We wanted to share key updates with you on three legislative matters that have been progressing at our state Capitol this week. It is a privilege to fight for your values in public policy every day during legislative session.
The “Equal Rights Amendment”
The so-called "Equal Rights Amendment" is a proposed state constitutional amendment which the state legislature debates passing year after year. In Minnesota, constitutional amendments must pass on a majority vote in both the State House of Representatives and the State Senate before the state voters determine in a General Election whether to add the language to the state constitution.
Different versions have passed the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota Senate, disqualifying the proposed amendment from fully passing the legislature before voters determine whether to add it to the state constitution. Identical legislation must pass both chambers.
The ERA has existed in the United States since the 1970s, but the language of the amendment has changed over time. Minnesota's 2025 ERA proposal includes constitutional protection for abortion and so-called "gender identity or gender expression," better known as the right of "self-identification." The language of this ERA does not include any protection for religious freedom, clearly showing the priority order of constitutional protection as these interests conflict.
Click here to read an op-ed published by National Review and written by the Minnesota Family Council public policy team last year to learn more about the so-called ERA.
Governor's proposed cuts to nonpublic pupil aid
Governor Walz' Education budget proposal is housed in SF2255/HF2433, bills which have had hearings in both chambers in recent weeks. Minnesota Family Council submitted written testimony in opposition to SF2255 in its April 2 hearing in the Minnesota Senate Education Finance Committee.
Qualifying students who receive nonpublic pupil aid receive state funding for textbooks, testing, school counseling, school nursing, and transportation. The state faces a budget deficit, but cutting funding to Minnesota’s students seeking nonpublic education should not be one of the first places the state reconciles the budget.
Mobile sports gambling
Exciting news! After failing to secure the votes yet again to pass the bill which would legalize mobile sports gambling out of the Senate State and Local Government committee, the bill's April 3 hearing was canceled.
Minnesota Family Council has been lobbying in opposition to this legislation in recent years, and we had submitted written testimony both from our organization and an expert witness to document the harm this industry poses to Minnesotans. Our Director of Public Policy Rebecca Delahunt testified in opposition to this legislation in the same committee on February 13, in which the legislation was tabled in committee on a 6-6 vote. You can watch that testimony here.
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