2026 Legislative Session Recap

Despite a challenging legislative session, where many bills failed to pass and even more were never heard, we achieved meaningful victories. Part of that victory is connecting with supporters, increasing our participation in meaningful policy coalitions and partnerships, and expanding opportunities for young women and gender-expansive people to lead and advocate for issues affecting their own lives.

The session opened with members of both parties and both chambers joining to honor Speaker Emerita Rep. Melissa Hortman, whose murder left an irreparable mark on the Capitol, and Sen. John Hoffman, who survived the attack and took part in the tribute. Amid escalating attacks on immigrant communities through Operation Metro Surge, the absence of a clear majority, and widespread concerns about fraud and safety, the divided legislature began the session with little optimism and few clear paths forward.

Sparked by the July attacks on legislators and the fall Annunciation School shooting, gun violence prevention advocates mobilized to advance a coordinated set of policy priorities, with renewed urgency. Legislators also advanced bipartisan legislation at the intersection of domestic violence and firearms, some informed by recommendations from the State’s Task Force on Domestic Violence and Firearm Surrender. Backed by safety advocates, including Violence Free Minnesota, this legislation represented one of the few areas of progress in gun violence prevention this session.

WFM played a key role in coalitions that successfully defended critical policies from repeal, while standing alongside partners who were meeting urgent community needs through Operation Metro Surge and beyond. In every session, wins are more expansive than just the passage of bills. In long-term efforts to create systems change, holding the line, showing up consistently, and continuing to affirm these priorities to decision-makers is itself a powerful and necessary form of progress that we can build upon. These relationships define the long arc toward changing laws and narratives to build power with people most impacted and fund steps toward gender and racial equity and justice in Minnesota.

We submitted multiple letters of support, individually and in coalition, attended 10 Day at the Capitol events, lobbying days, and rallies. We met with legislators one on one, shared our Status of Women & Girls report in every appearance, and distributed $60,000 grants for nonprofit advocates who then connected with our Cabinets.

Progress this Session

In all, more than 5,000 bills were introduced in the last year. About 124 bills made it to the Governor. The Women’s Foundation advocated for our policy agenda and more than 20 bills in all, and our statewide and Mankato Young Women’s Cabinets advocated for dozens more. Of the policies we supported, notable victories include:

• $12 million in one-time funding for Crime Victims’ Services, which will offset a federal funding cut, and help keep shelter doors open, crisis lines available, and advocates employed.
• Strengthened and standardized MN’s firearm surrender laws in domestic violence cases to keep guns out of the hands of abusers
• Domestic violence response improvements
• $5 million in one-time funding for food shelves above the allocation and $5 million in one-time funding for food banks
• Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld lower court’s decision in Female Athletes United v. Ellison, upholding a trans-inclusive high school sports policy

Defending Against Attacks

Protecting the progress of the legislation we support requires ongoing vigilance. This session showed us that investing in advocacy means ensuring that hard-won victories are not weakened or repealed.

We successfully opposed multiple bills attempting to repeal or weaken legislation, which is a testament to the power of collective advocacy and public engagement. Among these were proposals aimed at delaying or diminishing the benefits of paid leave, health standards and ethnic studies education requirements, menstrual equity legislation, reduction of the sexual and reproductive health services grant, and repeal of conversion therapy ban.

We came together with powerful coalitions for public safety, the Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment, and UnRestrict Minnesota‘s Reproductive Freedom Lobby Day, and we attended rallies to support advocates leading on the ground.

Education & Engagement

Gender and racial inequities persist, and community partners continue leading to keep Minnesotans healthy, safe, and well. Facing a divided session, WFM focused our efforts on education, community building, and raising awareness about the data and lived realities of women, girls, and communities in Minnesota. During the session, we were at the Capitol nearly every day, testifying and supporting partners to amplify the voices of communities most impacted by disparities. To support public engagement in the issues affecting our lives and the communities we care about, WFM released our comprehensive research about the issues, amplified the voices of coalition partners, and created an Advocate Toolkit for supporters to reach elected officials and amplify our policy agenda on social media.

In March, we celebrated community power with an energizing Day at the Capitol in the Rotunda, led by our Young Women’s Cabinet to advocate for policies and funding that will bring us closer to gender and racial justice in Minnesota. Young leaders from our Statewide Cabinet, Mankato Cabinet, and Innovators are using their voices and energy to carry forward the work of change.

Your Support Matters

Many thanks to all our partners in advocacy and to every supporter for using your voice this session. Your presence at the rallies for the ERA, UnRestrict, crime victims and survivors, Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives, Missing & Murdered Black Women & Girls, and your calls to legislators matters. The work continues, and it takes all of us, working together. Next session will be a budgeting year, and we look forward to sharing more opportunities to advocate alongside WFM and our policy partners. There is more to accomplish in sessions ahead.

We will continue to push for progress for the chance to vote on the Equal Rights Amendment, ongoing funding for crime victim’s services, safety and maternal mental health. And we’ll keep defending progress from rollbacks.

In the meantime, we will continue to share our research and show up with and for communities to make progress for Minnesota women, girls, and gender-expansive people. 

We plan to share occasional updates outside of session to highlight continued opportunities to act and advocate for gender and racial justice. If you are interested in advocating with us, sign up for our Policy Updates.