MN Democrats Press Forward With Abortion Rights Bill

ST. PAUL, MN — Minnesota Democrats are pushing a bill that would codify abortion rights into state law. House File 1 passed the health finance and policy committee Thursday by a vote of 11-8 and was referred to the committee on judiciary and civil law.

Abortion is already legal due to a 1995 Minnesota Supreme Court ruling titled Doe v. Gomez.

But following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June, Democrats want to ensure abortion access is enshrined in state law and remains legal even if Gomez is overturned.

"Every individual who becomes pregnant has a fundamental right to continue the pregnancy and give birth, or obtain an abortion, and to make autonomous decisions about how to exercise this fundamental right," the bill reads.

"Every individual who becomes pregnant has a fundamental right to continue the pregnancy and give birth, or obtain an abortion, and to make autonomous decisions about how to exercise this fundamental right."

The legislation also states that cities and other local government entities in the state "may not regulate an individual's ability to freely exercise the fundamental rights set forth in this section in a manner that is more restrictive than that set forth in this section."

The bill has good odds of becoming signed into law this session. Democrats have the majority in both chambers of the Minnesota Legislature and also control the governor's mansion.

Meanwhile, anti-abortion groups condemned the bill this week.

"The extremism of this bill would put Minnesota in the same category as just seven countries in the world, among them North Korea and China," said Minnesotans Citizens Concerned for Life co-executive director Cathy Blaeser.

"This bill means a 'right' to abort any baby for any reason at any time until birth. Women and children deserve so much better."

Read the entire bill here.