ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A Minnesota nurses union and the state’s hospitals are nearing a deal to study and publish more data about staffing plans rather than put minimum staffing requirements into law.

The agreement allowed a bill pursued by the Minnesota Nurses Association to advance Friday through a key House committee. The Minnesota Hospital Association’s president says it’s likely leaders of the 144 hospitals in his group will back the just-reached compromise.

The nurses union began the legislative session by asking lawmakers to adopt staffing thresholds that would be overseen by Minnesota’s health department.

The bill still has a ways to go, and the Senate has yet to start its consideration of the nursing proposal. But the issue rose to the level where House Speaker Paul Thissen personally worked to broker a compromise.

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