May 19, 2024
House Passes, Rep. Kristi Pursell Votes for, Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – In the early hours of this morning, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed SF 37/HF173, the Minnesota Equal Rights Amendment, proposing a state constitutional amendment to codify the right to equality. 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. The bill passed on a vote of 68-62.
“This twenty-first century Equal Rights Amendment protecting healthcare and gender discrimination will go before the voters of Minnesota in 2026. said Rep. Kristi Pursell (DFL - Northfield), a co-author of the bill. “I’m proud to have voted to pass this constitutional amendment to continue to guarantee the right to an abortion in our state.”
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 action from the Minnesota Senate. The floor debate and final vote can be found here.
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