History
2023 - 2024
The Minnesota End-of-Life Options Act (SF1813 /HF1930) was introduced on March 2, 2023 by Rep. Mike Freiberg and Sen. Dr. Kelly Morrison. On January 25, 2024, HF 1930 was heard in the House Health Finance and Policy Committee and passed on a vote of 10 to 5 after many hours of debate. More than 80 individuals testified, including 58 who shared why they supported the bill and urged lawmakers to vote yes. This was the first time the End-of-Life Options Act has ever received a vote in committee.
During February and March of 2024, HF 1930 advanced rapidly in the MN House of Representatives, passing easily out of the House Public Safety Committee, the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee, and the House Commerce Committee. The End-of-Life Options Act would have been brought to the House Floor for a vote, but for the fact that SF 1813 had stalled in the MN Senate.
2021 - 2022
The Minnesota End-of-Life Options Act (SF1352/HF1358) was introduced by Sen. Chris Eaton and Rep. Mike Freiberg. The bill did not receive a hearing in either chamber.
2020
In November, Compassion & Choices hosted a webinar about advance care planning and hospice use among African Americans. The event included State Representative Rena Moran, who chairs the Health & Human Services Committee, along with two members of Compassion & Choices African American Leadership Council: Rev. Charles McNeill, Jr. of Unity Baptist Church and Missy Moore, a nurse and healthcare executive.
In December, with the help of an amazing host committee of volunteer advocates,
we held our first-ever live virtual fundraiser, with remarks from Compassion & Choices CEO Kim Callinan, former Governor Arne Carlson and lobbyist Richard Carlbom, who has organized some of the most powerful grassroots campaigns in the history of the state.
2019
On September 11, 2019, the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee held and informational hearing on the Minnesota End-of-Life Option Act. Supporters came out in a major way, with over 120 people donning our signature yellow sitting in the hearing room.
On March 7, 2019, the End-of-Life Option Act,
House File 2152, was introduced by Rep. Mike Freiberg. If passed, the bill would have authorized medical aid in dying in Minnesota, however, the legislative session adjourned on May 20, 2019.
2017-2018
The Minnesota End-of-Life Option Act (HF 1885) was introduced in the 2017-2018 biennium legislative session by Sen.Chris Eaton (DFL– chief author) and Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL – chief author). It was referred to the Health and Human Services Reform Committee.
Sen. Eaton and Rep. Mike Freiberg introduced the End-of-Life Option Act for 2017 (
SF 1572,
HF 1885) on March 1, 2017. Unfortunately, the bill was not heard during the 2017 legislative session.
2016
Minnesota’s Compassionate Care Act, modeled after Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act, was heard in the Senate Health, Human Services & Housing Committee on March 16, 2016. After extensive testimony, including from Brittany Maynard’s husband, Dan Diaz, who traveled from California, the bill was withdrawn for this year. Senate author Sen. Chris Eaton pledged to reintroduce the legislation in 2017 and to continue educating the public and elected officials across the state about the need for the law.
