Human Services Committee
Monday, March 16, 2026
Present: Senator John A. Hoffman - Chair, Senator Jordan Rasmusson - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Jim Abeler, Senator Glenn H. Gruenhagen, Senator Erin K. Maye Quade, Senator Zaynab Mohamed, Senator Paul J. Utke, Senator Melissa H. Wiklund
Absent: Senator Omar Fateh - Vice Chair
3:00 PM, 1200 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Minutes
Present: Senator John A. Hoffman - Chair, Senator Jordan Rasmusson - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Jim Abeler, Senator Glenn H. Gruenhagen, Senator Erin K. Maye Quade, Senator Zaynab Mohamed, Senator Paul J. Utke, Senator Melissa H. Wiklund
Absent: Senator Omar Fateh - Vice Chair
Senator John A. Hoffman called the meeting to order at 3:01 pm in Room 1200 of the Minnesota Senate Building. A quorum was present.
Call to order
Testimony from DHS leadership
The following individuals testified from DHS leadership: Shireen Gandhi - Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services John Connolly - Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services James Clark - Inspector General, Office of Inspector General Member question and discussion followed.
The following individuals testified from DHS leadership: Shireen Gandhi - Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services John Connolly - Deputy Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services James Clark - Inspector General, Office of Inspector General Member question and discussion followed.
S.F. XXXX: Senator Hoffman: Continuity of care legislation.
Senator Hoffman provided a high-level introduction to the bill. Member questions and discussion followed. The following individuals testified on S.F.XXXX: Patrichay Rudina - Legislative Policy Specialist, Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care Lisa Harrison-Hadler - Ombudsman, Office of Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, testified in support of SF XXXX Ellen Smart - Staff Attorney for Legal Aid and Disability Law Center Josh Berg - Advocate and Director of Minnesota Services, Accessible Space, Inc. Kathy Messerli - Executive Director of Minnesota Home Care Association (MHCA) Maeve Olson - Public Policy Coordinator, Brain Injury Alliance
Senator Hoffman provided a high-level introduction to the bill. Member questions and discussion followed. The following individuals testified on S.F.XXXX: Patrichay Rudina - Legislative Policy Specialist, Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care Lisa Harrison-Hadler - Ombudsman, Office of Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, testified in support of SF XXXX Ellen Smart - Staff Attorney for Legal Aid and Disability Law Center Josh Berg - Advocate and Director of Minnesota Services, Accessible Space, Inc. Kathy Messerli - Executive Director of Minnesota Home Care Association (MHCA) Maeve Olson - Public Policy Coordinator, Brain Injury Alliance
S.F. 4399: Senator Oumou Verbeten: Direct Care and Treatment data requirements modification.
Senator Oumou Verbeten provided opening remarks on SF 4399. The following individuals testified on S.F.4399: Carrie Briones - Legislative Director for Direct Care and Treatment (DCT) Senator Rasmusson moved to amend SF 4399 as follows: Page 9, delete lines 9 to 12 Page 9, line 13 - delete (I) and insert (H) On a voice vote, THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Senator Abeler moved that S.F. 4399, as amended, recommended to pass and re-referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Senator Oumou Verbeten provided opening remarks on SF 4399. The following individuals testified on S.F.4399: Carrie Briones - Legislative Director for Direct Care and Treatment (DCT) Senator Rasmusson moved to amend SF 4399 as follows: Page 9, delete lines 9 to 12 Page 9, line 13 - delete (I) and insert (H) On a voice vote, THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Senator Abeler moved that S.F. 4399, as amended, recommended to pass and re-referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 4121: Senator Abeler: Assisted living facilities policies and procedure requirements modifications and unlicensed personnel at assisted living facilities training requirements modifications.
The following individuals testified on S.F.4121: Adrienne Sloan - Advocate, Daughter of Resident of AL Facility Suzanne Scheller - Advocate Kyle Berndt - Senior Director of Advocacy at Care Providers of Minnesota, present on behalf of the Long Term Care Imperative Erin Huppert - Vice President of Advocacy at LeadingAge Minnesota, present on behalf of Long Term Care Imperative
Senator Abeler moved that S.F. 4121, be laid over. - MOTION PREVAILED.
The following individuals testified on S.F.4121: Adrienne Sloan - Advocate, Daughter of Resident of AL Facility Suzanne Scheller - Advocate Kyle Berndt - Senior Director of Advocacy at Care Providers of Minnesota, present on behalf of the Long Term Care Imperative Erin Huppert - Vice President of Advocacy at LeadingAge Minnesota, present on behalf of Long Term Care Imperative
Senator Abeler moved that S.F. 4121, be laid over. - MOTION PREVAILED.
S.F. 3967: Senator Maye Quade: Due date of the pediatric hospital-to-home transition pilot program report modification.
Senator Maye Quade moved the A-1 Amendment. On a voice vote, THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE A-1 AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Senator Maye Quade moved that S.F. 3967, as amended, be recommended to pass. - MOTION PREVAILED.
Senator Maye Quade moved the A-1 Amendment. On a voice vote, THE MOTION PREVAILED AND THE A-1 AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Senator Maye Quade moved that S.F. 3967, as amended, be recommended to pass. - MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:57 pm.
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Senator John A. Hoffman, Chair |
Olivia Hitchcock-Willis, Legislative Assistant |