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SF2775 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Hospitals providing registered nurse staffing at levels consistent with nationally accepted standards requirement provision, staffing levels report requirement, retaliation prohibition provision, and appropriation

Related bill: HF2289

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

This bill aims to ensure that hospitals in Minnesota provide adequate and consistent registered nurse staffing to improve patient care quality and safety. It mandates compliance with nationally recognized standards, enhances transparency through reporting requirements, and establishes measures to prevent retaliation against healthcare staff.

Main Provisions

  • Staffing Standards: Hospitals must maintain a certain level of registered nurse staffing based on national evidence-based standards. This includes specific nurse-to-patient ratios for different units such as critical care and emergency departments.
  • Staffing Plans: Hospitals are required to create staffing plans that include flexible nurse-to-patient ratios and involve nurses in their development. These plans must be shared with hospital staff, labor unions, and the Department of Health.
  • Assignment Limits: The bill establishes maximum numbers of patients assigned to a nurse, with different limits for various healthcare units. Hospitals must fully comply with these limits by August 1, 2027, and rural hospitals by August 1, 2029.
  • Safe Patient Assignment Committee: Hospitals must form a committee by October 1, 2026, to oversee staffing practices, ensuring patient safety.
  • Prohibition of Retaliation: Hospitals cannot discipline nurses who refuse assignments they deem unsafe, report unsafe staffing levels, or otherwise fulfill their professional duties under the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act.
  • Enforcement and Penalties: Non-compliant hospitals will face fines starting at $25,000 per incident. The Department of Health will publicly report non-compliance cases.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Updates to existing Minnesota Statutes require regular reporting of staffing levels and allow for more stringent enforcement of staffing regulations.
  • Establishment of more detailed nurse-to-patient ratios and staffing requirements tailored to specific hospital units.
  • Introduction of mechanisms to protect nurses from retaliation when advocating for safe staffing and patient care standards.

Relevant Terms

  • Nurse-to-patient ratio
  • Registered nurse staffing
  • Safe Patient Assignment Committee
  • Nurse Practice Act
  • Civil penalty
  • Staffing plan
  • Retaliation prevention
  • Emergency department staffing
  • Patient acuity
  • Health care emergency

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 19, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 19, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toLabor
March 31, 2025SenateFloorActionComm report: To pass and re-referred toHuman Services

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Directcare registered nurses must certify the staffing report as accurate."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amends section 144.7055 on staffing plan reports for hospitals.",
      "modified": [
        "Subdivisions updated to detail staffing plan submission requirements and reporting procedure.",
        "Imposition of civil penalties for non-compliance."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "144.7055"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References Minnesota Nurse Practice Act sections impacted by the new bill.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies immunity from civil or criminal liability for reporting violations in good faith.",
        "Protects registered nurses and health care workers from discipline when reporting unsafe staffing levels."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "148.171 to 148.285"
  }
]

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