The Final Push: Modernizing Minnesota’s Athletic Trainers Practice Act

In my previous blog, I wrote about building relationships and connecting with elected officials. In this blog, I will tie those pieces together and share how years of persistence helped move the Minnesota Athletic Trainers Practice Act update across the finish line. 

This final stretch showed that legislative wins are rarely about one meeting or one vote. They are built through years of relationship-building, timely follow-up, and showing up when the opportunity finally appears. 

Over 20 years ago, we started working to update the Minnesota Athletic Trainers Practice Act, which originally went into effect in 1993. 

October 14th 2025: 

At our October 2025 Governmental Affairs Committee meeting, we identified several legislators who needed focused outreach. One of them was the Co-Chair of the House Health Finance and Policy Committee. I had gotten to know him over the years because he had represented me for several terms, although redistricting had since changed that. I reached out to organize a meet-and-greet fundraiser in his district for mid-November. We sent invitations and secured a location. 

November 19th 2025: 

When we arrived at the location, it was closed. Fortunately, we were early, which is a rarity for me. With the Co-Chair of the Health Committee flying in to meet us and more than 20 people driving from multiple directions, we had to pivot quickly. We found a new location a couple miles away and notified everyone. I am confident the Co-Chair was surprised by our turnout: more than 20 people, including eight college students who wanted to become athletic trainers. I also think he appreciated the campaign contributions. He was very engaged and spent more than an hour asking questions of everyone in attendance. He wanted a better understanding of what we were trying to update and why modernizing the wording mattered. 

From the fundraiser forward, I stayed in regular contact with the Co-Chair through in-person conversations, phone calls, text messages, and emails until we crossed the finish line. 

January 13th 2026: 

The first day of the legislative session arrived. Going into the 2026 Minnesota legislative session, we felt we finally had a chance if we could secure a committee hearing during the short session. 

February 24th 2026: 

This was our annual Hit the Hill Day. I had meetings with my Senator and Representative along with connecting with the Co-Chair of the Health Finance Policy Committee.  I also sat in with a couple college students on their first meetings with elected officials. 

March 11th 2026: 

The legislative process can feel like a stressful cycle of hurry up and wait. At the end of the first week in March, we found out we were getting a House hearing on March 11. The next day, we learned we were also getting a Senate hearing on March 11. That almost never happens: being heard in both chambers on the same day. For those of us who live a couple hours from the Capitol, it was greatly appreciated. I headed back to the Capitol after sending multiple communications to elected officials on the committees. Our large contingent of supporters and testifiers was rewarded when the Practice Act Update passed through both committees with minimal opposition. Next stop: the Senate and House floors for full votes in each chamber. 

May 5th 2026: 

The Practice Act Update was included in an omnibus bill in the Senate and passed without much issue. That triggered another step in the process because the House hears each bill individually, which meant the House and Senate versions had to go to conference committee for reconciliation before the bill could go to the governor. 

May 6th 2026: 

We started the day thinking we were second on the docket for the full House. Somehow, a couple other bills moved ahead of us, so we ended up fourth or fifth. The legislative session was contentious this year, so there was a lot of debate. I started watching the session on YouTube at work, then went home and picked up my wife so we could drive 3 ½ hours to my son’s house. After we arrived, our Practice Act Update finally made it to the floor. A short five minutes later, the update passed 129-5. 

May 15th 2026: 

The Senate and House conference committee process went smoothly because the bills mirrored each other, and then it was off to the governor’s desk. 

May 28th 2026: 

We found out our Practice Act Update had been signed into law and would go into effect on August 1, 2026. 

What a year, and what a journey across more than two decades. In the end, this effort proved that simple conversations, steady persistence, and genuine relationships can pay dividends when it matters most.