Minnesota House passes proposed Equal Rights Amendment

Saint Paul, Minn. - This morning, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed S.F. 37/H.F. 17, authored by Rep. Kaohly Her (DFL – Saint Paul), proposing a state constitutional amendment to codify the right to equality, on a 68-62 vote. The legislation, known as the Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment, would submit the proposed amendment to voters at the 2026 state general election, and if approved, would take effect January 1, 2027.

“Last year, DFLers made incredible progress in protecting reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy,” Rep. Her said. “We made possible a brighter, fairer, safer, and more equitable future for full-spectrum reproductive health care in Minnesota. The Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment will ensure that the work we did last year will be protected in our state constitution regardless of who is in office or which party is in power, and codify freedom, fairness, and equality for everyone once and for all.” 

The Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment would guarantee every Minnesotan the same rights under the law, and codify protections against discrimination by the state based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, or sex — including pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation.

The bill now awaits passage in the Senate. Video of the floor debate can be found on the House Public Information Services YouTube channel.