Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act into law Wednesday to establish an emergency insulin program for struggling Minnesotans. Walz, who spent months advocating for and negotiating this bill, said that “[d]espite resistance from the pharmaceutical industry, the grit and determination of Minnesotans […] moved this bill forward.”
Walz’s virtual signing ceremony came the day after the Insulin Affordability Act was passed in the Minnesota House of Representatives by a vote of 111-22 followed by the Senate vote of 67-0. In 2019, an early version of the act was nearly passed, but ultimately failed due to opposition from the pharmaceutical industry and disputes over cost. Accordingly, the current bill is the result of weeks of negotiations between Senate Republicans and House Democrats.
