Legislative Session Starts; MMA to Focus on 5 Major Issues

February 19, 2026

State lawmakers returned to St. Paul on February 17 for the second half of the 2025-2026 biennium. 

“This session has a different tone,” said Chad Fahning, MPP, the MMA’s senior manager of lobbying and legislative affairs. “Since the end of last session, we’ve seen a federal government cut billions in state Medicaid funding, outbreaks of preventable diseases across the country, a school shooting in Minneapolis, two Minnesotans killed by federal immigration enforcement, and the assassination of a state lawmaker.” 

The MMA’s legislative priorities reflect current events and include: 

1. Supporting efforts to minimize the impact of federal Medicaid changes and preserve coverage for Minnesotans. 

2. Repealing the personal belief exemption for school and child-care facility immunization requirements. 

3. Supporting evidence-based firearm safety laws. 

4. Ensuring clinician involvement in prior authorization denials. 

5. Expanding current confidentiality protections for participation in a “wellness program” to include other healthcare professionals. 

In addition to these priorities, the MMA intends to weigh in on 1) legislation determining the scope of practice of healthcare providers; 2) limiting federal law enforcement access to hospitals and clinics; and 3) regulating the corporate practice of medicine to ensure medical decisions are made by physicians. 

Tight partisan margins may limit what passes this year. DFL lawmakers hold a narrow one-vote majority in the Minnesota Senate, while the House is split evenly with 67 DFL lawmakers and 67 Republicans. 

“Anything that passes will need to have bipartisan support,” says Natalie Schmidt-Larkin, MPH, MMA’s manager of legislative affairs. “The narrow margins, paired with a long-term budget deficit, suggest that little will likely pass this year.”  

In December, state budget leaders announced a current $2.5 billion budget surplus, but warned of a long-term $3 billion projected deficit, citing economic uncertainty and changes to federal funding support. 

The session is slated to run through May 17. Physicians’ Day at the Capitol is scheduled for March 4. 

“Though expectations for this session are comparatively low, we need physicians at the Capitol to advocate for policies that directly impact their practice and the health of their patients,” Fahning said. “Especially ahead of an election year where all 201 legislative seats are up for re-election, physicians have the opportunity to determine what issues influence the outcome of the election. Now more than ever, we need physicians to get off the sidelines and into the game.” 

To register for Physicians’ Day at the Capitol, click here.