AT. PAUL, Minn. – A key Minnesota House committee voted 9-5 to advance a proposed amendment to place broad guarantees for human rights in the state Constitution. The proposal next goes to the full House for consideration. If the amendment passes all legislative hurdles, it would go the 2026 ballot for the public to decide. If finally adopted, the amendment would prohibit state government from discriminating against anyone on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability or sex — including gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. Also, state government would be barred constitutionally from discriminating against a person “making and effectuating decisions about all matters relating to one’s own pregnancy or decision whether to become or remain pregnant.” The amendment also would give Minnesotans the nation’s most expansive protections of abortion and LGBTQ rights. The House bill’s chief sponsor, Representative Kaohly Vang Her, D-St. Paul, fended off challenges from Republicans. The committee passage was along party lines.
Colorful protagonists
More than 100 people crammed into the hearing room in colorful displays. Supporters wore green. Opponents wore bright red Among groups testifying against the proposal:
> Minnesota Family Council, a Christian advocacy group.
> Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, an anti-abortion group.
> Minnesota Catholic Conference, a policy organization for the Catholic Church.
On the other side:
> ERA Minnesota, which has championed equal rights since 2014.
> Gender Justice, an advocacy organization for gender equity,
> OutFront Minnesota, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group.
Embedding rights in Constitution
Minnesota already has a non-discrimination law, the Human Rights Act, which applies to individuals, businesses, schools and other institutions. The constitutional amendment would apply to state government, and would protect certain laws. These include a recent law that has made the state a regional destination for abortion and gender-affirming services for people from neighboring restrictive states.
Her. A Democrat. In third term from House District 64-A.