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SF3658 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Department of Human Services increase central office appropriations limitation

Related bill: HF3517

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

The bill seeks to limit the growth of the Department of Human Services (DHS) central office funding by setting a cap on annual increases. Specifically, it would restrict any year-to-year increase in DHS central office appropriations to no more than four percent, with the cap applying only when certain existing inflation and spending-limit rules are in effect.

Main Provisions

  • Creation of a new statute section: 256.0111, titled Department of Human Services Central Office Limit on Appropriations.
  • Conditional effectiveness: The four percent cap applies only for fiscal years when both (a) the CPI-U inflation limits and (b) the specified percentage increase limits in other related statute sections are in effect.
  • Cap on increases: If applicable, any increase in DHS central office appropriations from one fiscal year to the next may not exceed four percent.
  • Cross-references: The section ties its applicability to existing restrictions found in related sections (CPI-U inflation limits and other percentage increase limits in sections such as 256B.4914, 256R.23, and 256R.24), meaning the cap operates in conjunction with those current constraints.

Conditional Effectiveness

  • The four percent cap is not automatically in effect every year. It only applies in fiscal years when the CPI-U inflation limits and the other identified percentage increase limits are in place. If those limits are not in effect, the cap does not constrain DHS central office funding.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Adds a new statutory constraint specifically for DHS central office appropriations, introducing a hard cap on growth.
  • Establishes a linkage to other inflation and spending-limit mechanisms, ensuring the cap only governs under certain budgetary conditions.

Potential Effects and Considerations

  • Budget discipline: The measure aims to curb the administrative growth of DHS by limiting how quickly central office funding can rise.
  • Scope: The cap targets central office (administrative) funding, not necessarily funds for DHS programs or services delivered outside the central office.
  • Interaction with other limits: The effect of the cap depends on whether the CPI-U and other percentage increase limits are currently in effect, which could lead to variations in when the cap actually constrains spending.

Terminology (Key Terms Used in the Bill)

  • Department of Human Services (DHS) central office
  • appropriations
  • fiscal year
  • four percent cap (4%)
  • CPI-U inflation limit
  • percentage increase limits
  • Minnesota Statutes chapter 256
  • cross-referenced sections: 256B.4914, 256R.23, 256R.24
  • new law coding
  • effective on those fiscal years when related limits are in effect

Relevant Terms - Department of Human Services central office - appropriations - fiscal year - CPI-U (CPI-U inflation limit) - four percent cap - Minnesota Statutes chapter 256 - 256B.4914, 256R.23, 256R.24 - related limits/sections - central office funding growth - budgetary constraints - government spending limits

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 19, 2026SenateActionIntroduction and first reading
February 19, 2026SenateActionReferred toHealth and Human Services

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References CPI-U inflation limits and related budget controls in the DHS public assistance framework to cap annual increases in central office appropriations. The bill notes that CPI-U inflation limits and the percentage increase limits under related sections (256B.49, subd. 14; 256R.23, subds. 7 and 8; 256R.24, subd. 3) must be in effect for the section to apply.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "256R.23",
    "subdivision": "subdivisions 7 and 8"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References another budget cap provision within Minn. Stat. § 256R.24, subd. 3, to work in tandem with CPI-U inflation restrictions for DHS central office funding.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "256R.24",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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