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Governor Walz Signs Three Bills Protecting Minnesotans' Rights

Government and Politics

April 27, 2023

From: Minnesota Governor Timothy James Walz

Governor Tim Walz today signed three bills into law protecting people seeking or providing abortions in Minnesota, banning the practice of conversion therapy, and protecting people seeking or providing gender-affirming health care in Minnesota. Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan were joined by legislators and advocates to celebrate the bill signing. Photos from the event are attached and linked here .

“Today, we’re protecting the rights of Minnesotans and making sure our state remains a place where people have the freedom to get the care they need to live their fullest lives,” said Governor Walz. “We’re also protecting young and vulnerable Minnesotans from the harmful and discredited practice of conversion therapy. We’re putting up a firewall to ensure Minnesotans have the freedom to make their own health care decisions.”

“Everyone deserves to feel safe to be who they are, love who they love, and live without fear of violence and discrimination,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “I am proud to live and raise a family in Minnesota knowing that young people, especially our LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit youth, can be their full, authentic selves and exercise agency over their bodies and lives. In this state, we will continue to fight for love over hate every single day.”

Chapter 28, House File 16 prohibits mental health practitioners or mental health professionals from providing conversion therapy to vulnerable adults and clients under age 18. The bill also prohibits fraudulent or deceptive advertising practices relating to conversion therapy.

Chapter 29, House File 146 prevents state courts or officials from complying with child removal requests, extraditions, arrests, or subpoenas related to gender-affirming health care that a person receives in Minnesota. As states across the country move to ban access to gender affirming health care and restrict access to gender-affirming care, the bill protects the rights of Minnesota’s LGBTQ+ community to seek and receive gender affirming health care in Minnesota.

Chapter 31, House File 366 , the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, ensures that patients traveling to Minnesota for abortion care, and the providers who serve them, are protected from legal attacks and criminal penalties from other states.

In response to these historic bills, Governor Walz also issued Executive Order 23-06 today. The executive order rescinds Executive Order 21-25, which the Governor issued to protect Minnesotans from conversion therapy. Because of Minnesota’s new law prohibiting conversion therapy, Executive Order 21-25 is no longer necessary. Today’s executive order also amends Executive Order 22-16, which protects Minnesotans’ right to reproductive health care services, and Executive Order 23-03, which protects and supports Minnesotans who seek gender affirming health care services, by rescinding provisions that are no longer necessary due to the new laws.