This bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 256B.0625, subdivision 13g, to ensure that nonopioid drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment or management of pain are not disadvantaged or discouraged in comparison to opioid or narcotic drugs on the state's preferred drug list.

Key Provisions:
- The bill prohibits the designation of any nonopioid drug as non-preferred if opioid or narcotic drugs for pain management are designated as preferred.
- It also prevents the establishment of utilization management protocols (such as prior authorization or step therapy) for nonopioid drugs that are more restrictive than those applied to opioid drugs.
- These protections apply to nonopioid drugs immediately upon FDA approval, regardless of whether the drug has been reviewed for inclusion on the formulary or preferred drug list.
- The bill mandates public hearings before certain drugs are removed or modified on the preferred drug list, requiring an evaluation of potential public health impacts and disparities.

The overall goal of the bill is to encourage access to nonopioid pain treatment options as a means to address opioid dependency and ensure equitable drug coverage policies in state health programs.