Representative Knudsen Celebrates Victory for Religious Liberty Saint Paul, MN — State Representative Krista Knudsen (R – Lake Shore) and House Republicans took a major step toward restoring religious freedom which Minnesota Democrats had stripped from faith-based organizations last year. The Minnesota House on Tuesday approved a variation of House Republicans legislation, amending the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) to re-establish protections for religious entities against discrimination claims. The bill (H.F. 4109) unanimously passed the Senate earlier in the day and, with the House also providing unopposed approval, it is now on Gov. Tim Walz’s desk for enactment. “What a great day for religious freedom in Minnesota!” said Rep. Knudsen. “It took time to resolve this issue, but in the end, the legislature did the right thing. This legislation puts an end to the misguided notion that the state can prioritize anything above individual religious liberty.” This move was necessary due to MHRA legislation Democrats enacted in 2023, stripping 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. “We’ve witnessed the harm that reckless legislating can cause,” Knudsen emphasized. “Thankfully, we addressed this issue before it did any more damage to our religious communities. I extend my heartfelt thanks to our faith community members. Their dedication and commitment to justice have resulted in a just outcome.” |