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Committee places House File 2403 on General Register after adopting multiple commerce amendments; lawmakers debate Medicare supplement changes
Summary
Co-chair Pat O'Driscoll moved that House File 2403 be placed on the General Register after committee members adopted a series of amendments comprising a negotiated commerce policy package.
Co-chair Pat O'Driscoll moved that House File 2403 be placed on the General Register after committee members adopted a series of amendments comprising a negotiated commerce policy package.
Representative Tim Finke moved the A2 amendment, described as the negotiated change to the water-related portion of the bill that limits certain provisions to ticketed events. Representative Finke said stakeholders and legislative negotiators, including senate and house colleagues, had reached agreement on the language.
Representative Pat O'Driscoll described the A3 amendment as a two-part compromise that includes language from House File 2235 (Representative Elkins' bill on Medicare supplements) and the governor's guaranteed-renewability proposal. He urged a yes vote and said members should hear about the content in committee.
Representative Liz Smith gave extended remarks opposing the A3 amendment and said she could not vote for it in the amendment or the bill. Smith argued the change to open-enrollment rules for Medicare supplemental coverage would harm older Minnesotans with preexisting conditions, describing a scenario in which a 67-year-old with a serious diagnosis could be denied supplemental coverage because they did not enroll during an initial enrollment period. Smith called the amendment “dangerous” and said it would allow adverse selection to exclude people who need coverage.
The committee adopted the A2, A3, A4 (technical corrections to limited long-term care language), A9 (which incorporated Representative Freiberg’s foreclosure clarification bill), and A10 (technical clarifications suggested by the reviser and bankers) amendments by voice votes. The DE1 amendment was adopted as amended. Co-chair O'Driscoll renewed the motion to place House File 2403, as amended, on the General Register; the motion prevailed by voice vote.
Members praised cross-party negotiation and committee cooperation during the session; the committee then adjourned.
