Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota House Bill HF1278 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/20/2025

                            1.1	A bill for an act​
1.2 relating to health; establishing the reproductive health equity grant fund;​
1.3 appropriating money.​
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:​
1.5 Section 1. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EQUITY GRANT FUND.​
1.6 Subdivision 1.Establishment and purpose.The reproductive health equity grant fund​
1.7is established to ensure access to abortion care in the state. The purpose of this onetime​
1.8grant is to provide funding to abortion providers, government entities, and nonprofit​
1.9organizations whose primary function is to provide or facilitate access to abortion care. The​
1.10grants must be designed to provide support to abortion providers, fund uncompensated care,​
1.11and increase access to abortion care.​
1.12 Subd. 2.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the​
1.13meanings given.​
1.14 (b) "Abortion" means an act, procedure, or use of any instrument, medicine, or drug that​
1.15is supplied or prescribed for or administered to a pregnant individual that results in the​
1.16termination of a pregnancy.​
1.17 (c) "Abortion facility" means facilities recognized by the commissioner of health under​
1.18lawful rules promulgated by the commissioner for the performance of abortions.​
1.19 (d) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of health.​
1.20 (e) "Medical services" means the range of care related to the provision of abortion.​
1.21 (f) "Program" means the reproductive freedom and equity grant program.​
1​Section 1.​
REVISOR SGS/DG 25-02980​02/11/25 ​
State of Minnesota​
This Document can be made available​
in alternative formats upon request​
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES​
H. F. No.  1278​
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION​
Authored by Freiberg, Sencer-Mura, Smith, Clardy, Hollins and others​02/20/2025​
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy​ 2.1 (g) "Provider" means any person who furnishes health services and is licensed or​
2.2otherwise authorized to render services in the state.​
2.3 Subd. 3.Eligibility.Organizations eligible to receive grant funding under this section​
2.4include nonprofit organizations or entities that provide or facilitate access to abortion care.​
2.5 Subd. 4.Grant procedure.Eligible programs must apply for a grant under this section​
2.6in the form and manner specified by the commissioner.​
2.7 Subd. 5.Commissioner's duties(a) The commissioner may make grant awards with​
2.8the funds available under this section. In awarding grants, the commissioner must support​
2.9the abortion care infrastructure of the state while considering the impact of the Dobbs​
2.10decision. The commissioner shall award grants for the following purposes:​
2.11 (1) increase access to care by growing the capacity of abortion providers to meet present​
2.12and future care needs, including but not limited to grants that support the recruitment and​
2.13retention of staff; patient navigators; billing consultants; staff training; investments in​
2.14technology to facilitate care, including telehealth care, and other operational needs that​
2.15reflect the intention of increasing access to abortion care;​
2.16 (2) ensure the affordability of and access to care for anyone who seeks care in the state​
2.17regardless of their ability to pay for care by funding uncompensated care;​
2.18 (3) secure the physical and digital infrastructure of facilities providing abortion care,​
2.19including but not limited to making security system improvements, updating IT systems,​
2.20and providing de-escalation training; and​
2.21 (4) provide training to staff and providers in trauma-informed care and cultural​
2.22competencies in order to best treat all patients.​
2.23 (b) Within the limits of funds available, the commissioner may award grants that, in the​
2.24commissioner's judgment, best promote the purposes described in this subdivision, taking​
2.25into account all of the following:​
2.26 (1) the extent to which abortions are needed locally;​
2.27 (2) the ability of the applicant to advance health equity; and​
2.28 (3) the relative need of the applicant.​
2.29 (c) The commissioner shall make grants under this section beginning no later than January​
2.301, 2026. Determination regarding a grant award shall be made within 30 days of receipt of​
2.31a completed application.​
2​Section 1.​
REVISOR SGS/DG 25-02980​02/11/25 ​ 3.1 (d) The commissioner may use up to one percent of the funds available for this section​
3.2to pay the costs incurred by the department in administering the grant program.​
3.3 Subd. 6.Privacy.The department or commissioner shall not request, adopt rules to, or​
3.4otherwise require any abortion provider or nonprofit organization receiving money from​
3.5the grant fund to divulge the name, address, photograph, license number, email address,​
3.6phone number, or any other personally identifying information of any patient or individual​
3.7who sought or received practical support from a provider or organization, in conjunction​
3.8with the funding provided under this section. Any nonprofit organization or provider​
3.9receiving funds from the program shall take all necessary steps to ensure the confidentiality​
3.10of the individuals receiving services in accordance with state and federal laws.​
3.11 Subd. 7.Severability.If any provision, word, phrase, or clause of this section or its​
3.12application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the​
3.13provisions, words, phrases, clauses, or applications of this section that can be given effect​
3.14without the invalid provision, word, phrase, clause, or application. The provisions, words,​
3.15phrases, and clauses of this section are severable.​
3.16 EFFECTIVE DATE.This section is effective July 1, 2025.​
3.17 Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION.​
3.18 $30,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner​
3.19of health for the reproductive health equity grant fund in section 1.​
3​Sec. 2.​
REVISOR SGS/DG 25-02980​02/11/25 ​