Dear MAA Members,
As Minnesota prepares for a dynamic 2025 legislative session, several special elections and legal challenges are shaping the political landscape. With key races in Districts 40B and 60, along with potential contests in 54A and 47, the outcomes could significantly influence state leadership. The Minnesota Ambulance Association (MAA) is advancing a robust legislative agenda to strengthen EMS funding, training, and sustainability—be sure to continue reading for additional details.
We also encourage you to join us for the Rural EMS Roundtable in St. Paul on January 28 and to nominate a Star of Life for our Minnesota Stars of Life event on March 18, 2025. Together, let’s advocate for the future of EMS in Minnesota!
Buck McAlpin, Lobbyist
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Special Elections 2025:
As we all watched for legal challenges and chaos in the Federal election we seemed to have our own issues in MN this past November.
In District 40B, the Shoreview, North Oaks, Arden Hills the election was called due to the elected candidate being found to have not resided in the district and had rented an apartment he never stayed in. That candidate resigned and the seat opened. Five Democrats and one Republican have filed for the seat, that triggered a primary election to be held on January 14th ahead of the general election on January 28th. That district is expected to stay DFL.
In Senate District 60, the special election was called due to the death of Senator Kari Dziedzic, the former majority leader of the MN Senate. 10 Democrats and three Republicans filed for that seat. Neither of the current House members filed for the seat. This special election will also have a primary on January 14th with a Special election on January 28th.
And keep in mind with those two special elections, there remain two more potential special elections. In House District 54A, the Scott County race where 20 ballots were lost and the winning margin was, but 14 votes was challenged in court by the House Republicans. The current winning candidate Brad Tabke wants the election certified so he can be allowed on the House floor when the session starts. This case is now in the hands of the judge who is expected to rule soon. The other potential special election is in Senate District 47 (Woodbury) where Senator Nicole Mitchell appeared in court recently as a settlement conference began related to her burglary charge. From these legal negotiations numerous things could happen in this one including Mitchell continuing her term, a voluntary resignation as part of a settlement or removal from office if she is convicted of a felony.
With all this in mind as I write this pre-session update the legislature will start on January 14th with a 33-33 tie in the Senate, and a 67-66 Republican majority in the House. Either way the legislature will begin on January 14th as we await special elections and court rulings.
The MAA 2025 Legislative Agenda:
At the direction of the MAA Board and Legislative Committee we have drafted up a few pieces of legislation to start the 2025 legislative session.
1. We drafted up a bill to increase Medicaid rates for all ambulance services. In talking with DHS and our bill author we have not decided on a percentage yet. That number will be considered as budget negotiations at the legislature progress this session.
2. We drafted up a bill to expand access to the EMT training reimbursement program managed by the Office of EMS, which continues to have a balance every two years of non-encumbered funding. This bill would increase reimbursement for EMT initials and refresher courses, remove the word “volunteer” to open the pool to more ambulance services in rural MN. And, most importantly it adds our important First Responders who work on ambulance services to the reimbursement formula.
3. Mark and I have also been working with the revisors office to draft up the continuation of the very successful Paramedic Scholarship program which is managed by the MN Office of Higher Education. That office has collaborated and worked with the MAA and the Office of EMS the last two years to market and get new paramedics in your rigs. We look forward to the opportunity to work on extending and expanding access to this for the members.
4. Also, the MAA Legislative Committee has been working on a draft bill regarding a EMT apprenticeship program. We are awaiting some more technical feedback and should have that bill ready to be drafted this next week. Thanks to Mark Jones, Dylan Ferguson and Tom Fennel who have been working hard on this important workforce legislation.
5. We also continue to work with the Greater Cities Coalition on some opportunities to secure sustainability funding for services with lower EMS volume and continued financial viability issues. Although $24 million was secured last session additional funding and a more uniformed all-inclusive program needs to be established regardless of your legal status as a private, non-profit, hospital based, Governmental or Tribal entity.
The New Office of EMS:
The new Office of EMS began on January 1, 2025, and the transition seems to have been Seamless as it continues to be led by Dylan Ferguson. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to Director Ferguson for attending numerous meetings around the State and MAA Board meeting to provide Transparency on the entire process. Also, a special thanks to the outgoing and prior EMSRB Board members.
