Minnesota State Wire

[ST. PAUL, MN] – Ahead of the one-year anniversary, Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today reflected on the Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court decision and Minnesota’s work to protect reproductive freedom and health care.

“One year ago, I pledged that Minnesota would not turn back the clock on reproductive rights in Minnesota as long as I remained in office. Since that pledge, Minnesota became the first state in the country to codify abortion rights into law,” said Governor Walz. “We have become an island of freedom for women seeking to make their own health care decisions. In Minnesota, we’ll continue to deliver on our promises and protect your rights – not take them away.”

“So many of us remember exactly where we were when the Dobbs decision came down a year ago. I called my mom and she told me to keep fighting for access to abortion. Last June, we promised to protect abortion and reproductive health care in Minnesota, and I’m proud to say we kept that promise,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “Reproductive freedom was on the ballot last November, and Minnesotans were clear: we will not go backwards. We listened to Minnesotans, held their stories with great care and tenderness, and came together to protect their rights. For all of the mothers, grandmothers, aunties, and advocates who fought before us and for our future generations, we will keep fighting to make sure everyone has access to safe, affordable reproductive health care.”

Following the Supreme Court decision in June 2022, Governor Walz took executive action to protect reproductive health care services in Minnesota. Executive Order 22-16 protected people seeking or providing abortions in Minnesota from laws in other states.

In January, Governor Walz signed the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act into law, establishing reproductive freedom as a fundamental right for every Minnesotan. The PRO Act establishes that every Minnesotan has a fundamental right to make decisions about their own reproductive health, including the right to use or refuse reproductive health care, to continue a pregnancy and give birth, and to obtain an abortion.

In April, Governor Walz signed the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, ensuring 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.

Original source can be found here.