In Review: The Senator, who was recently arrested after a criminal incident was back at work last week. While she was removed from her committee assignments as well as caucus meetings, she is still allowed to vote on bills on the floor, which, given the tight majority by the Democratic Farm Labor (DFL) party, will allow bills to pass. The Senate HHS omnibus bill was heard last Friday evening and eventually passed in the wee hours of the morning on Saturday. The bill has prior authorization language we have proposed, which would apply the current statute to the public programs. The House HHS omnibus bill, is scheduled to be heard in the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday morning. The bill contains very unfavorable prior authorization language which alone has over a $32M fiscal note. PCMA and members worked over the weekend and submitted a written testimony addressing the areas that the fiscal note missed.

Up Next: The House Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to hear the House HHS omnibus bill. Once the bill is voted on the Floor, the HHS Omnibus Conference Committee could be appointed and meet as early as later this week, but it will most likely be next week.

If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Mack at mmack@pcmanet.org.