SF 4310 Receives Senate Hearing Date. Here Is What You Need to Know.

Family Residential Services providers and advocates received important news this week. SF 4310, the bill to reenact the framework rate methodology for Minnesota's Family Residential Services program, has been scheduled for a hearing in the Minnesota Senate. This is a significant milestone in our ongoing effort to protect community-based care for vulnerable adults across the state.

When and Where

The bill will be heard before the Senate Human Services Committee on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 3:00 PM CST. Members of the public are encouraged to follow along. The full committee agenda is available at the Minnesota Senate website.

Who Is Behind This Bill

SF 4310 was authored with strong, bipartisan support. Sen. Bill Lieske serves as chief author and has been a consistent advocate for FRS providers throughout this legislative session. The bill carries co-authorship from Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, Assistant Minority Leader, and Sen. John Hoffman. Notably, Sen. Hoffman also serves as Chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, the very committee hearing this bill. His co-authorship is a meaningful indication of the committee's seriousness in considering this legislation.

You can read the full bill text here:

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/94/2026/0/SF/4310/

MARSH Will Be There

MARSH has been asked to provide two testifiers for the April 8 hearing. Representing our community before the committee will be Angela Strasser, MARSH Vice President, and Evan O'Connor, Guardian. Their testimony will speak directly to the real-world consequences of the current flat-rate system on providers and the individuals they serve.

How You Can Support SF 4310

There are two concrete ways to make your voice heard before and after the hearing.

Submit written testimony. Providers, guardians, family members, and advocates are encouraged to submit written testimony for the record. Send your statement to Caden.Thissen@mnsenate.gov ahead of the April 8 hearing. Focus on how the flat-rate system affects the individuals in your care and the long-term viability of your home.

Thank the authors. These legislators chose to carry this bill. A brief, respectful message of support from constituents and community members reinforces their commitment.

Sen. Bill Lieske: sen.bill.lieske@mnsenate.gov

Sen. Jordan Rasmusson: https://www.senate.mn/members/email-form/1255

Sen. John Hoffman: https://www.senate.mn/members/email-form/1205

Why This Hearing Matters

The flat-rate tiered system, now federally approved by CMS, does not reduce costs. It shifts individuals into settings that cost roughly twice as much, threatens provider closures, and puts community-based care at risk for nearly 4,000 Minnesotans living in Family Residential Service homes. SF 4310 would reenact the framework rate methodology that appropriately accounts for both acuity and licensed capacity, preserving the homes and care relationships that vulnerable adults depend on.

A Senate hearing is not a finish line. It is an opening. The decisions made in the weeks ahead will determine whether FRS providers in Minnesota can continue to operate and whether the individuals they serve can remain in their communities.

Get Involved

If your organization is planning to close or has already made decisions about your future as a provider, please contact MARSH at admin@marshmn.org. Provider closure data is an active part of our legislative documentation efforts.

To learn more about MARSH membership and how you can support this work, visit marshmn.org.