ST. PAUL – State Rep. Jeff Backer, R-Browns Valley, said Republicans have taken a major step toward restoring religious freedom which Minnesota Democrats stripped from faith-based organizations last year.
The House on Tuesday approved legislation pertaining to the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) to re-establish protections for religious entities against discrimination claims. The bill unanimously passed the Senate earlier in the day and, with the House also providing overwhelming approval, it is now on Gov. Tim Walz’s desk for enactment.
“Tuesday was a great day for religious liberty,” Backer said. “Freedom of religion is a foundational right enjoyed by all Americans. Tuesday’s vote was critical in restoring that freedom for all Minnesotans, churches, and other religious based organizations. Moving forward, any changes in state law that infringe on the religious freedoms of citizens must be rejected outright.”
Backer said this move was necessary due to MHRA legislation that Democrats enacted in 2023, that stripped religious protections that had been in place since 1993. Before last year, when gender identity was included (or subsumed) within the MHRA definition of sexual orientation, the still-existing religious exemption for sexual orientation covered gender identity claims as well. When a new, separate definition of gender identity was created last year, there was no corresponding religious exemption added.
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