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Bill Summary · SF 5017

Summary of SF 5017 (2025-2026) – Minnesota

Purpose and main intent

  • The bill seeks to repeal a prohibition on conversion therapy with minors and vulnerable adults, effectively restoring or reintroducing coverage for conversion therapy practices that aim to change sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • It repeals existing statutes that previously banned such practices and removes references to prohibition language.

Key provisions and changes

Section 1. Changes to medical assistance coverage

  • Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, subdivision 5n, to redefine the scope of “conversion therapy” for medical assistance purposes.
  • Conversion therapy, as defined, would no longer be prohibited in the context of medical assistance coverage. Specifically:
    • The term remains defined as practices by a licensed mental health practitioner or mental health professional that seek to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity (including attempts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce attractions to the same sex).
    • Counseling, practice, or treatment that supports gender transition, or that provides acceptance, support, and understanding, or that facilitates coping, social support, and identity exploration (including neutral, non-change-focused interventions) would be excluded from the prohibition so long as the services do not seek to change sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • Practical effect: Medical assistance programs could cover or permit services that aim to change or influence sexual orientation or gender identity, subject to the updated definition and exclusions.

Section 2. Repeal of current statute

  • Repeals Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 214.078, titled “Protection from Conversion Therapy.”
  • The repealed provision previously:
    • Defined “conversion therapy” and prohibited mental health practitioners/professionals from engaging in such therapy with clients under 18 or with vulnerable adults.
    • Classified attempts at conversion therapy as unprofessional conduct, potentially triggering disciplinary action.
  • Repeal eliminates these prohibitions and disciplinary framework.

Affected parties and entities

  • Mental health practitioners and mental health professionals licensed or regulated under Minnesota law.
  • Clients, including minors and vulnerable adults, who would have previously been protected from conversion therapy under the repealed statute.
  • Minnesota Department of Health/licensing boards responsible for professional discipline and regulation of mental health practitioners.
  • Individuals who rely on or seek services from medical assistance programs that could cover conversion therapy under the revised definition.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Introduced and referred to the Health and Human Services committee on April 9, 2026; amended to add co-sponsor on April 13, 2026.
  • No specific effective date is provided in the excerpt; typically, after passage, implementation would depend on appropriation timing, rulemaking, and potential transition provisions (not shown here).
  • The bill explicitly repeals a section of existing statute (214.078) and amends 256B.0625, affecting how conversion therapy is treated within Medical Assistance.

Observations and context

  • The bill represents a shift away from protections against conversion therapy by removing the explicit prohibition and disciplinary consequences and allowing coverage or provision of such therapies under medical assistance, subject to its broad definitions.
  • The language preserves certain counseling practices that support gender transition or non-identity-changing, provided they do not aim to change sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • As a repeal bill, it would remove existing statutory prohibitions and oversight related to conversion therapy, potentially increasing the scope of permissible or reimbursable practices within state-funded services.

If you’d like, I can add a quick side-by-side comparison with the current law (214.078 and 256B.0625, subdivision 5n) or outline potential policy implications and considerations for stakeholders.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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