Category: News & Events
Impact 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…
Read MoreMinnesota’s New Boating Law Requirements Begin July 1
June 20, 2025 | Adriel B. Villarreal
Starting on July 1, a new law will require some Minnesota boaters to have a valid watercraft operator’s permit in order to operate a motorboat. The new law, passed in 2023, is designed to increase safety on Minnesota’s lakes and rivers as well as educate people on the environmental impacts of boating. Here’s what you need to know. Who Is Affected? Boaters born after June 30, 2004, aged 12 years or older, will need a valid watercraft operator’s permit to drive any motorboat or personal watercraft. This requirement goes into place on July 1, 2025, but the requirement will gradually extend to older age groups through 2028. People without a permit can still operate a boat as long as there is an accompanying operator on board who does have a permit and is at least 21 years old. Those born before June 30, 1987, will never be required to have a permit unless they rent a motorboat or are serving as an accompanying operator for another person. People younger than 12 years old cannot operate a personal watercraft or motorboat with a motor over 75 horsepower. They can, however, operate a motorboat that is not a personal watercraft and is under 75 horsepower as long as there is an accompanying operator on board….
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