House DFL defeats two GOP anti-abortion bills

Saint Paul, Minn. – Today, the House DFL defeated two Republican bills that would restrict reproductive freedom. Both GOP bills relitigate old political fights and would do nothing to address the everyday economic challenges people are facing and want their lawmakers to focus on. 

House File 25, authored by Republican State Representative Natalie Zeleznikar, would funnel taxpayer dollars to so-called “crisis pregnancy centers”, which are deceptive, unlicensed organizations that do not provide comprehensive reproductive healthcare and do not have licensed physicians or registered nurses on staff. According to a 2022 study, nearly two-thirds of Minnesota “crisis pregnancy centers” make false or biased medical claims about abortions.

“Natalie Zeleznikar’s bill would weaken access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare in our state,” said Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. “In Minnesota, we trust women to make their own healthcare decisions. That’s why in 2023 Democrats enshrined reproductive freedom into state law. Zeleznikar’s bill would chip away at Minnesotans’ reproductive rights by funding organizations which use deceptive practices to deny patients access to the full range of care that they may need.”

House File 24, authored by Republican State Representative Krista Knudson, would put politicians in charge of Minnesotans’ most private, personal reproductive healthcare decisions. Knudson’s bill is based on an abhorrent myth and her claims have no basis in reality. 

“Instead of looking forward and trying to pass bills that make people’s lives more affordable, Republicans are looking backward and trying to relitigate old political fights about reproductive freedom, and spread fear and misinformation,” said House DFL Floor Leader Jamie Long. “Let’s be clear: doctors already provide appropriate medical care, and to suggest otherwise is false, offensive, and dangerous. Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for pushing easily disproved falsehoods that harm already vulnerable people who face devastating pregnancy complications later in pregnancy.” 

Over the past month, Republicans have run the Minnesota House with a 67-66 advantage. It takes 68 votes to pass a bill. Starting next week, the Minnesota House will operate under a 67-67 tie, with committees co-chaired by Democrats and Republicans, and equal numbers of members from each party. Bills will not be able to advance out of committee or off the House floor without bipartisan support.