As of January 1st, the state of Minnesota enacted some changes to state laws concerning elections, employment, insurance, and personal care products. We’ve compiled an overview of the major changes taking place in the state during 2017.
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Historically, Minnesota used caucus elections to choose presidential candidates instead of a primary. During the next election cycle in 2020, the state will hold a presidential primary on the first Tuesday in March. The state will still allow precinct caucuses and does not plan to change election procedures for other federal, state, and local elections.
The move to a primary election system will give voters an opportunity to vote throughout the day rather than at a specific time on the precinct caucus night. As part of the primary election, the state will require voters to certify an agreement with their chosen parties. Minnesota will make all party declarations available through public records.
The state approved two workers’ compensation law changes in 2016 that went into effect on January 1. The first includes a series of changes to the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council advocated in late 2016. The law was passed in 2016, but the state extended the deadline for compliance to January 1. Among changes, the law simplifies the process attorneys must use to claim legal fee payments in workers’ compensation cases. This discards previous bond requirements for the workers’ compensation appeals process and creates electronic medical record requirements for health care providers and medical insurance providers.
The second workers’ compensation law the state enacted this year changes insurers’ retention limits. Starting this year, employers can choose a retention limit for benefits the insurer must cover before the state Workers’ Compensation Reinsurance Association will approve compensation for an insurers’ losses. Specifically, the law alters the threshold of the lowest retention limit and creates a “jumbo” retention limit category.
Under a new life insurance law, all life insurance agencies operating in Minnesota must use a principle-based method to calculate the total assets they hold in reserve. For claimants, this adds a layer of trust to the life insurance claims process. The amount of money an insurer must hold will ensure its ability to pay up to the limits of a claim if necessary. Although the law went into effect on January 1st, life insurance companies can take advantage of a three-year rollout period.
Minnesota is the first state to pass a ban on the antibacterial soap ingredient known as triclosan. The ban went into effect on January 1. Since 1972, product manufacturers have added the ingredient to an increasing number of personal care products including soaps, toothpastes, cosmetics, deodorants, and other household goods. Today, overwhelming evidence connects the ingredient to adverse health outcomes including thyroid imbalances, antibiotic resistance, and skin irritations. Triclosan also disrupts the balance of ecosystems and contaminates water systems.
Many manufacturers are phasing out the use of the ingredient in consumer products, but until now, no state completely banned the use of the ingredient. The FDA recognizes the potential concerns with the product and issued a final rule forcing manufacturers to stop marketing products with certain ingredients including triclosan. However, the national ruling does not completely ban all uses of triclosan. For instance, certain toothpastes that contain the ingredient may still sit on store shelves when the national law goes into effect in September.
Many of these laws represent the culmination of ongoing discussions in the state and will not come as a surprise to those affected. In some cases, such as the life insurance retention limit law, those affected are given a period to adjust to the changes. Others represent the end of an adjustment period. Keep an eye on news reports regarding these changes to see how they affect daily life and work practices.