Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed legislation Jan. 31 placing a right to abortion for any reason and without limit on viability into state law.
“Today, I signed the PRO Act into law,” Walz posted on social media, referring to the Protect Reproductive Options Act and confirming earlier statements that he would sign the legislation if it crossed his desk.
Measures to codify abortion in Minnesota — HF1 and its companion bill in the Senate, SF1 — moved quickly as the 2023 legislative session opened Jan. 3 and HF1 was introduced Jan. 4 and passed by the House Jan. 19 in a 69-65 vote.
Democrats, who hold a majority in the House, gained a majority of one vote in the Senate in the November elections. The Senate passed the bill 34-33 in the early morning hours of Jan. 28.
Pro-life and pro-abortion advocates gathered outside the Senate chambers at the State Capitol in St. Paul before the Senate debate, which included Democrats rejecting multiple Republican amendments to the PRO Act before the final vote.
As the bills made their way through House and Senate hearings, Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Williams of St. Paul and Minneapolis and state’s five other Catholic bishops wrote a letter protesting the bills and had it hand-delivered to every lawmaker. Prior to the Senate debate, Archbishop Hebda also released a video and accompanying statement, urging people to reach their senators to head off approval of the bill.
The Minnesota Supreme Court found a right to abortion in the state constitution in a 1995 ruling. Backers of abortion said placing that right into state law would add security to retaining a right to abortion in Minnesota.
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