94th Legislative Session, Week 15
Minnesota's 94th Legislative Session
Week ending May 17, 2025
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the Health Budget Battles
As we near sine die on May 20 (final day of the legislative session), the Health and Human Services budget has become the final—and fiercest—frontline in Minnesota’s legislative session. Here’s what advocates for reproductive health and healthcare equity need to know:
The Good
Some hard-fought wins made it through:
STI Education Reform: The Senate passed a long-overdue update to Minnesota’s sexual health curriculum via SF1048. Schools are now one step closer to delivering inclusive, accurate, and age-appropriate sex ed.
HIV Funding Protected: Essential funding for HIV care and prevention programs is intact—thanks to persistent advocacy.
Maternal Mortality Prevention: New requirements will fund maternal death reviews, helping Minnesota confront racial and regional disparities in maternal health.
Informed Consent for Sensitive Exams: Patients now have stronger legal protections when undergoing sensitive medical procedures.
Anti-Choice Amendments Defeated: Attempts to roll back access to reproductive healthcare were once again blocked—proof that vigilance works.
The Bad
Cuts are coming for the Sexual and Reproductive Health Services (SRHS) Grant Program—to the tune of $1 million.
What is the SRHS Grant?
It supports access to:
Birth control
Cancer screenings
STI testing and treatment
Community health education
Cutting this funding means real barriers for low-income, rural, and BIPOC Minnesotans who rely on these services.
The Ugly
Let’s call this what it is: a betrayal of our values.
As part of a last-minute budget deal, funding for undocumented Minnesotans' access to MinnesotaCare is cut—a move that hurts immigrants, working families, and anyone who believes healthcare is a human right.
This is not just a budget line.
It’s a direct attack on reproductive health access and our collective dignity. When immigration status blocks people from seeing a doctor, filling a prescription, or accessing abortion care—we all lose.
Watch & Act:
Gov. Walz’s Statement – Will he fight to restore coverage?
POCI Caucus Press Conference – “Our communities are not expendable.”
Make your voice heard: Call the governor, leadership, and your legislators and demand full healthcare coverage for everyone—no exceptions.
Final Note
This week laid bare a simple truth: reproductive healthcare must be more than legal. It must be accessible, affordable, and equitable.
Let’s keep fighting. Let’s keep showing up.
No one is free until everyone can get the care they need.
📞 Make the Call
Governor Tim Walz – 651-201-3400
Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy – 651-296-5931
House Speaker Melissa Hortman – 651-296-4280
House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth – 800-947-8264