Hello MSRT Family,
I want to take a moment to reflect on what an extraordinary year 2026 has been for our profession in just a short 5 months. This has been a year of momentum, of clarity, and of purpose. The conversations happening across Minnesota have made one thing unmistakably clear: licensure is not just important; it is essential to the future of medical imaging and radiation therapy in our state. We started and 2024 towards these milestones and continue to move forward.
When I stepped into the role of President‑Elect in 2024, I committed to showing up fully for this work. Since then, I have been actively engaged with our legislative team, attending meetings, participating in caucuses, coordinating our Day at the Capitol, and working alongside MediSota and other healthcare organizations to ensure our message is heard. Every environment I was in, online or in a room, I carry your voices with me, your dedication, your expertise, and your unwavering commitment to patient care.
For nearly a year, the MSRT has collaborated with the ASRT, the ARRT, the Minnesota Radiological Society, and many of our partners across sonography, nuclear medicine, and other imaging disciplines. Together with the lobbying team at Larkin Hoffman, we have worked tirelessly to advance our licensure proposal. This was a heavy lift as we spent countless hours taking the national model language and working to adapt it to the way Minnesota does licensing statutes while also accounting for existing state law regulating our practice. We also prepared initial drafts of the Health Professional Licensing Questionnaires required by the legislature and started the process of engaging with institutional stakeholders to identify and address issues with the statutory language we will be proposing.
Unfortunately, because of the scale of the project, we were unable to get the “final” version of the bill completed in time to be introduced during the 2026 legislative session. Our goal had been to have a publicly available proposal by the end of the session, but the intense workloads put on the Minnesota Senate Counsel’s office and the Revisory of Statutes’ Office during the final weeks of the legislative session meant that non-emergency projects like ours had to be less of a priority. While this news was disappointing, it was not a defeat. In fact, it presents an opportunity. In fact, this will provide us additional time to incorporate valuable technical feedback from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice, ensuring that when our bill is introduced in 2027, it is stronger, clearer, and even more operationally sound.
This additional time allows us to gather valuable feedback from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Board of Medical Practice, ensuring that when our bill is introduced in January or February, it is stronger, clearer, and even more operationally sound.
And let me be clear, we are not slowing down.
Just as we have in years past, we will continue our community outreach efforts that reflect the heart of who we are. We will keep showing up for the Invisible Heroes Walk, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, reading in schools, supporting the Ronald McDonald House, attending conferences, and working with our affiliate partners. These moments of service remind us that our profession extends far beyond the walls of our departments, it lives in the communities we care for.
As Walt Disney once said, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” And MSRT, we are pursuing this dream with courage, unity, and purpose.
In the months ahead, we will continue our leadership meetings, strengthen our grassroots efforts, and keep you informed every step of the way. Your engagement, your questions, and your passion are what fuel this movement. Together, we are building something that will protect our patients, elevate our profession, and shape the future of healthcare in Minnesota.
Thank you for your dedication, your advocacy, and your belief in this mission. The work continues and we will continue it together.
Respectfully,
MSRT President Afton
Just an update on our Day at the Capitol journey. Tuesday morning the MSRT had approximately 175 students and technologists assembled at the state capitol rotunda to lobby our state legislators about the lack of licensure in the state. We were very well received and had positive comments from various legislators. Going forward we are going to have another Day at the Capitol next year as at that time we will have a bill and need to advocate the need to pass the bill. Please feel free to contact me with any comments or concerns about this and why there is a need for licensure for our state. I have stories about the need.
Going forward the next couple of months the advocacy core group is going to work on the proposal summary/overview for the language to be put into the bill. This summer we will be meeting with the Senate legal counsel to put the final language to the bill. This year, even if we had a bill we could not introduce as new bills can only be introduced every other year.
My hope is that each of you can contact your state representative and senator for their support of this bill when it comes to a vote.
I will keep you informed about the progress and we really need your support by writting letters of support when necessary.
Also we are working with the ASRT and ARRT to help with hiring a lobbyist and all the political language in this journey.
Check out the Capitol Day link to see our talking points.
Thanks
Sharon Zigan RT. R. M. MRI.
MSRT Advocacy Chair
Update on MSRT Advocacy 2025
Here is what the advocacy MSRT has been working on couple of months.
1. Scott and Sharon did a virtual meeting with the Medi-Sota group Nov, 6 2024. This is a group of
31 Hospitals that share and work through all aspects of the hospital concerns or issues. Very
well received. Sharon has been updating the work of the advocacy group with them.
2. December 2, 2024 the advocacy group (Scott Haglund, Kate Cheney, Abby Mumm and Sharon
ZIgan with Ann Bell-Pfeifer and Dr. Anne Reddy, representing MRS, per virtual) met with Senator
Paul Utke who is Sharon’s District senator, at his office in St. Paul. It was a very favorable
meeting as the Senator listened and asked questions along the way. We explained
encroachment and the importance of proper education in imaging patients. Ann told of the
North Dakota’s quest for licensure which seemed to spark even more interest in licensure. The
Senator would like to contact his fellow senator’s in North Dakota about this bill. After that we
can work with the Senator’s office to draft up a bill. It was a short meeting but we feel we made
a great start.
3. Per Sharon’s email she received information from the DOH office of rural health and primary
care. There is a Minnesota Rural Health Conference June 9-10, 2025 in Duluth. We have put in
a proposal to do a 1 hour presentation and a vendor booth to further educate the attendees of
who we are and what we do. Sharon, Scott, and Kate will do the presentation and Ann and
Abby will be at the booth. We will know in March if we will do the presentation but we are
going forward with the booth.
4. At this time Sharon is planning to organize a “Day at the Capital” which looks to be March the
earliest as there are organizational issues in the House.
5. Sharon has been keeping Dr. Anne Reddy updated. She thought attending the conference is a
way to get a positive message out there. She also commented that she or one of her colleagues
can attend the conference. She was not sure how to gauge the potential reaction of the MMA.
She is the MRS rep to the MMA and maybe we can craft a message to present to them.
This is the update today 1-22-2025 as there is always something happening.
Thank you and please contact any of the Advocacy group as we are very open to thoughts and ideas.
Sharon Zigan, RT(R)(MR)
August 14th, 7 pm via Zoom
December 3, 2024
Greetings
This is a hot off the press report. Yesterday Dec. 2 our group meet with Senator Paul Utke at the Minnesota Senate building to discuss our attempt to obtain licensure for the technologists in the state.
It was a very favorable meeting as the Senator listened and ask questions along the way. We explained encroachment and the importance of proper education in imaging patients. Ann Bell-Pfeifer told of the North Dakota’s quest for licensure which seemed to spark even more interest in licensure. The Senator would like to contact his fellow senator’s in North Dakota about this bill. We are going to contact other states with licensure to try to sort through what would work for us. After that we can work with the Senator’s office to draft up a bill. It was a short meeting but I think we made a great start.
Respectfully
Sharon Zigan RT
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=house&f=HF2508&ssn=0&y=2023
Includes language adding medical imaging to the scope of practice for Acupuncturists.
Dear MSRT Membership,
It has come to ASRT’s attention that Cullari Communications Global has contacted several ASRT affiliate societies regarding support of the Facilitating Innovative Nuclear Diagnostics (FIND) Act.
ASRT is an adamant and vocal supporter of this legislation. The FIND Act will change the reimbursement structure of diagnostic radio-pharmaceuticals at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), allowing critical access to more patients.
Please use the ASRT Advocacy Action Center to contact members of Congress asking them to support and co-sponsor this legislation.
Sincerely,
ASRT Government Relations
GovernmentRelations@asrt.org
The FIND Act of 2023
HF 1324 recently came to our attention (please see attached). This bill, as written would allow certified nurse midwives to order, perform, supervise, and interpret diagnostic procedures. ASRT has drafted a letter to the chair of the committee and sponsor requesting the language is amended.
Bill: HF1324.0.pdf
Proposed amendment: GR23_MN_HF 1324_MidwifeScope.pdf
Please reach out to MSRT Representatives with any questions, comments, or feedback.
Check our event page to get involved! Attend a legislative advocacy meeting to learn more and voice your opinions.
X-ray Advisory Committee Agenda online
Minnesota Department of Health sent this bulletin at 01/24/2017 09:26 AM CST
The first meeting of the Advisory Committee for the X-ray Rules Revision of Minnesota Rules, Chapter 4732 will be held January 31, 2017, 1:00 - 3:00 pm.
This is a public meeting with limited seating. If you are interested in attending and observing the Advisory Committee Meeting, please contact Kelly Medellin at kelly.medellin@state.mn.us or 651-201-4568.
X-ray Rules Revision Advisory Committee Meeting
January 31, 2017, 1:00-3:00 pm
Minnesota Department of Health
Orville Freeman Building, Room B149
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55164
The Minnesota Chapter 4732 X-ray Rule process is moving forward.
There is a modification summary posted on the Minnesota Department of Health website that outlines the changes that will be pursued at this time. Take a moment to review this summary and contact the MDH with any suggestions or comments you may have x-rayrules@state.mn.us
Next up in the process will be a review of this summary by a rule writing committee and the beginning of the rule drafting process.
Updates on this rule writing process will be made available on the MDH website, including meeting minutes from the rules drafting committee.
As these rules directly affect our profession, the MSRT will be keeping a watch on this process and keeping membership informed.
Here are all the items from 2016 MSRT Fall Conference Legislative Committee display. Contact us for more information or to learn how you can help with any of our new initiatives.
How Bill becomes law flow chart.pdf
MN rulemakingprogresschart.pdf
State Law Process.pdf
Licensure White Paper .pdf
Membership Growth Proposal .pdf
MGP Handout .pdf
