The Minnesota Senior Federation is tracking progress of numerous bills in the state legislature. Here's a subset of significant bills we are following. To view the complete list of bills we are tracking, visit www.mnseniors.org. The list is updated each Friday. If you would like to lobby on behalf of legislation, call Lee Graczyk at 651/783-5028, or Max Neuhaus at 651/783-5004.

Health care system

Long-term care task force, SF2080/HF2203

Implements long-term care task force recommendations, reduces nursing facility excess beds capacity, allocates savings to home- and community-based services and expands services for the elderly and caregivers.
Last House action: Referred to health policy and finance committee.
Last Senate action: Re-referred to finance committee.

Universal health care system, SF2468/HF3106

Concerns a universal health care system to provide affordable access to high quality medical care and legislative findings relating to the high cost of health care and access to services. It requires the commissioner of health to establish a temporary working group to design a universal health care system for the state and to propose legislation for submission to the legislature by a certain date, specifying working group membership representation requirements and certain requirements for the proposed legislation.
Last Senate action: Referred to rules and administration committee.
Last House action: Author added.

Right to affordable health care, SF2625/HF3754

Concerns an amendment to the Minnesota constitution, article XIII, to provide for the right to affordable health care.
Last Senate action: Authors added.
Last House action: Referred to health policy and finance committee.

Assisted living services requirements establishment. SF2888/HF3144

Concerns requirements for assisted living services such as limiting the use of term-assisted living, specifying procedures for certain home care providers for terminating home care services for assisted living clients and specifying certain written notice requirements. It also concerns modifying the home care bill of rights for purposes of assisted living.
Last Senate action: Re-referred to finance committee.
Last House action: Authors added.

Clinical drug registration, SF3342/HF2869

Concerns clinical trial registration and civil penalties provided.
Last Senate action: Referred to health and family security committee.
Last House action: Referred to health policy and finance committee.

Medical use of marijuana, SF1973/HF2151

Provides for medical use of marijuana in treatment of certain debilitating medical conditions and protections for medical use of marijuana by certain qualifying patients and primary suppliers.
Last Senate action: Re-referred to crime prevention and public safety committee.
Last House action: Referred to health policy and finance committee.

Housing

Supportive housing funding provided, SF2486/HF3098

Concerns appropriating money to the commissioner of the Housing Finance Agency for transfer to the Housing Development Fund and authorizing issuance of state bonds for loans and grants for temporary or transitional housing for homeless youth, homeless families, battered women and individuals leaving prostitution, and for permanent rental housing for certain persons without a permanent residence.
Last Senate action: Referred to finance committee.
Last House action: Author added.

Jobs, energy and community development

Low-income heating assistance, SF2656/HF3465

Concerns appropriating money to the commissioner of commerce for distribution to eligible households for home heating assistance.
Last Senate action: Re-referred to finance committee.
Last House action: Author added.

Prescription drugs

Prescription drug discount program, SF2725/No House action

Concerns requiring the commissioner of human services to establish and administer a prescription drug discount program and to execute a rebate agreement from manufacturers choosing to participate in the program for drugs covered under Medical Assistance.
Last Senate action: Re-referred to finance committee and authors added.

Taxes

Property tax refunds senior and disabled claimants exemption increase, SF2875/HF3642

Concerns increasing the property tax refund exemption amount for senior and disabled claimants.
Last Senate action: Referred to taxes committee.
Last House action: Referred to taxes committee.

Homestead property tax, No Senate action/HF0992

Concerns homestead property tax computation usage of household income provided.
Last House action: Author added.

Homestead property tax limitation, SF2279/HF2469

Concerns homestead property tax limitation provided based on the income of the homeowner.
Last Senate action: Author added.
Last House action: Author added.

Transportation:

Motor vehicle sales tax revenue, SF2444/HF2915

Concerns a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Minnesota constitution, article XIV to dedicate and apportion motor vehicle sales tax revenues for transportation and public transit purposes.
Last Senate action: Re-referred to rules and administration committee.
Last House action: Author added.

Motor vehicle sales tax revenue, SF2446/HF3048

Concerns modifying a proposed amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article XIV, dedicating certain percentages of revenue from the sales tax on motor vehicles to transportation and public transit.
Last Senate action: Referred to transportation committee.
Last House action: Author added.