The 2026 Minnesota state legislature adjourned on May 18, marking the close of a challenging but productive session – one that resulted in meaningful progress despite several unfinished priorities.
Lawmakers at the Capitol this year were forced to juggle a huge number of high-priority issues related to housing security, food access and other key community needs, in a highly polarized political landscape with significant fiscal uncertainty on the horizon.
Even in this partisan climate, we were encouraged by one-time funding to keep Hennepin County Medical Center financially stable – preserving a cornerstone of our region’s healthcare system – and $165 million in new housing investments to support affordable housing and prevent homelessness.
Of the issues our team supported this year, we also saw targeted investments and policy shifts in education, including $12 million for school-linked mental health programs and updates to higher education work-study policies improving access for part-time students.
Not all of our policy priorities advanced this year. Proposals to support communities impacted by Operation Metro Surge – such as emergency rental assistance for tenants and funding to cities to support business recovery – did not make it to the finish line. The Foster Care Bill of Rights, supported by our coalition partners, also stalled.
Despite the important work that remains to be done, I’m proud of how United Way showed up this session – making new in-roads with lawmakers and demonstrating our strong commitment to the issues that matter most to our region.
In 2026, one of our top policy goals was securing statewide funding for 211 – the essential connection point that helps more than a hundred thousand Minnesotans access community resources every year.
Our increased call volumes during Operation Metro Surge only reinforced the importance of this life-saving service. At the height of Metro Surge, calls to our Spanish-language helpline increased by 1600%, while requests for food increased by 197% and rent assistance requests surged by 236%.
State investment in 211 would reduce call wait-times, enable extensive follow-up with callers and strengthen outreach and awareness efforts across the state.
This year marked a milestone: our first-ever Senate hearing for 211, made possible by the support of Senator John Hoffman. Alongside my colleague Kendra Morales, an assistant manager with our 211 contact center, we testified before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee about the life-changing impact 211 has on Minnesotans across the state.
We were encouraged by strong interest from lawmakers in using 211 data to better understand community needs, as well as seeing our recommendations reflected in proposals related to emergency rental assistance and other critical areas of support.
While our state’s investment in 211 did not pass this session, the progress we made strengthens our momentum. Planning for 2027 is already underway, including a first-ever 211 Day on the Hill. (Save the date for February 11, 2027!)
Our team is also partnering with United Way Worldwide to share information and collaborate on federal policies to support 211. Last month, my colleague Ivette Izea-Martinez represented Minnesota at the United Way Advocacy Forum in Washington, DC – which also marked the introduction of the HELP Act, providing federal support for 211.
As these state and federal partnerships begin to take shape, stay tuned for more opportunities to support 211 legislation.
For more than 20 years, Greater Twin Cities United Way has partnered with early childcare providers and advocates to organize Advocacy for Children Day, bringing the community together to urge lawmakers to support Minnesota’s young children and families.
This year, planning for the event occurred at the height of Operation Metro Surge, requiring a different approach to ensure the safety of our attendees. Despite these challenges, we also knew – in light of the disruption that was reverberating through our childcare system – that our message was more important than ever.
Unlike past years, when we filled the Capitol rotunda with children and families, this year we made the difficult decision to limit attendance to adults. While we deeply missed including our youngest learners, the event proved powerful in new ways. Participants shared that the adult-focused setting allowed for deeper conversations and more intentional engagement, including time spent writing letters to lawmakers. (Our attendees ultimately sent more than 50 letters to lawmakers.)
Next year, we will be looking at new ways to build on this year’s successes – welcoming children back to the Capitol in ways that are meaningful and developmentally appropriate, while continuing to expand opportunities for adults to advocate together.
If you’ve spoken with me in person or read one of my previous articles on advocacy, you already know advocacy is a slow-moving, relationship-driven process.
I began this role in early 2024 during a transition period for our advocacy team. My first priority was rebuilding the team, which we completed just before the 2025 legislative session. While I’m proud of the work our team accomplished in that time, we knew that alignment and collaboration with our partners would accelerate the pace and momentum of our efforts.
This year marked the first time our team functioned at full capacity. As a result, we showed up for our partners in new ways – including testifying on behalf of their priority policies. Supporting our nonprofit community at the Capitol requires extensive coordination, and this year we accomplished more than ever before. I was especially heartened by the testimony of my colleague, Pathways Home program officer Nicque Mabrey, on behalf of the Foster Care Bill of Rights.
That coordination also grew internally across Greater Twin Cities United Way. While our advocacy team guides strategy, every staff member can play a role. Through improved communications and learning opportunities, United Way staff gained a clearer understanding of how advocacy advances our regional vision. Our staff were more engaged than ever this year, with many attending one or more advocacy events at the Capitol.
Lasting change begins with relationships. Building them is slow and often unglamorous, but it remains our foundation. Regardless of political shifts, those relationships will continue to anchor our work.
As I’ve mentioned, our team is already building our strategy for the 2027 legislative session. As a biennial budget year, 2027 will mean more opportunities to advance new policies and investments – despite a budget forecast that remains uncertain and challenging. We’re also partnering with our United Way 211 colleagues to develop tools that make 211 data more accessible to policymakers. (We’ll have more to say about this topic very soon, so stay tuned.)
At the same time, our team isn’t waiting for January 2027 to continue our momentum. With this fall’s midterm elections approaching, voters will be asked to decide a number of key congressional races, as well as all of our state’s legislative and constitutional offices. Our team is preparing to support a smooth, inclusive process – while acknowledging the potential for disruption and uncertainty. United Way will work with our partners to share information and ensure all of our neighbors can participate in the process as voters, volunteers and advocates.
This fall’s election will turn the page on the last two years of our state government – in ways that are likely to inspire mixed feelings, regardless of your political outlook. But regardless of who sits in the halls of power come January, our team will keep showing up, bridging divides and advocating for our communities.
If you’ve already been a part of this work – thank you. If not, now is the time to get involved. Positive, lasting change is possible. Help us make it inevitable.
