HF2289

HF2289 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Hospitals required to provide registered nurse staffing at levels consistent with nationally accepted standards, staffing levels reporting required, retaliation prohibited, civil penalties imposed, and money appropriated.

Related bill: SF2775

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

The bill aims to enhance patient care in Minnesota hospitals by establishing clear standards for nurse staffing levels, enforcing compliance with these standards, and protecting nurses from retaliation when reporting unsafe conditions.

Main Provisions

Staffing Standards: Hospitals must maintain nurse staffing levels in line with nationally accepted standards to ensure patient safety. They must implement staffing plans that define maximum patient numbers per registered nurse for different hospital units.
Safe Patient Assignment Limits: The bill outlines specific nurse-to-patient ratios for various hospital settings, such as one nurse per patient in critical areas like operating rooms and intensive care units, varying up to one nurse per five patients in less intensive care scenarios.
Compliance and Penalties: Hospitals are required to comply with the new staffing standards by specific deadlines. Non-compliance will result in civil penalties, and hospitals must report staffing data quarterly.
No Retaliation: The bill prohibits hospitals from retaliating against nurses who refuse assignments they judge unsafe, report unsafe conditions, or allege staffing violations.

Significant Changes

Mandatory Reporting: Hospitals must submit staffing plans and actual staffing data to a central system quarterly.
Creation of Committees: Establishment of Safe Patient Assignment Committees to ensure ongoing compliance with staffing standards.
Enforcement: Empowerment of the health commissioner to enforce staffing standards and report non-compliance publicly.

Relevant Terms

Registered nurse, nurse staffing, patient safety, compliance, retaliation, Safe Patient Assignment Committee, nurse-to-patient ratios, civil penalties.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
March 12, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading, referred to	Health Finance and Policy
March 16, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Authors added

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Substantial penalties for non-compliance with staffing plan and reporting requirements.",
        "New reporting procedures for staffing plans."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "Previous deadlines for staffing plan submissions."
      ],
      "summary": "The bill amends the reporting and staffing requirements for hospitals to ensure sufficient nursing coverage.",
      "modified": [
        "Adjustment of quarterly reporting procedures and requirements."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "144.7055"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "It extends immunity to nurses reporting unsafe staffing levels."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "N/A"
      ],
      "summary": "The bill addresses disciplinary protections for nurses reporting unsafe conditions.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies the procedure and timeline for reporting."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "148.264"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Acknowledges violations that could lead to unsafe patient care."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "N/A"
      ],
      "summary": "References to the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act to ensure compliance with professional standards and reporting requirements.",
      "modified": [
        "Expanded protections for nurses under the Nurse Practice Act, linking unsafe staffing to potential violations."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "148.171 to 148.285"
  }
]