| 2025 Legislative Session |
2025 Legislative Update
Posted June 23, 2025 Read APTA MN lobbyist Tom Lehman's 2025 session summary here. Posted May 17, 2025 As the state legislature heads to the finish, APTA MN lobbyist Tom Lehman shares his thoughts about the 2025 session. Click here to read.
Posted May 6, 2025 Legislature Stuck in Park In normal years the Capitol is frantic with conference committees and floor sessions when there are just two weeks to go in the session. This is not a normal year. The Capitol is strangely quiet with just 14 days to go before the May 19 target adjournment date. House Republicans and DFLers are at an impasse on whether to repeal, delay or keep many of the DFL's landmark bills from the 2023 and 2024 sessions. These include family and medical leave, tax increases, summer unemployment insurance for hourly school workers and how to fund extension of the State’s reinsurance program that buys down health insurance premiums. Leaders on the House Health Committee are at an impasse over three issues:
The continuing impasse on major bills hints the question is not whether a special session will occur, but how long will it last. Legislators and the Governor have until midnight on June 30 to agree on a two-year budget to avoid a state government shutdown.
Posted May 1, 2025 Is a Special Session Coming? The Legislature is in the final weeks of the 2025 legislative session. The big question is whether they will finish their work by the May 19 adjournment date. If they don't complete a two-year budget by May 19, there will be a special session to complete work on a budget to keep state government funded starting July 1. If history is any guide, a special session is likely. In every odd-numbered budget year in the past ten years under divided government -- 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021 -- a special session has been required to pass a budget. The only exception was 2023, when Democrats had one-party control of state government. Will this year break the trend? Don’t hold your breath and don’t make any travel plans for June. Senate HHS Bill Moves Forward Senate HHS Chair Melissa Wiklund (DFL-Bloomington) presented her omnibus HHS finance bill to the Senate Finance Committee on Monday, the last stop before her omnibus HHS finance bill goes to the Senate floor. The bill increases the provider tax from 1.8% to 2.0%, which raises several hundred million dollars that will be used to protect programs from cuts. While the Senate HHS bill is proceeding, the House HHS bill has yet to be written. Eleven written offers have been shared by House Health Co-Chairs Robert Bierman (DFL-Apple Valley) and Jeff Backer (R-Browns Valley), but none have been accepted by the other. A major sticking point has been coverage of undocumented immigrants for MinnesotaCare. Republicans seek to eliminate or at least narrow coverage, while DFLers have rejected any restriction of coverage. The two must reach agreement on a single bill before it can proceed to the House floor and eventually to a conference committee with the Senate. Legislators and lobbyists are growing concerned at the House delay and the need to complete action on an HHS finance bill by May 19.
Posted April 5, 2025 With just six weeks to go in the 2025 regular session of the Minnesota Legislature, there is plenty left on the docket. APTA MN will fight to the end for our members and our patients. In a session filled with political intrigue, it can be difficult to break through the noise. Please keep your eye out for targeted action alerts as they move to the close of session. 3/31 Report from APTA MN lobbyist Tom Lehman
Posted February 18, 2025 After an interesting start to the this year's legislative session, Over 200 PTs, PTAs and PT and PTA students came to St. Paul to advocate on behalf of our profession. Armed with APTA's Economic Value of PT in the US report, we held dozens of meetings with State Representatives and Senators.
2024 Legislative UpdatePosted June 11, 2024 On May 23, 2024, Governor Walz signed into law a bill that, among other things, allowed the State of Minnesota to join the Interstate PT Compact. This is a significant step towards enabling MN physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to simply and safely apply for practice privileges in other Compact states. The passage of this bill marks our first significant step on this journey. In the most optimistic scenario, the state of Minnesota could start issuing privileges by mid to late 2025. This timeline accounts for the necessary time to establish the administrative framework and safeguards required to protect patients. However, we encountered a bump in the road of this process. Language added in the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee differed from the model PT Compact bill, leading the PT Compact Commission to withhold acceptance of Minnesota as a member at this time. We are actively advocating for the necessary changes to allow Minnesota to join the PT Compact. We have met with representatives from the Compact and will urge them to reconsider their decision, providing evidence to support our case. Additionally, we will engage with advocates from the trial lawyers association to explore other ways to address their concerns. As I'm sure you can appreciate, the legislative process is often a long and winding road. While we should take pride in this significant legislative victory, we have some unexpected work ahead. The future of physical therapy and the care of our patients deserve our unwavering commitment and best efforts. We remain optimistic and I'll keep you posted along the way! Sincerely, Posted 6/7/2024 The APTA MN delegation, led by Chief Delegate Lyndsey Vandenberg PT, DPT, EdD, will meet next month in Kansas City as part of the APTA House of Delegates. Check out the motions package, RC1-24, for a sneak peak at the issues to be discussed. Send us a note a info@mnapta.org and let us know if you have strong feelings on any of the issues addressed. Posted 5/20/24 We won! The Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed SF4570 (Wiklund, DFL- Bloomington), the health licensure bill. In addition to containing provision related to licensure of various professions, the bill also contains seven provider compacts.
The interstate PT Compact bill, SF 1322, was heard in the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on Friday, April 12th. APTA MN Executive Director Jim Leahy provided testimony regarding the PT Compact before the Committee. Thanks to all who have supported our PT Compact efforts thus far. SF 1322 was heard and advanced out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously on March 6th. It was referred to the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, where we understand it will be heard during the week of March 25th. If your Senator is on the Committee, please email him/her TODAY. PT Compact Bill OverviewPT Practice Act Revision Bill OverviewIssues Brief - Access to PT
Keys to Success from Our Lobbyist, Tom LehmanDiscussion Includes
Video (3:06min)
2024 MN State Practice Act RevisionsDiscussion Includes:
Video (7:33min)
2024 PT CompactDiscussion Includes:
Video (5:33min)
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3/11/2026Big PT wins in Committee
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