SF 4389

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/13/2026 09:18 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to human services; making persons convicted of a crime of violence
ineligible for MFIP, medical assistance, economic assistance and food support,
and MinnesotaCare; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 142G.18, by
adding a subdivision; 256B.055, subdivision 14, by adding a subdivision; 256D.024,
by adding a subdivision; 256L.04, by adding a subdivision; repealing Minnesota
Statutes 2024, section 142G.18, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142G.18, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Persons convicted of a crime of violence. new text end

new text begin A person convicted of a crime of
violence as defined in section 624.712, subdivision 5, or a statute from another state or the
United States in conformity with any of those sections is disqualified from receiving MFIP.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.055, subdivision 14, is amended to read:

Subd. 14.

Persons detained by law.

(a) Medical assistance may be paid for an inmate
of a correctional facility who is conditionally released as authorized under section 241.26,
244.065, or 631.425, if the individual does not require the security of a public detention
facility and is housed in a halfway house or community correction center, or under house
arrest and monitored by electronic surveillance in a residence approved by the commissioner
of corrections, and if the individual meets the other eligibility requirements of this chapter.

(b) An individual who is enrolled in medical assistance, and who is charged with a crime
and incarcerated for less than 12 months shall be suspended from eligibility at the time of
incarceration until the individual is released. Upon release, medical assistance eligibility is
reinstated without reapplication using a reinstatement process and form, if the individual is
otherwise eligible.

(c) An individual, regardless of age, who is considered an inmate of a public institution
as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 435.1010, and who meets the
eligibility requirements in section 256B.056, is not eligible for medical assistance, except
for covered services received while an inpatient in a medical institution as defined in Code
of Federal Regulations, title 42, section 435.1010. Security issues, including costs, related
to the inpatient treatment of an inmate are the responsibility of the entity with jurisdiction
over the inmate.

new text begin (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), (b), or (c), medical assistance does not cover an
individual convicted of a crime of violence as defined in section 624.712, subdivision 5, or
a statute from another state or the United States in conformity with any of those sections.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.055, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 18. new text end

new text begin Persons convicted of a crime of violence. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any law to the
contrary, a person convicted of a crime of violence as defined in section 624.712, subdivision
5, or a statute from another state or the United States in conformity with any of those sections
is ineligible to receive medical assistance.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256D.024, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Persons convicted of a crime of violence. new text end

new text begin A person convicted of a crime of
violence as defined in section 624.712, subdivision 5, or a statute from another state or the
United States in conformity with any of those sections is ineligible to receive benefits under
this chapter.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256L.04, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:

new text begin Subd. 15. new text end

new text begin Persons convicted of a crime of violence. new text end

new text begin A person convicted of a crime of
violence as defined in section 624.712, subdivision 5, or a statute from another state or the
United States in conformity with any of those sections is not eligible for MinnesotaCare.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 142G.18, subdivision 1, new text end new text begin is repealed.
new text end

APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 26-06943

142G.18 PERSONS INELIGIBLE; VENDOR PAYMENTS.

Subdivision 1.

Person convicted of drug offenses.

(a) An individual who has been convicted of a felony level drug offense during the previous ten years from the date of application or recertification is subject to the following:

(1) Benefits for the entire assistance unit must be paid in vendor form for shelter and utilities during any time the applicant is part of the assistance unit.

(2) The convicted applicant or participant may be subject to random drug testing. Following any positive test for an illegal controlled substance, the county must provide information about substance use disorder treatment programs to the applicant or participant.

(b) Applicants requesting only SNAP benefits or participants receiving only SNAP benefits, who have been convicted of a felony-level drug offense during the previous ten years from the date of application or recertification may, if otherwise eligible, receive SNAP benefits. The convicted applicant or participant may be subject to random drug testing. Following a positive test for an illegal controlled substance, the county must provide information about substance use disorder treatment programs to the applicant or participant.

(c) For the purposes of this subdivision, "drug offense" means a conviction that occurred during the previous ten years from the date of application or recertification of sections 152.021 to 152.025, 152.0261, 152.0262, 152.096, or 152.137. Drug offense also means a conviction in another jurisdiction of the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance, or conspiracy to commit any of these offenses, if the conviction occurred during the previous ten years from the date of application or recertification and the conviction is for a crime that would be a felony if committed in Minnesota.

(d) This subdivision does not apply for convictions or positive test results related to cannabis, marijuana, or tetrahydrocannabinols.