SAINT PAUL, Minn. – By a vote of 34-33, the Minnesota Senate passed the PRO Act (HF 1/ SF 1) Saturday morning, enshrining the right of Minnesotans to make autonomous decisions about their own reproductive health. This historic legislation is the first step towards ensuring that every Minnesotan can access the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare they need.
Following the successful passage of the legislation, Senator Lindsey Port (DFL-Burnsville), Representative Kaohly Her (DFL-St. Paul), and Senator Kelly Morrison (DFL-Deephaven), the Co-Chairs and Vice-Chair of the bicameral Reproductive Freedom Caucus issued the following statement:
“Saturday was a historic day for Minnesotans as we moved one step closer to ensuring that everyone in our state has access to the reproductive healthcare they need. By passing the PRO Act we have codified into state statute the fundamental right to reproductive healthcare for Minnesotans, and have added a layer of protection for the millions of people in our state who were worried their rights would go away.
“The Reproductive Freedom Caucus was formed to fight against efforts to restrict the right to reproductive healthcare, work that became ever more urgent following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Since the creation of this caucus, Minnesotans elected a pro-choice majority in the legislature, and we moved with urgency to pass policies to protect and enshrine this right.
“We also know that this is only a first step in the work we must do this year. The Reproductive Freedom Caucus is continuing our work pressing our top priorities, the Reproductive Freedom Codification Act and the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act. If we are to truly ensure access to reproductive healthcare for all Minnesotans, then we must pass this legislation, and our work to get it done will continue.”
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