SAINT PAUL, Minn. – On Tuesday morning, Governor Tim Walz signed the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act, which codifies abortion rights and establishes that every Minnesotan has a fundamental right to make autonomous decisions about their own reproductive health.
“This is a historic moment for our state, where Minnesota leads,” said Senator Jennifer McEwen, the lead author of the bill in the Minnesota Senate. “Where we lead the nation and show our values and our ethics and stand strong in defense of liberty and reproductive freedom for all. This legislation will save lives. Minnesota will become a refuge for people throughout the Midwest seeking healthcare that they need but can’t get in their home states.”
Senator McEwen noted that the PRO Act will not change existing law in Minnesota on abortion, but will prevent a future court from stripping away Minnesotans’ reproductive freedoms.
“The PRO Act codifies into our state statute what is current law in the State of Minnesota, as recognized by our courts. That each Minnesotan and every person in Minnesota has a fundamental right to make autonomous decisions about their own healthcare, including pregnancy, contraception, abortion care, counseling about family planning, and other reproductive healthcare. We have that fundamental right.”
The Senator said that she is pleased to see the bill signed into law within the first month of the legislative session, and looks forward to advancing the Reproductive Freedom Codification Act and the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act—which will remove existing barriers to care and provide protections for patients and providers from other states’ oppressive laws.
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