Minnesota Session Laws - 2023, Regular Session

CHAPTER 4--H.F.No. 1

An act

relating to health; establishing a fundamental right to reproductive health;

proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 145.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [145.409] REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Short title. new text end

new text begin This section may be cited as the "Protect Reproductive Options Act." new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "reproductive health care" means health care offered, arranged, or furnished for the purpose of preventing pregnancy, terminating a pregnancy, managing pregnancy loss, or improving maternal health and birth outcomes. Reproductive health care includes, but is not limited to, contraception; sterilization; preconception care; maternity care; abortion care; family planning and fertility services; and counseling regarding reproductive health care. new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Reproductive freedom. new text end

new text begin (a) Every individual has a fundamental right to make autonomous decisions about the individual's own reproductive health, including the fundamental right to use or refuse reproductive health care. new text end

new text begin (b) Every individual who becomes pregnant has a fundamental right to continue the pregnancy and give birth, or obtain an abortion, and to make autonomous decisions about how to exercise this fundamental right. new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Right to reproductive freedom recognized. new text end

new text begin The Minnesota Constitution establishes the principles of individual liberty, personal privacy, and equality. Such principles ensure the fundamental right to reproductive freedom. new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Local unit of government limitation. new text end

new text begin A local unit of government may not regulate an individual's ability to freely exercise the fundamental rights set forth in this section in a manner that is more restrictive than that set forth in this section. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Presented to the governor January 31, 2023

Signed by the governor January 31, 2023, 12:36 p.m.