Bills We’re Watching in 2024
By Erica Solomon Collins, Executive Director
Last Updated: February 23, 2024
Here’s a guide to the bills that we’re supporting this legislative session. We’ll keep this post updated as best we can, but history’s always on the move! For the most up-to-date news about specific bills, we recommend using the MN Legislature’s MyBills tool and keeping in touch with your district’s representatives (even if they are “on your side” of a given issue). If you need to double check who represents you in the state legislature, you can find them using this link.
HF173 & SF37: Minnesota State ERA Bill
Chief Authors: Representative Kaohly Vang Her and Senator Mary Kunesh
The Minnesota State Equal Rights Amendment would ensure equal rights under the law with no qualifiers. The proposed language would bar the state from discriminating “against any person in intent or effect on account of race, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, or sex, including but not limited to pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes and reproductive freedom, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.”
HF1658 & SF1704: Minnesota Building Families Act
Chief Authors: Representative Jeff Brand and Senator Maye Quade
The Minnesota Building Families Act would require insurers in our state to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. Given the often-prohibitive costs of infertility treatment, this is a vital component to ensuring that all Minnesotans have the ability to choose whether and how to become parents.
Status of SF1704 in the Senate
HF601 & SF606: Lost and Stolen Firearms Reporting
Chief Authors: Representative Kaohly Vang Her and Senator Bonnie S. Westlin
Requires the prompt reporting of lost and stolen firearms to law enforcement.
HF4300 & SF4312: Firearm Safe Storage
Chief Authors: Representative Jamie Becker-Finn and Senator Heather Gustafson
Establishes firearm safe storage standards and criminal penalties for failing to meet them, as well as appropriates money for enforcement.
HF4053 & SF3967: Abortion Coverage Act
Chief Authors: Representative Zack Stephenson and Senator Alice Mann
The Abortion Coverage Act will promote equitable access to abortion care by requiring public and private health insurance plans in Minnesota to provide coverage for abortion care.
Status of SF3967 in the Senate
HF2607 & SF2209: Gender Affirming Care Act
Chief Authors: Representative Leigh Finke and Senator D. Scott Dibble
Mandates that all public and private health insurance plans in Minnesota provide coverage for a full range of gender affirming and reproductive health care. Crucially, this bill codifies the right to gender affirming care, which is under attack in many of our neighboring states.
Status of SF2209 in the Senate
SF3873: Ban on Pelvic and Breast Exams on Unconscious Patients Without Consent
Chief Author: Senator Erin P. Murphy
While it is essential for medical students to perform pelvic and breast exams as part of their training, such exams should only be performed with the consent of the patient, as this bill mandates.
Status of SF3873 in the Senate
HF3567 & SF3504: Uniform Parentage Act
Chief Authors: Representative Athena Hollins and Senator Erin K. Maye Quade
Updates Minnesota’s parenting laws to ensure equity for LGBTQ+ families by recognizing both same-sex parents as birth parents on legal documents.
Status of SF3504 in the Senate
HF3682 & SF3746: Comprehensive Sex & Health Education
Chief Authors: Representative Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn and Senator Mary K. Kunesh
Ensures that all Minnesota students have access to comprehensive, medically-accurate health education, including sex education, violence prevention, and healthy relationships.
Status of SF3746 in the Senate
HF4252 & SF4385: Combating Hate
Chief Authors: Representative Frank Hornstein and Senator Bonnie S. Westlin
Provides grants to local community-based organizations working to promote intergroup harmony, strengthen community resilience, and develop strategies for education, outreach, and the prevention of hate crimes.