Dear John, it's the Family Beacon, your weekly source for news on the issues that matter most in Minnesota and beyond! This week:

• Podcast: Religious Freedom on the Chopping Block?

• LAST Hearing for Physician-Assisted Suicide in Minnesota House
• Register NOW for Our 2024 Annual Dinner "Rulers Rage, God Laughs!"
• True North Legal Partners With Local Allies Filing Amicus Brief at U.S. Supreme Court
• Our Legislative Scorecard: LIVE NOW
• Upcoming Event: Pro-Life Sidewalk Ministry Training

We need your help to keep shining the light of truth in Minnesota. Please consider making a donation today.

Religious Freedom on the Chopping Block?

Changes to the Minnesota Human Rights Act are putting religious freedom on the chopping block! Renee Carlson of our True North Legal initiative joins us to answer that question and keep you informed. Plus, Grace and Moses break down how if passed, new bills would require ALL Minnesota insurance plans and employers be COERCED by the government to cover so-called gender affirming care and abortion. Get the facts, stand for truth!

Note: the Minnesota Human Rights Act hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, March 6th, not Monday. However, all testimony and prepared materials were due on Monday at 10:00 am in order to be considered part of the committee record.

Listen on Spotify

LAST Hearing for Physician-Assisted Suicide in Minnesota House

The House Commerce Committee has scheduled a hearing for H.F.1930 on Monday, March 18 at 1 pm. We believe this is the final committee hearing the assisted suicide bill will have in the House before it is voted on by the whole body.   

Here are three things you can do to make a difference: 

FIRST: Attend the hearing in-person. 

· Monday, March 18 at 1:00 PM

· Room 10, State Office Building, 100 Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Saint Paul, MN 55155

If you're available during this time, we strongly encourage you to watch the committee hearing in-person. Your presence, especially when you wear red, is noticed by legislators. While you're at the Capitol, you can stop by your legislator's office to see if they have time to talk. 

NEXT: Submit written testimony to the committee by 1pm on Sunday, March 17. If you've submitted testimony to the previous committees, please re-submit it again to the Commerce Committee.  

Details for submitting testimony: 

•    Write why you are opposed. Use this resource for help. 
•    Sign your name and the city you live
•    Send a PDF file via email to [email protected] with the subject line: HF 1930 Written Testimony

FINALLY: If your legislator is a member of the House Commerce Committee, call their office this weekend and urge them to oppose PAS. 

· Rep. Zack Stephenson (35A - Coon Rapids) 651-296-5513

· Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (49B - Eden Prairie) 651-296-7449

· Rep. Ethan Cha (47B - Woodbury) 651-296-1147

· Rep. Robert Bierman (56A - Apple Valley)  651-296-5506

· Rep. Tim O'Driscoll (13B - Sartell) 651-296-7808

· Rep. Jeff Dotseth (11A - Kettle River) 651-296-4176

· Rep. Ginny Klevorn (42B - Plymouth) 651-296-5511

· Rep. Erin Koegel (39A - Spring Lake Park) 651-296-5369

· Rep. Larry Kraft (46A - St. Louis Park) 651-296-7026

· Rep. Tina Liebling (24B - Rochester) 651-296-0573

· Rep. Anne Neu Brindley (28B - North Branch) 651-296-5377

· Rep. Harry Niska (31A - Ramsey) 651-296-2439

· Rep. Bernie Perryman (14A - St. Augusta) 651-296-6316

· Rep. Brian Pfarr (22B - Le Sueur) 651-296-7065

· Rep. Isaac Schultz (10B - Elmdale Township) 651-296-6746

· Rep. Brad Tabke (54A - Shakopee) 651-296-8872

Holding the Line: Minnesota Family Council and True North Legal at the Capitol 

Last week was a busy one for our policy and legal team at the Minnesota State Capitol. Rebecca Delahunt, our Director of Public Policy, and Renee Carlson, General Counsel of our True North Legal initiative, testified in several committee hearings, submitted written testimony, and brought expert testifiers to still more hearings!

Why such a busy week? Unfortunately, it’s because the pace of bad bills we’re seeing at the Capitol is increasing. Here’s everything that we engaged in at the Capitol this week:

• Testimony against Mandated “Gender-Affirming Care” in Health Insurance Plans: Watch Becca’s testimony here
• Testimony Mandated Abortion in Health Insurance Plans: Watch Renee’s testimony here
• Testimony against Physician-Assisted Suicide: Watch MFC-allied testifiers here
• Testimony against Legalizing Harmful Mobile Betting: Watch Becca’s testimony here

Minnesota Family Council’s policy team is hard at work, this week and every week, to be your voice at the Capitol for life, family, and religious freedom. Would you like to send a message of thanks and encouragement to Renee or Becca? Please do so here from this link!

Please pray with us that NONE of the many harmful proposals we testified against this week would become law!

REGISTER NOW for Rulers Rage, God Laughs w/ Seth Dillon!

Registration is now OPEN for our 2024 Annual Dinner with Seth Dillon! So far demand has been FOUR TIMES higher than last year, so we urge you to reserve your seat now. Space is limited, and we want to make sure you can join us!

With Seth Dillon, CEO of The Babylon Bee, as our keynote speaker you can look forward to a hilarious evening that is also Christ-centered and hopeful, prompting us to be unwaveringly committed to God’s Word and to take action in Minnesota! Register below to join us on April 26th!

True North Legal Partners With Local Allies Filing Amicus Brief at U.S. Supreme Court

Click here or the button below to read it.

Upcoming Event: Pro-Life Sidewalk Training on April 9th

Learn peaceful, legal methods of saving babies from abortion through prayer, literature, and words of truth in love outside local abortion facilities. No charge. Presented by Pro-Life Action Ministries. To register, contact [email protected] or (651) 797-6366. 

Our Legislative Scorecard: LIVE NOW

After the controversial legislative session last year, we received many questions about how legislators voted. A common theme was, "How can I find out how my legislators voted on the issues that matter most to me?"

We're thrilled to be able to answer that question, with Minnesota Family Council's 2023 Legislative Scorecard.

We're especially glad that this scorecard is available for you right before the 2024 Legislative Session begins this month, so that you can thank your legislators for voting for life, family, and religious freedom as they prepare to gather again in St. Paul - or ask them why they did not do so!

Please use the button below to download your free, printable PDF of the scorecard. Please share it with friends, family, and pro-life Minnesotans. For this free resource to be valuable, it needs to reach as many people as possible!

Tell Legislators to Vote NO on ERA

As the 2024 Legislative Session approaches, progressives have been open about their plans to try and advance the so-called Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as soon as November 2024. 

This bill has already passed the Minnesota Senate and will be considered by the Minnesota House.

Now is the time to send a message to your legislators telling them to oppose the ERA. The alert below will help you send a message to your Minnesota House member respectfully sharing your concerns.

By banning "discrimination" on the basis of "sexual orientation, gender identity or expression," the ERA would allow males to enter female-only accommodations such as sports teams and changing facilities.

So please, take action today by clicking the button below and stand up for Minnesota's women and girls!

Church Ambassador Network: Bring LIGHT to the Capitol!

Things can seem dark in Minnesota, especially thinking of the progressive legislation that was pushed rapidly in 2023, but there's a TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY for you to help us bring light to the Capitol.

In fact, the Capitol is a mission field--often neglected, but a mission field nonetheless. Watch this video or go to mfc.org/churches to learn more!

Get the Parent Resource Guide

Responding to the transgender trend with truth and compassion starts with the Parent Resource Guide. Get your copy HERE today and invite a friend to do the same! Click to order your copy today:

Thank you for sharing Minnesota Family Council’s vision for strong families, communities, and culture through Christ. In this season of unprecedented challenges to life, family, and religious freedom, please consider giving us your support so that we can continue to be YOUR voice. Click here to give now. 

Moses Bratrud, Director of Strategy

Minnesota Family Council and Institute

Two Ways to Give

Support our grassroots policy and elections efforts through Minnesota Family Council (MFC). Support our education and outreach efforts with a tax-deductible contribution to Minnesota Family Institute (MFI).

Contact Us

Minnesota Family Council & Institute

 [email protected] | 612-789-8811 | mfc.org