MN Mental Health Legislative Network Blue Book
Read our 2026 Legislative Priorities
Advocate for suicide prevention
SAVE engages in advocacy to drive social and systemic change, raise awareness, fulfill our mission, and serve as a voice for those impacted by suicide at state and national levels.
Advocacy and Policy Priorities
SAVE is dedicated to creating positive change in our communities through strategic advocacy efforts. Through collaboration, education, and action, we work tirelessly to address pressing issues and advocate for policies that help reduce risk of suicide and suicidal experiences.
Lethal Means Safety
Creating time and space between a person in crisis and highly lethal methods is one of the most effective ways to prevent suicide. SAVE supports evidence-based policies and education that promote the safe and voluntary storage of firearms and medications, increase awareness of lethal means safety, and encourage conversations that help individuals and families reduce access to lethal means during periods of elevated risk.
Policy Priorities
- Expansion of the Kayla’s HOPE Act: The effort collaborates with public and private partners to strategize, fund and install physical suicide deterrents in high-risk locations. Structural barriers can significantly decrease suicide deaths at a site as they interrupt plans to attempt suicide and allow more time for emergency responders to intervene.
- Coalition for Suicide Prevention in Public Infrastructure (CSPPI): A national coalition led by suicide loss survivors and family members who lost loved ones to suicide from tall public structures. Learn more about CSPPI.
- Safe storage and disposal: We support legislation requiring safe storage and disposal of firearms, medications, and other lethal means to prevent impulsive acts of self-harm. We also distribute free cable gun locks so families and communities can safeguard their firearms before a crisis.
- Training and education: We support providing training and resources to healthcare providers and community members on identifying warning signs and implementing lethal means safety measures.
- Gun safety training: We support including suicide prevention and secure firearm storage education within hunter safety and conceal and carry certification.
- Firearm policy reform: We work with legislators to enact common-sense gun safety laws and policies that protect people at risk of suicide.
Federal legislation
HR 3505 – Barriers to Suicide Act
Overview: The Barriers to Suicide Act directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program to facilitate the research and installation of evidence-based suicide deterrents, including suicide prevention nets and barriers, and for other purposes, where appropriate. The bill marks a policy shift to consider suicide barriers in the construction and renovations of infrastructure rather than in response to a tragedy.
Minnesota legislation
PASSED SF 2971 – “Kayla’s HOPE Act”
Overview: The bill requires the Commissioner of Transportation to study, develop, and implement suicide prevention methods for construction of new bridges and the renovation of current structures. The bill is similar to the federal Barriers to Suicide Act and gives Minnesota the opportunity to lead on this area of policy.
Access to health care and mental health treatment
Access to quality healthcare and treatment is a fundamental right. Yet, millions of people face barriers to accessing the care they need. We advocate for policies that expand access to healthcare and remove obstacles to treatment. Our efforts include:
- Healthcare equity: We support policies that ensure equitable access to healthcare services, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or geography.
- Mental health parity: We advocate for laws that ensure mental health services are covered by insurance providers on par with physical health services.
- Community health initiatives: We collaborate with healthcare providers and community organizations to increase access to preventative care and mental health services in underserved communities.
Minnesota legislation
SAVE is a part of the Minnesota Mental Health Legislative Network. Read the 2026 legislative issues and priorities in the document below.
Safe Use of Social Media and AI
As technology rapidly shapes how young people connect, learn, and seek information, SAVE supports policies that promote the safe and responsible use of social media and artificial intelligence. Educating youth, parents, and educators about digital well-being, cyberbullying, online exploitation, and harmful suicide-related content helps reduce risk while fostering healthy online environments that support mental wellness and help-seeking. We advocate for policies that promote responsible social media usage and provide support for people struggling with mental health issues. Our initiatives include:
- Education and awareness: We campaign to raise awareness about the link between social media usage and mental health, and provide support for those affected.
- Regulation and oversight: We push for regulatory measures to ensure that social media platforms prioritize user well-being and implement safeguards against harmful content.
Federal legislation
S. 1748 – Kids Online Safety Act
Overview: This bill requires covered online platforms, including social media platforms, to implement tools and safeguards to protect users and visitors under the age of 17. Covered platforms are online platforms, video games, messaging applications, or video streaming services used or likely to be used by individuals under the age of 17, with specified exceptions. The bill generally requires covered platforms to exercise reasonable care in the design and use of features that increase minors’ online activity in order to prevent and mitigate harm to minors (e.g., mental health disorders and severe harassment).
Covered platforms must also provide:
- Certain safeguards to minors, such as protections for minors’ data
- Tools for parents of minors, such as access to minors’ privacy settings
- A mechanism for account holders and visitors to report harm to minors on the platform
Covered platforms are prohibited from conducting market or product research on children under the age of 13, and may only conduct such research on those under the age of 17 with parental consent.
The bill provides for enforcement through the Federal Trade Commission and states.
The bill also requires online platforms to meet certain requirements before using algorithms that select, order, or prioritize information presented to users based on user-specific data not provided for that purpose. Specifically, such platforms must (1) provide users with notice of the use of such algorithms, and (2) permit users to switch to an algorithm that does not rely on such user-specific data.
State legislation
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