By Danielle Matthias, Director of Policy and Advocacy | April 06, 2026

Last year, together, we passed the Larry R. Hill Medical Reform Act — a critical step to ensure people in Minnesota jails receive the medications they need to survive. 

And almost immediately, that progress came under attack. 

The latest: HF 4282 — a bill that, in its original form, would have rolled back protections and opened the door for people to once again be denied life-sustaining care. 

So we took action. And you showed up. 

Because of strong community engagement, MFF and our partners worked alongside stakeholders to secure key changes to HF 4282 that strengthen protections for people held pretrial. The amended bill is now headed to the Public Safety Committee. 

That is people power in action. 

But the stakes are still real — and urgent. 

Just last week, Court Watch volunteers documented a case in Hennepin County where a woman was held in custody without access to her epilepsy medication. She received it only the night before her hearing — after experiencing a seizure. 

“I’m worried about what will become of some defendants I saw,” one volunteer shared. 
“Will the woman with epilepsy get the medical care she needs? I’ll remember this for a long time.” 

This is exactly what we’re fighting to change. 

Wins like this matter. Pressure works. And it only happens because people like you refuse to stay silent. 

To our Court Watch volunteers: thank you for showing up, documenting the truth, and holding the system accountable. 

To everyone who took action: thank you for turning collective pressure into real change. 

We’re not done.  

To learn more about how to volunteer with our Court Watch program, click here.