Legislative Session 2023

Updated July 19, 2023

ERA Rally at Supreme Court
 

Watch a recording of the “LWVMN 2023 Legislative Session Recap and Next Steps,” recorded on May 23, here.

Read a summary of the LWVMN’s 2023 Legislative Session accomplishments.

Legislative Accomplishments

 
 

Priorities

Overview

The LWVMN board of directors has set these priorities for the 2023 MN Legislative Session based on input from community partners, the current needs of Minnesota, their relevance to LWV’s mission, their political feasibility and urgency. For all issues related to elections, LWVMN hopes that the legislature will work on these issues on a bipartisan basis. While LWVMN works on many issues, these priorities receive additional dedicated resources. Our overall strategy is to be a strong ally in support of partners who are leading on legislation in these primary areas, by more effectively engaging our members to create meaningful partnerships with legislators. Use our bill tracker on priority issues.

  • Restore The Vote – support the restoration of voting rights to individuals with past felony convictions when they are living in their communities. (PASSED) (Read LWVMN Executive Director’s written testimony and letter of support.)

  • Automatic Voter Registration - change our current system of voter registration to ensure that anyone who interacts with a consenting Government agency, such as the Department of Public Safety, is automatically registered to vote when they interact with that agency - such as getting or updating information on your driver’s license - rather than going out of their way to register (moving from an “opt in” to an “opt out” system.) 

    • PASSED in HF3 below

  • Banning voter and election official intimidation and harassment - increase penalties for people who intimidate and/or harass voters and election officials. 

    • Included in HF1830: Omnibus state government and elections - Intimidation and Interference Related to the Performance of Duties by an Election Official (Read testimony from LWV member and testimony from LWVMN Board Member)

  • Remove barriers to receiving HAVA funds - ensure access to the federal appropriated Help America Vote Act funds for state and local elections security and infrastructure so that the Secretary of State has funding to administer our elections. 

    • Included in HF1830: Omnibus state government and elections - Money...is appropriated to the secretary of state to improve the administration of elections in accordance with the Help America Vote Act. (Read testimony from LWVMN board member)

  • Making voting more accessible for all Minnesotans (as presented in We Choose Us MN Policy Document) - Minnesota has led the nation in voter turnout for the past three major elections before 2022 thanks to our strong system of elections administration and voter access. That said, we have even more we can do to make sure our democracy is more accessible to more people more often (PASSED). 

  • ERA Amendment - promote the adoption of a ballot issue in 2024 to add the Equal Rights Amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution. ("What is the ERA and Why does it Matter?") (Read testimony from LWVMN board member.)

    • There are two types of ERA bills introduced in the 2023 Minnesota Legislative Session, each with a companion bill in the Senate and House:

      • MN State ERA Bills

        SF37: Constitutional amendment providing for equality under the law

        HF173: Equality under law provided, and constitutional amendment proposed

      • Resolution to Congress to Enact the Federal ERA Bills

        SF47: A resolution memorializing Congress to resolve that the requirements have been met to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

        HF197: A resolution memorializing Congress to resolve that the requirements have been met to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and that it shall now be known as the Twenty-Eighth Amendment to the Constitution

  • Climate Change - continue to support the Minnesota Environmental Partnership in working toward solutions to climate change.

  • Racial Justice - continue to use a lens of racial justice in all our legislative work, and to especially acknowledge the intersectionality of racial justice with voting rights, women’s rights and climate change.

LWVMN will also engage in education and support of the following issues, as time and resources allow. 

  • Civics Education - HF2497/SF2684: Education Finance Omnibus Bill

  • Firearms safety - measures within our Program for Action that are included in SF2909 - Omnibus Judiciary and Public Safety appropriations - such as criminal background checks on firearms transfers

  • Legislative Transparency – support improving legislative rules and practices to improve transparency and public participation, including ending the use of large omnibus bills or late-session rush.

  • National Popular Vote Compact - replace the electoral college with the National Popular Vote - a top priority of LWVUS (see why) and will go into effect once states with 270 electoral votes have adopted this bill. So far, states with 195 electors have signed on, Minnesota should be next. Learn more here.

    • Provision that MN agrees to elect the President by National Popular Vote included in HF1830 (read testimony from LWVMN member)

  • People Powered Fair Maps – continue to educate legislators and members of the public on redistricting. 

  • Moore v. Harper - educate our members and remain vigilant in defense against the “Independent State Legislature Theory” becoming a governing law for federal elections. (LWVMN has joined the Amicus Brief in the case before the US Supreme Court, with all other 50 LWVs and LWVUS.) 

  • Ranked Choice Voting - continue to support Ranked Choice Voting as an option for local governments, and become further educated about its feasibility for statewide elections (please see LEVMN’s position on our Priorities and Partners page).

    • Secretary of State Ranked Choice Voting Task Force to study voter engagement, education, and improvements included in HF1830 - Omnibus state government and elections

    • See LWVMN’s Support Letter to the Conference Committee on HF1830

  • County Elections - continue to develop our County Observer Corps and advocate for support of fair and accessible elections at the county level.

Deeper Dive

Learn more about these policies through our trusted partners:

 
stylized legislature building
 

Partners

Positions

Members of LWVMN are able to advocate on issues which have been studied, and voted upon by its members. A full review of LWV positions at the US and State levels can be found in our Program for Action. LWV continues to review its programs every 2 years through our Program Planning process, from which positions continue to be updated and new positions added. Information on our current Firearms position update can be found in Member Resources.

Observer Corps / Lobby Corps

LWV members get involved in the legislative process through our Observer & Lobby Corps (OCLC). This process educates members about how to effectively advocate for issues, and acts to inspire and coordinate member action with legislators to achieve our desired policy outcomes. 

Advocacy Resources

Use these helpful resources to be effective at the Capitol this session!

  • Find committee meetings and recordings utilizing the calendar and search for bills, legislators, and recordings plus news and email notifications at the bottom of the page - Homepage

Learn More!

LWVMN continues to follow and be involved in a variety of additional advocacy efforts. Learn more about these important issues. 

News Sources

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