March 2025 Minnesota Legislative Update

Minnesota’s role as a regional safe haven for abortion access, trans rights, and those seeking refuge from oppression has never been more critical. But this legislative session has served as a stark reminder that we can’t take that status for granted.

When the Minnesota House briefly fell under anti-LGBTQ, anti-abortion control at the start of the session, extremist lawmakers wasted no time pushing dangerous bills attacking abortion rights, trans people, and gender equity. While we successfully held the line, it underscored the vital work of Gender Justice Action to elect a strong pro-equality majority.

Here’s What We’re Tracking:

The ERA is Stronger & More Urgent Than Ever: As attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion increase, a new poll shows that 67% of Minnesotans support the Equal Rights Amendment (HF 473 & SF 501). This poll makes it crystal clear: Minnesotans want an inclusive ERA in our state constitution. Now is the time to get the ERA passed! Click here to write your lawmakers and urge them to act!

Defending Abortion Access: The so-called “Born-Alive Bill” (HF 24) was a deliberately misleading anti-abortion bill that targeted abortion providers and would interfere with critical health care options for people facing complicated and often very painful decisions later in pregnancy. Fortunately, the bill failed on the House floor.

Demanding Dignity for Trans People in Custody: Another dangerous bill in the Minnesota House (HF 435) sought to force the Department of Corrections to violate the Minnesota Human Rights Act by housing trans inmates in facilities that do not match their gender, subjecting them to violence and harassment. We’ve fought and won cases like Lusk v. Department of Corrections, affirming the right of trans women to be housed safely, and will continue to fight bills like this.

Standing Up Against Attacks on Trans Athletes: HF 12, a bill that sought to ban trans girls and women from sports, is another example of the harmful and discriminatory bills pushed early this legislative session. This bill was not only morally wrong but illegal under the Minnesota Human Rights Act. Fortunately, it failed to pass the House.

Protecting State Funds From Redirection to Anti-Abortion Centers: Another troubling bill (HF 25) sought to to redirect four million dollars from the base budget of the Minnesota Department of Health to deceptive and unregulated anti-abortion centers, also known as Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs). We worked hard, alongside our partners at UnRestrict Minnesota, to ensure that this attack on reproductive health funding did not succeed.