Lawmakers in the Minnesota House passed a bill this week that would protect abortionists who violate out-of-state laws by prohibiting courts or state officials from complying with any subpoenas, arrests, or extraditions related to abortion.
The Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, HF 366, would also protect women who receive abortions. Further, it allows a person facing abortion-related litigation in another state to countersue for the costs, damages, and fees associated with defending the case. The legislation further expands an executive order signed by Gov. Tim Walz following the overturn of Roe v. Wade last summer. It passed the Democrat-controlled House 68-62 and now heads to the state Senate for consideration.
“Neighboring states have started passing and implementing harmful laws attacking not only abortion rights but also individual liberties and privacy more broadly,” said Rep. Esther Agbaje, who wrote the House legislation. “Providers now have to be concerned about the type of health care they provide and whether they will be prosecuted for giving patients the reproductive health care that they need.”
“We simply cannot allow other states’ dystopian and draconian laws to harm people here in Minnesota. It also protects people from being arrested in Minnesota under other state’s restrictive reproductive health care laws,” said Sen. Kelly Morrison, who sponsors the companion bill, SF165.
Some Republicans noted that the bill showed a lack of respect for the law.
“This is an extreme bill that disregards the priority of the rule of law in exchange for ensuring only the lives of wanted children are allowed to happen,” said Rep. Peggy Scott. “This is a dangerous bill that makes Minnesota an outlier,” she added. “This is a bill that is going to give Minnesota a black eye in many respects, and that’s sad.”
“This bill completely obliterates any respect for the rule of law,” said Rep. Anne Neu Brindley. “The state of Minnesota must disregard a felony offense or any other conviction related to things that the Democrats really care about here.”
Already considered one of the most abortion-friendly states, Minnesota recently signed a pro-abortion law that some have dubbed the “most extreme” in the nation, legalizing abortion all the way until birth.
