Text of MN SF 5017 (2026)

1.1 A bill for an act​ 1.2 relating to health; repealing prohibition on conversion therapy with minors and​ 1.3 vulnerable adults; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625,​ 1.4 subdivision 5n; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 214.078.​ 1.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:​ 1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.0625, subdivision 5n, is amended to​ 1.7 read:​ 1.8 Subd. 5n. Conversion therapy. Medical assistance does not cover conversion therapy​ 1.9 as defined in section 214.078, subdivision 1. "Conversion therapy" means any practice by​ 1.10 a mental health practitioner as defined in section 245I.02, subdivision 26, or mental health​ 1.11 professional as defined in section 245I.02, subdivision 27, that seeks to change an individual's​ 1.12 sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender​ 1.13 expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward​ 1.14 individuals of the same gender. Conversion therapy does not include counseling, practice,​ 1.15 or treatment that provides assistance to an individual undergoing gender transition, or​ 1.16 counseling, practice, or treatment that provides acceptance, support, and understanding of​ 1.17 an individual or facilitates an individual's coping, social support, and identity exploration​ 1.18 and development, including sexual-orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address​ 1.19 unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, as long as the counseling, practice, or treatment​ 1.20 does not seek to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity.​ 1.21 Sec. 2. REPEALER.​ 1.22 Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 214.078, is repealed.​ 1​ Sec. 2.​ 26-05823 as introduced​ 09/15/25 REVISOR AGW/MI​ SENATE​ STATE OF MINNESOTA​ S.F. No. 5017​ NINETY-FOURTH SESSION​ (SENATE AUTHORS: WESENBERG, Lieske, Holmstrom and Mathews)​ OFFICIAL STATUS​ D-PG​ DATE​ Introduction and first reading​ 04/09/2026​ Referred to Health and Human Services​ 214.078 PROTECTION FROM CONVERSION THERAPY.​ Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) "Client" for purposes of this section means a person requesting​ or receiving services from a mental health practitioner or mental health professional within the​ context of a relationship that a reasonable person would construe as a professional relationship. A​ client may include a child, adolescent, adult, couple, family, group, organization, community, or​ other entity.​ (b) "Conversion therapy" means any practice by a mental health practitioner as defined in section​ 245I.02, subdivision 26, or mental health professional as defined in section 245I.02, subdivision​ 27, that seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to​ change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or​ feelings toward individuals of the same gender. Conversion therapy does not include counseling,​ practice, or treatment that provides assistance to an individual undergoing gender transition, or​ counseling, practice, or treatment that provides acceptance, support, and understanding of an​ individual or facilitates an individual's coping, social support, and identity exploration and​ development, including sexual-orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful​ conduct or unsafe sexual practices, as long as the counseling, practice, or treatment does not seek​ to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity.​ Subd. 2. Prohibition. (a) No mental health practitioner or mental health professional shall​ engage in conversion therapy with a client younger than 18 years of age or with a client who is a​ vulnerable adult as defined in section 626.5572, subdivision 21.​ (b) Conversion therapy attempted by a mental health practitioner or mental health professional​ with a client younger than 18 years of age or with a client who is a vulnerable adult shall be​ considered unprofessional conduct that may subject the mental health practitioner or mental health​ professional to disciplinary action by the licensing board of the mental health practitioner or mental​ health professional.​ 1R​ APPENDIX​ Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 26-05823​