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House Republicans took a major step toward restoring religious freedom which Minnesota Democrats had stripped from faith-based organizations last year. The Minnesota House on Tuesday approved a variation of House Republicans legislation, amending the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) to re-establish protections for religious entities against discrimination claims. The bill (H.F. 4109) unanimously passed the Senate earlier in the day and, with the House also providing unopposed approval, it is now on Gov. Tim Walz’s desk for enactment.
It took time to resolve this issue, but in the end, the legislature did the right thing. This legislation puts an end to the misguided notion that the state can prioritize anything above individual religious liberty. This move was necessary due to MHRA legislation Democrats enacted in 2023, stripping religious protections that had been in place since 1993. Before last year, when gender identity was included (or subsumed) within the MHRA definition of sexual orientation, the still-existing religious exemption for sexual orientation covered gender identity claims as well. When a new, separate definition of gender identity was created last year, there was no corresponding religious exemption added.
We’ve witnessed the harm that reckless legislating can cause. Thankfully, we addressed this issue before it did any more damage to our religious communities. I extend my heartfelt thanks to our faith community members. Their dedication and commitment to justice have resulted in a just outcome.
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SF 4699, is poised to increase healthcare costs for Minnesotans as more mandates are put on the backs of healthcare providers. The bill introduces more insurance mandates, which will inevitably lead to a rise in health insurance premiums and the changes to Prior Authorization in this bill are projected to disrupt the budget forecast and escalate healthcare costs.
In addition to increasing costs, SF 4699 also limits the options available to Minnesotans. The bill prohibits new for-profit Health Management Organizations (HMOs) from entering the marketplace, reducing the options available to consumers for insurance providers. This restriction decreases competition, leading to higher premiums and fewer choices. This move could be the final blow that puts more rural hospitals at risk of closing, further straining the already stretched thin Minnesota family budgets.
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Late last night we brought forward an urgency on the bill that would send final approval of changes to the state flag to all of the voters of Minnesota before the proposed flag goes into effect tomorrow. Minnesotans deserve to have their voice heard when it comes to the flag that is supposed to represent all of us. My colleague, Representative Hudon speaks perfectly as to why this choice must be sent to the voters.
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The University of Minnesota, like many public universities, receives funding from various sources including Minnesota taxpayers through appropriations in the Higher Education budget bill. With recent "protests" on the twin cities campus the university has now come to the legislature asking for even more taxpayer dollars to cover the costs of damage that these rioters have scared on the face of this institution.
Graphiti, broken infrastructure, and anti-American messages carved into stone all with mounting clean-up costs. Our public universities should be a place for higher learning and a proving ground for new ideas. Instead, they've allowed radicals to craft a narrative that their destruction of public property is somehow protected speech. It is not. This double standard should not be allowed to stand, and the rising costs of these unchecked rioters should not be haphazardly passed onto the backs of hard-working Minnesotans.
Democrats in Saint Paul of course want to send them this money along with all the other spending they have passed in this year's supplemental budget bills. Continuing their trend of irresponsible and unaffordable government.
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/RepKristaKnudsen
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225 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
651.296.9918 |
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