House File 2403 advances from commerce committee after multiple amendments; one lawmaker objects to Medigap change

The Minnesota House Commerce Committee on Oct. 27, 2025, adopted several amendments to House File 2403 and placed the bill on the General Register after a series of voice votes.

The committee adopted the DE1 amendment as amended, and earlier approved the A2, A3, A4, A9 and A10 amendments by voice vote. Co-chair O'Driscoll renewed the motion to place House File 2403 as amended on the General Register; the motion carried on a voice vote.

The amendments reflect a negotiated, bipartisan package, committee members said. Representative Finke described the A2 amendment as the result of negotiation with the Senate, House colleagues and stakeholders and said of the package, "I believe everybody, everywhere is now, ready to move forward with this." Co-chair O'Driscoll said he was "just looking forward to, moving the policy bill out to the general register."

The A3 amendment, offered as part of a two-part compromise, incorporates language from Representative Elkins' House File 2,235 on Medicare supplement rules and includes the governor's proposal for guaranteed renewability, committee members said. Representative Driscoll and others urged members to support the amendment as part of the overall agreement.

Representative Smith registered opposition to the A3 amendment and to the bill as amended, saying the change could reduce access to supplemental coverage for Medicare beneficiaries who miss an initial enrollment period. "But I think this is a pretty sizably dangerous amendment that is being added to a bill that has a lot of great stuff. But this is something I can't vote for either in this amendment or in the bill," Smith said, arguing that restricting guaranteed access could lead brokers to deny coverage to people with preexisting diagnoses when they apply later.

Other amendments adopted by the committee included technical clarifications: the A4 amendment made reviser's-office changes to language describing a limited long-term care coverage form; the A9 amendment carried provisions from Representative Freiberg that were presented earlier in the hearing; and the A10 amendment clarified subjective terms using definitions stakeholders and the bankers proposed, committee members said.

Committee members repeatedly described the package as the product of negotiation across parties and stakeholders. After the voice votes, Co-chair O'Driscoll renewed the motion and the committee placed House File 2403 as amended on the General Register.

Votes at a glance

- A2 amendment to DE1 — adopted (voice vote). Motion moved by Representative Finke; no roll-call recorded. Note: A2 was described as a negotiated change, including a requirement limited to ticketed events.

- A3 amendment to DE1 (incorporating Medicare supplement language and guaranteed renewability) — adopted (voice vote). Motion moved by Co-chair O'Driscoll; Representative Smith opposed in floor remarks.

- A4 amendment to DE1 (technical corrections to limited long-term care coverage form) — adopted (voice vote). Motion moved by Representative Driscoll.

- A9 amendment to DE1 (Representative Freiberg's provisions) — adopted (voice vote). Motion moved by Co-chair O'Driscoll.

- A10 amendment to DE1 (technical/definition clarifications per stakeholder input) — adopted (voice vote). Motion moved by Co-chair O'Driscoll.

- DE1 amendment as amended — adopted (voice vote).

- Final motion to place House File 2403 as amended on the General Register — adopted (voice vote). Co-chair O'Driscoll renewed the motion.

What the committee did not record in the transcript was a roll-call vote tally; all approvals were taken by voice vote and were announced as "the motion prevails."

Context and next steps

Committee members characterized the package as negotiated across parties and with stakeholders and said it bundles several previously introduced provisions, including language on Medicare supplements and a guaranteed-renewability proposal from the governor. The committee advanced the bill to the House General Register; further floor action and any changes there were not recorded in the committee transcript.

Representative Smith's opposition centered on concerns that the Medicare supplement language could reduce guaranteed access to Medigap coverage for beneficiaries who miss an initial enrollment period, potentially subjecting some patients to underwriting questions about prior diagnoses. The committee record shows that concern was voiced during the A3 debate but the amendment and bill nonetheless passed out of committee.

The transcript does not include dollar amounts, specific enrollment-period dates, nor a roll-call vote tally. Any further changes to House File 2403 would be recorded if the bill receives further committee or floor consideration.