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2021-2022 UnRestrict Minnesota  Reproductive Justice Legislative Agenda

Reproductive Justice is a contemporary framework and movement, created and led by Black women, that analyzes how the ability of any person to determine their own reproductive destiny is linked directly to the conditions in their community—and these conditions are not just a matter of individual choice and access.

The primary principles are:

The following are bills that would bring us one step closer to achieving Reproductive Justice in Minnesota.

If you would like to learn more about any of these bills, visit the Minnesota State Legislature’s website. 

The Right to Have a Child

The Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act

Chief Authors: Rep. Ruth Richardson and Sen. Patricia Torres Ray

Description: Black mothers die at rates 4x that of white mothers. This bill would implement anti-racism training and implicit bias continuing education requirement; maternal death studies expansion to include maternal morbidity.

365 Day Postpartum Medical Assistance Expansion 

Chief Authors: Rep. Kelly Morrison and Sen. Melissa Wiklund

Description: Currently, Medical Assistance only covers pregnant people 2 weeks postpartum. This bill would extend medical assistance postpartum coverage to one-year. With almost 20% of postpartum deaths occurring 6 weeks to one year after birth, this bill would extend life saving healthcare to low-income parents in Minnesota.

Repealing Mandated Reporting for Prenatal Care Providers 

Chief Authors: Rep. Kelly Morrison and Sen. Michelle Benson

Description: Current law requires prenatal care providers to report pregnant Minnesotans for substance use. Mandatory reporting leads to distrust and avoidance of care. We know prenatal care brings down substance abuse issues.

Logan’s Law 

Chief Authors: Rep. Athena Hollins and Sen. Karla Bigham

Description: Eliminates second parent adoption requirement for lesbian couples who have children via assisted reproduction. Parentage of a woman who provides donated ova clarified, and rights of spouse to parentage when assisted reproductive technology is used clarified.

The Right to Not Have a Child

Patients’ Right to Know Act 

Chief Authors: Rep. Kelly Morrison and Sen. Lindsey Port 

Description: The Patients’ Right To Know Act gives healthcare providers the right to provide medically-accurate, evidence-based information to their patients without interference from lawmakers. The bill repeals current laws, and prohibits future laws, that require healthcare providers to give medically-inaccurate and/or irrelevant information to patients before they receive healthcare—including abortion care.

Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act 

Chief Authors: Rep. Kelly Morrison and Sen. Jen McEwen 

Description: Establishes the fundamental right of Minnesotans to make individual decisions about reproductive health care, including contraception, abortion, and pregnancy.

Family Planning Special Projects 

Chief Authors: Rep. Kelly Morrison and Sen. John Marty 

Description: Establishes the fundamental right of Minnesotans to make individual decisions about reproductive health care, including contraception, abortion, and pregnancy.

The Right to Parent Children in Safe
and Healthy Environments

Salary History Ban 

Chief Authors: Rep. Kaohly Her and Sen. Bobby Joe Champion

Description: Prohibits employers from inquiring about past pay. Currently in Minnesota, women overall make 83 cents for every dollar made by men. Hmong women in Minnesota earn 55 cents to every dollar a white man makes, Native American/Indigenous women earn 54 cents, and Somali women earn 44 cents. Salary history bans work to prevent the perpetuation of past pay discrimination by requiring employers to use other factors, such as market comparisons, to determine pay.

Women’s Economic Security Provision: Pumping Provision Clarification 

Chief Authors: Rep. Erin Koegel and Sen. Julia Coleman 

Description: Expands applicability of pregnancy accommodations to apply to businesses with 1 or more employees.

Minnesota African American Family Preservation Act 

Chief Authors: Rep. Esther Agbaje and Sen. Bobby Joe Champion 

Description: The Minnesota African American Family Preservation Act will protect the best interests of African American children; promote the stability and security of African American children and families by establishing minimum standards to prevent arbitrary and unnecessary removal of African American children from their families; and improve permanency outcomes, including family reunification, for African American children.

Paid Family Medical Leave 

Chief Authors: Rep. Ruth Richardson and Sen. Susan Kent 

Description: A state-administered paid leave insurance program, where everyone contributes and everyone benefits. Provides up to 12 weeks of partial wage replacement for medical leave (including pregnancy) and 12 weeks partial wage replacement for family leave.

MinnesotaCare Expansion 

Chief Authors: Rep. Jennifer Schultz and Sen. Melissa Wiklund

Description: Opens the state-run health care program, MinnesotaCare to purchase by people currently buying individual or small group insurance. Would expand access to affordable, quality health coverage including for immigrant communities currently without care.

The Right to Bodily Autonomy and
Gender Freedom

Menstrual Equity 

Chief Authors: Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn and Sen. Steve Cwodzinski

Description: Requires schools to make disposable menstrual products freely available in school restrooms.

Conversion Therapy Ban

Chief Authors: Rep. Athena Hollins and Sen. Karla Bigham 

Prohibits the practice of conversion therapy (a practice that seeks to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity) by health care professionals on minors and vulnerable adults.

Missing and Murdered African American Women 

Chief Authors: Rep. Ruth Richardson and Sen. Mary Kunesh 

Description: Creates a Task Force on Missing and Murdered African American Women.

Comprehensive Sex and Consent Education 

Chief Authors: Rep. Sydney Jordan and Sen. Mary Kunesh 

Description: Provides Minnesota students a sexual health education that is medically accurate, shame-free, culturally responsive, age-appropriate, LGBTQ inclusive, and focused on consent and healthy vs. unhealthy relationships.