Overview
- The Minnesota Building Families Act would require private and public health plans to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF and standard fertility preservation, with patient cost-sharing capped at maternity levels and a religious-employer exemption.
- Coverage details in the bill include unlimited embryo transfers, a possible cap of four completed oocyte retrievals, single-embryo transfer when medically appropriate, and no requirement to cover surgical reversal of elective sterilization.
- The measure has bipartisan Senate backing with DFL Sen. Erin Maye Quade as chief author joined by Republicans Julia Coleman and Zach Duckworth and DFL Sen. Alice Mann, with similar support reported in the House.
- A legislative fiscal note estimates a $1.7 million state cost in the first year, and research on other states’ mandates indicates premium increases of about 1% or less.
- Some Republicans and groups such as the Minnesota Catholic Conference warned the scope could be read to include commercial surrogacy, while the sponsor said surrogacy itself is not covered, and the bill’s requirements could apply retroactively to Jan. 1, 2026 or upon federal approval once enacted.