The Minnesota Legislature, like all state legislatures, has the responsibility and authority to enact laws, shape policies and rulemaking, and unlock funding to influence mental health care. With Minnesota currently ranking 28th in the nation when it comes to the prevalence of mental illness and rates of access to care, according to Mental Health America, it’s important to understand why the Legislature’s work matters to our work and what we can do to improve mental health care services and access. Let’s look at five marquee mental health programs and how they’re connected to the work of the Minnesota Legislature: