Category: News & Events
Minnesota Court of Appeals Clarifies Stop-Arm Law: What State v. Waln Means for Your Case
February 10, 2026 | admin
In September 2025, the Minnesota Court of Appeals issued a major decision interpreting the state’s school‑bus stop‑arm statute. The case, State v. Waln, reshapes how courts must evaluate whether a stop‑arm violation occurred under Minn. Stat. § 169.444. Below, we break down what happened, how the court reached its decision, and what this means if you or someone you know has been charged with a stop‑arm violation. What Happened in State v. Waln? The case arose from an incident in Baxter, Minnesota, in which a driver was accused of failing to stop for a school bus. At trial, the State argued that the driver violated Minn. Stat. § 169.444, subd. 2(a), by driving past a stopped bus while its stop‑signal arm and flashing red lights were activated. A jury convicted her. But on appeal, the evidence told a more precise story. Critical Video Evidence Uncontested video footage showed Waln’s truck was already within 20 feet of the bus before the stop‑arm fully extended. The appellate court noted that the stop-arm took about two seconds to fully deploy, and the driver passed the bus “just as the arm reached its full outward position.” The Statutory Question Minnesota law requires drivers to stop at least 20 feet away when a school bus is stopped and “displaying an…
Read MoreImpact of Key Provisions of Congress’ Bill that Ended the Government Shutdown for Vulnerable Populations
November 21, 2025 | Cathryn Reher
Our Estate Planning Department works with persons with disabilities of all ages who are accessing government benefits to help pay for long-term services and supports. The government shutdown was very scary for those dependent on government benefits. Thankfully, the government shutdown has ended due to Congress passing a law signed November 12, 2025. Some of the provisions in this law will impact our most vulnerable populations. A few of the more important changes are discussed below. Medicare and Medicaid Payments Medicare and Medicaid usually keep running even during a shutdown. But a very long shutdown could have stopped payments to doctors or kept states from getting the money they need. This would have made it hard for people to get care. The reopening of the government avoids this. Health Insurance Costs May Go Up A special kind of discount called an enhanced premium tax credit that helped people pay for health insurance will end on December 31, 2025. Many people who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace may have to pay a lot more—especially people with middle incomes. Families with tight budgets may want to wait until closer to the deadline so they can compare plans and pick the best one. Congress could still bring back these discounts, but doing so now would be confusing because open…
Read MoreIs There a New Cellphone “Touch Law” for Minnesota Drivers?
July 14, 2025 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
A rumor has been circulating on social media and across the internet that a new “touch law” went into effect on June 5, 2025, in 31 U.S. states, including Minnesota. The purported law bans handling or touching your phone while driving. This claim is misleading, however. Such a law did go into effect in Pennsylvania on June 5 and is known as “Paul Miller’s Law.” But the other states mentioned in the claim, including Minnesota, already have similar laws that have been in place for several years. In Minnesota’s case, the hands-free cell phone use law went into effect in 2019. So, while there is no new “touch law” in Minnesota, drivers should still act in accordance with the existing law. What is Minnesota’s Hands-Free Cell Phone Law? Minnesota’s hands-free law makes it illegal, in most cases, to use a handheld cell phone while driving. This includes when a driver’s vehicle is stopped at a traffic light or in a traffic jam. However, it is legal for drivers to use cell phones in hands-free mode. This means that drivers are permitted to use their phones through voice commands or with a single-touch activation. So, you are allowed to make or take phone calls, send or receive messages, listen to audio, and receive GPS…
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