[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today sent a letter to legislative leaders urging them to hold a conference committee to settle differences between the House and Senate’s current insulin proposals. The Governor said in the letter that he will call a special session as soon as the House and Senate agree on a solution to address the skyrocketing price of insulin in Minnesota.

“The price of insulin has tripled in the last ten years—leaving many Minnesotans with diabetes scrambling to afford the drug they need to survive,” Governor Walz said. “I am encouraged that the House and Senate have both put forward proposals. But there isn’t another moment to waste. I urge legislative leaders to come to the table, work out differences, and send a bill to my desk that holds pharmaceutical companies accountable and prevents more needless deaths.”

The text of the Governor’s letter is available below.

Speaker Hortman and Majority Leader Gazelka,

As you know, since the end of the 2019 Legislative Session, a bi-cameral group of legislators have been working on an emergency insulin bill. Even as recent as last week, both the House and Senate held hearings on their respective proposals. It seems from this recent legislative activity that we all agree this is an issue that demands immediate action to prevent the needless loss of life for those living with diabetes.

I am encouraged by the recent hearings at the legislature and am hopeful that the House and Senate can come to agreement and send me a bill that I can sign.

I urge the House and Senate to begin meeting in conference committee as soon as possible to work out the differences in their proposals. This conference committee should be open to the public and include the voices of those most affected by the high cost of insulin, people with diabetes, their families, and their health care providers. My commissioners and staff are ready to assist to ensure that the final proposal is something that my departments can implement, and I can support. 

As soon as the House and Senate find a solution, we can all agree on, I will call a special session limited to addressing emergency health care issues. I look forward to seeing a final proposal that will make a meaningful change in the lives of Minnesotans that I can sign into law.

Sincerely,

Tim Walz
Governor