The Minnesota House has approved an equal rights amendment that would enshrine protections for LGTBQ Minnesotans and abortion rights in the state constitution. The amendment prohibits discrimination based on race, color, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, and gender identity. It also includes protections for making decisions about pregnancy. If the amendment passes the Senate, it will go before voters in 2026. The House passed the amendment after delays caused by debates on other legislation.
Republicans have raised concerns about adding protections for abortion rights and about the exclusion of “age” and “religion” from the protected classes listed in the amendment. They believe there should be separate questions for equal rights and abortion on the ballot. Several proposed amendments to change the scope of the ERA, such as adding protections based on sex, failed to gain enough support in the House. The fate of the amendment now lies with the Minnesota Senate, where its support is uncertain.
The DFL Senate Majority Leader did not confirm if her caucus supports the new language in the ERA. The Senate, which has a one-seat majority, must approve the amendment before the legislative session ends on Monday. Lawmakers faced a time crunch as they worked to pass other bills in the final hours of the session, including ones on sports betting and local infrastructure projects. Republicans wanted Democrats to reconsider controversial bills, including the ERA, in exchange for support on the bonding bill, but Democrats refused to bargain on civil rights.
The future of the ERA now depends on the Senate’s decision. The Senate must act quickly before the end of the regular session, and the possibility of a special session remains unclear. Lawmakers have until just before midnight on Sunday to pass legislation. The amendment’s passage in the Senate is crucial for it to proceed to the ballot in 2026. Democrats are pushing to get their legislative priorities approved before the session ends, but the timeline is tight for passing remaining bills, especially the bonding bill that requires Republican support.
