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It's up in the air whether Minnesota lawmakers will restart debate on end-of-life reforms.

Alongside policy efforts, the women leading the charge for these laws are being recognized this Women's History Month. Advocacy organization Compassion and Choices hopes more people take notice of the female figures who have educated the public about this topic. End-of-life laws often allow someone with a terminal diagnosis to request lethal medication, so long as certain requirements are met.

Callie Riley, regional advocacy director for the organization, said that in her experience, so many of their storytellers, volunteers and advocates are women. 

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"Many of them are brought to this work by their loved ones," she said, "friends, family, folks that they have cared for who have had end-of-life experiences that didn't meet their needs."

More than a dozen states have adopted these laws and several more have proposals on the table. Minnesota's current bill was held over from last session. According to the legislative calendar, it hasn't received a hearing yet in 2026.

Supporters have said these reforms give people nearing death peace of mind, knowing they have the option. Opponents have warned of a lower standard of care for patients.

Riley noted that women elsewhere in the Midwest have helped lead successful policy pushes, pointing to the work of advocates in Illinois. That state is preparing to implement a medical aid-in-dying law, and Riley said she sees similar passion in Minnesota.

"We have teams in many cities engaging different kinds of communities, and an intense amount of grassroots support," she said. "I will also note the three leaders of our volunteer movement in Minnesota are all women."

Riley said this form of activism can also be traced back to the early stages of the HIV epidemic. She explained that alternative-care networks, often led by women, developed because people living with HIV and AIDS didn't receive adequate care from the traditional medical system.