transcript.