HF 4725

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 04/09/2026 04:55 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to health; establishing a Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder
Education Center; requiring reports; appropriating money; proposing coding for
new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [144.88] MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
EDUCATION CENTER.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Education
Center is established in the Department of Health. The purposes of the center are to increase
the number of professionals, practitioners, and peers working in mental health and substance
use disorder treatment; increase the diversity of professionals, practitioners, and peers
working in mental health and substance use disorder treatment; and facilitate a culturally
informed and responsive mental health and substance use disorder treatment workforce.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Activities. new text end

new text begin The Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Education Center
must:
new text end

new text begin (1) analyze the geographic and demographic availability of licensed mental health and
substance use disorder treatment professionals, identify gaps, and prioritize the need for
additional licensed professionals by type, location, and demographics;
new text end

new text begin (2) create a program that exposes high school and college students to careers in mental
health and substance use disorders fields;
new text end

new text begin (3) create a website for individuals considering becoming a mental health provider that
clearly lists the steps necessary to achieve licensure and certification in the various mental
health fields and that lists resources and links for more information;
new text end

new text begin (4) create a job board for organizations seeking employees to provide mental health and
substance use disorder treatment, services, and supports;
new text end

new text begin (5) track the number of students at the undergraduate and graduate levels who are
graduating from programs in Minnesota that could lead to a career as a mental health or
substance use disorder treatment practitioner or professional and work with Minnesota
colleges and universities to support the students in obtaining licensure;
new text end

new text begin (6) identify barriers to mental health professional licensure and make recommendations
to address the barriers;
new text end

new text begin (7) establish learning collaborative partnerships with mental health and substance use
disorder treatment providers, schools, criminal justice agencies, and others;
new text end

new text begin (8) promote and expand loan forgiveness programs, funds for professionals to become
supervisors, and funds for creating pathways to licensure;
new text end

new text begin (9) identify barriers to using loan forgiveness programs and develop recommendations
to address the barriers;
new text end

new text begin (10) work to expand Medicaid graduate medical education to other mental health
professionals;
new text end

new text begin (11) identify current sites for internships and practicums and assess the need for additional
sites;
new text end

new text begin (12) develop training for other health care professionals, including but not limited to
community health workers, pediatricians, primary care physicians, physician assistants, and
nurses, to increase health care professionals' knowledge about mental health and substance
use disorders; and
new text end

new text begin (13) support training for integrated mental health and primary care in rural areas.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Reports. new text end

new text begin Beginning January 1, 2027, the commissioner of health shall submit
an annual report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees
with jurisdiction over health summarizing the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder
Education Center's activities and progress in addressing the mental health and substance
use disorder treatment workforce shortage.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER EDUCATION CENTER.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of
health for the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Education Center under Minnesota
Statutes, section 144.88.
new text end