2026 Minnesota State Legislative Priorities

In 2026, nearly 40,000 Minnesotans will hear the words ‘you have cancer.’ The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is committed to making sure all Minnesotans have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer. Addressing the burden of cancer in Minnesota requires public policies that promote cancer prevention, early detection, and expand access to quality, affordable health care. Lawmakers make many decisions that impact the lives of Minnesotans impacted by cancer and their leadership is vital to defeating this disease.

In 2026, ACS CAN will work with the Minnesota state legislature on the following priorities:

Ensuring Access to Quality Care

• Affordable, Adequate Health Insurance: ACS CAN will advocate to ensure access to quality, affordable and comprehensive health insurance, including preserving Medical Assistance and continuing the state’s reinsurance program.
• Patient Navigation: ACS CAN will advocate for legislation and policies to increase access to patient navigation, prioritizing policies that create sustainable funding to ensure patient access to navigation services across the cancer continuum.

Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

• Funding for Cancer Screenings: ACS CAN will advocate to maintain funding for the Sage Screening Program, the state breast and cervical cancer screening program for low-income uninsured and underinsured Minnesotans administered by the Minnesota Department of Health. We also support new state funding for colorectal cancer screening programs.
• Access to Cancer Screenings: ACS CAN will work to preserve access to no-cost cancer screenings for colorectal, breast, cervical, lung, and prostate cancer, including the follow-up testing required, where appropriate.

Reducing the Toll of Commercial Tobacco

• Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Cessation: ACS CAN will advocate to maintain current funding for the commercial tobacco prevention and cessation program.
• End the Sale of Menthol and All Other Flavored Tobacco Products: ACS CAN supports legislation to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and all other flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, flavored cigars, hookah, nicotine pouches and other smokeless tobacco products.
• Commercial Tobacco Product Regulation: ACS CAN advocates for all commercial tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and other smokeless tobacco products, to be regulated in the same manner and taxed at parallel rates.