New bill would codify abortion rights into Minnesota law
The House simply wrapped up its first listening to on a invoice to codify abortion rights into Minnesota law. Representative Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, the payments sponsor, stocks the info.
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Audio transcript
CATHY WURZER: Now, the Minnesota House Committee simply wrapped up its first listening to on a invoice to codify abortion rights into Minnesota law. Joining us proper now could be DFL consultant Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn. She’s the invoice’s sponsor, and she’s on the road with us. Welcome to the program, Representative.
CARLIE KOTYZA-WITTHUHN: Hi, Cathy. Thanks for having me.
CATHY WURZER: I recognize that the invoice surpassed out of committee, what, eleven to 8 today?
CARLIE KOTYZA-WITTHUHN: Yes, it truly is correct.
CATHY WURZER: What changed into the listening to like?
CARLIE KOTYZA-WITTHUHN: Well, the closing vote changed into on celebration lines. We had some amendments that we talked thru. And again, declined the ones amendments on celebration lines, unfortunately. We understand that almost all of Minnesotans are with us on this. And after I say us, I suggest the residence DFL, the Senate DFL, the governor. They placed this very the front and middle on this ultimate election. And we understand that they need us to transport urgently on this.
So House File 1, first listening to of the First Health Committee this year, and we are going to preserve shifting thru the method.
CATHY WURZER: So americaA Supreme Court left the query of whether or not abortion is criminal as much as the states. And abortion is already criminal in Minnesota, as you realize. Talk approximately the want that DFLers see to cement the rights in law.
CARLIE KOTYZA-WITTHUHN: Yeah, so it truly is correct. The reproductive rights presently in Minnesota grasp withinside the balance, much like our federal reproductive rights did thru Roe v. Wade. And whilst the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, kicked the choice again to the states. We have a comparable kingdom case known as Doe v. Gomez that presently protects reproductive rights and fitness care access.
But the identical issue that came about to Roe ought to take place right here in Minnesota need to a destiny Supreme Court need to simply renege on that choice.
CATHY WURZER: I simply–
CARLIE KOTYZA-WITTHUHN: –honestly vital to– sorry, to place this into kingdom statute. And as an extra layer of protection.
CATHY WURZER: OK, let’s speak approximately the capacity kingdom statute right here. I changed into studying thru the invoice. It’s quite quick one. What will it without a doubt do?
CARLIE KOTYZA-WITTHUHN: So what the invoice does is places into kingdom law that girls and Minnesotans have the essential proper to make man or woman selections approximately reproductive fitness care. We outline reproductive fitness care then in statute, which– so withinside the first subdivision definition, which could suggest whatever from contraception, sterilization, maternity care, consisting of abortion care, own circle of relatives making plans and fertility services, after which counseling concerning reproductive fitness care.
So I suppose that honestly placing that framework in kingdom statute facilitates human beings recognize what reproductive fitness care means. And ultimately, it prevents us politicians from interfering with a person’s man or woman proper to make the ones fitness care selections.
CATHY WURZER: Help us out right here. If this passes and turns into law, legal guidelines may be amended or repealed in years to come, you realize that. And you probably did point out and it is actual that in ’95, the kingdom Supreme Court dominated that Minnesota’s kingdom Constitution protects abortion rights. But might there be plans to enshrine abortion rights withinside the kingdom Constitution through constitutional modification that might visit electorate? Anything to speak approximately round that?
CARLIE KOTYZA-WITTHUHN: I suppose conversations surrounding a capacity constitutional modification are in method. I can not communicate in particular on that. I have not been worried in lots of the ones conversations. But I understand, I suggest, simply searching throughout the United States, I suggest, we noticed in Kansas, nearly straight away after Roe v. Wade, parents got here to the polls to defeat a constitutional modification that might have disallowed abortion in Kansas.
And so it is some thing clearly it truly is on human beings’s minds, due to the fact we have got visible it take place in different locations throughout the country. And I suppose we are honestly targeted on getting this into statute as, again, an extra layer of protection. But yes, clearly permitting the electorate to have the closing choice sooner or later down the street is a possibility.
CATHY WURZER: So that is House File 1. It’s already surpassed the primary committee test. Will the Senate pass on its abortion rights invoice?
CARLIE KOTYZA-WITTHUHN: I agree with the Pro Act withinside the Senate goes to be having a listening to subsequent week of their fitness committee. I do not have all of the info surrounding that. But I understand that they’re operating to parallel method on this. And we are hoping to get it signed into law as quickly as possible. It does move into impact straight away after it is signed.
CATHY WURZER: What’s the following committee hurdle to your invoice, House File 1?
CARLIE KOTYZA-WITTHUHN: We may be shifting to the Judiciary Committee and seeking to have the invoice optimistically heard on Monday– or excuse me, on Tuesday in judiciary. And then we can have a verbal exchange in kingdom authorities and nearby authorities as well.
CATHY WURZER: All proper. So as you say, it is on the short track. Representative, I recognize your time. Thank you so much.
CARLIE KOTYZA-WITTHUHN: Absolutely. I recognize it, Cathy. Have a extremely good day.
CATHY WURZER: You, too. That’s Representative Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn.
