MinnesotaMinnesota restricts wells and sets health and child care rules
The law restricts oil and most gas wells, sets work rules for some Medical Assistance applicants and enrollees, and sets child care licensing standards.
What it does
The law bars oil wells and most gas wells. Helium wells are allowed only in Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties, and gas well construction and production must wait for rules and legislative approval of permits and fees.
Some people applying for or renewing Medical Assistance must meet federal work or community engagement rules or qualify for an exemption. Listed short-term hardships can count as meeting the rule.
Child care centers and family child care programs must follow detailed licensing standards for staff, supervision, safety, health, and care of children.
Argument forLimits on oil and most gas wells, along with rules restricting drilling methods, could help protect groundwater and nearby communities.
Argument againstOil and most gas wells would be barred, which could limit development options for people and businesses seeking to produce those resources.
More detail
The law bars people from constructing oil wells or most gas wells. The restrictions cover oil wells and gas wells built mainly to extract or produce gas. Gas wells built mainly to produce helium are allowed only in Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties. Exploratory borings and the sale of carbon dioxide produced while extracting helium are not barred by this restriction. Gas well construction and production for gas extraction must wait until rules are adopted, the legislature authorizes permits, and permit fees are enacted. The pause on gas well construction and production lasts until the rules, permit authority, and permit fees are in place.
Applicable Medical Assistance applicants and enrollees must meet federal work or community engagement rules or qualify for an exemption. The rules apply to people defined as applicable individuals under the cited federal law who apply for or renew Medical Assistance. The requirement applies to applicants for the month before they apply and to enrollees for at least one month during their previous eligibility period. Some people qualify for exemptions. A listed short-term hardship event can count as meeting the requirement; some hardship events require a request to the commissioner. These requirements take effect January 1, 2027. Applicants must meet the rule for the month before applying; enrollees must meet it for at least one month in their previous eligibility period.
Child care centers and family child care programs must follow the licensing standards described in separate chapters. The provisions cover child care centers and family child care programs in Minnesota. The standards address areas such as staff qualifications, training, supervision, safety, health, and communication with parents. Family child care programs have separate requirements for providers, caregivers, capacity, and child-to-caregiver ratios. These licensing chapters take effect July 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Secretary of State Chapter 127 05/26/26Latest
- May 26Governor Tim Walz's action Approval 05/26/26Major
- May 26Secretary of State, Filed 05/26/2026
- May 26Governor Tim Walz approval 05/26/2026Became Law
- May 20Presentment date 05/20/26
- May 20Presented to Governor 05/20/2026To Governor
- May 17Third Reading Repassed
- Vote recorded Repassage, as amended by Conference. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Senate adopted CC report and repassed bill. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Third Reading Repassed. Result: pass.Upper
- May 17Senate adopted CC report and repassed bill
- May 17Conference committee report, delete everything
- May 17Bill was repassed as amended by Conference
- May 17Third reading as amended by ConferenceMinor
- May 17House adopted conference committee report
- May 17Conference committee report, delete everything
- May 17Senate adopted conference committee report, bill repassed
- May 13House conferees Bierman; Reyer; Backer; Nadeau
- May 12House conferees Bierman, Reyer, Backer, and Nadeau
- May 12House accedes, conference committee of 4 to be appointed
- May 12Senate conferees Wiklund, Mann, Boldon, and Utke
- May 12Senate refuses to concur, conference committee of 4 requested
- May 11Senate conferees Wiklund; Mann; Boldon; Utke
- May 11Senate not concur, conference committee requested
- May 11Returned from House with amendment
- May 7Bill was passed as amendedPassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Amendment. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Amendment to Liebling Amendment. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Amendment. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Amendment. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Amendment to Bierman Amendment. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded "Shall the decision of Speaker pro tempore Olson stand as the judgment of the House?". Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded "Shall the decision of Speaker pro tempore Olson stand as the judgment of the House?". Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Passage, as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Amendment. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Amendment. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Amendment. Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded Amendment. Result: fail.Lower
- May 7Third reading as amendedMinor
- May 7Point of order raised, ruled well taken multiple points of order
- May 7AmendedMajor
- May 6House rule 1.21, placed on Calendar for the Day Thursday, May 7, 2026
- May 5Second readingMinor
- May 5Bills not identical, SF substituted on General Register
- May 4Senate file first reading, referred for comparison HF4466
- May 4Received from SenateMinor
- Apr 29Third reading Passed as amendedPassed 1st Chamber
- Vote recorded Third reading Passed as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 29Special Order: Amended
- Apr 27Second readingMinor
- Apr 27Comm report: To pass as amendedMinor
- Apr 21Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to FinanceMinor
- Mar 18Referred to Health and Human ServicesMinor
- Mar 18Introduction and first readingIntroduced
HealthcareEnvironment & EnergyEducation