Minnesota House fails to pass protection for born-alive infants, support for pregnant women
- MCCL
- Mar 14
- 2 min read
March 13, 2025 | Press Release
ST. PAUL — Today the Minnesota House of Representatives failed, on a party-line 67-66 vote, to pass a bill to require medically appropriate lifesaving care for infants who survive abortion (68 votes were needed for passage). The House also voted down, 67-65, a measure to provide grants to organizations that assist new mothers, babies, and families.
"Infants born after abortion should not be left to die without the care that other babies receive. Moms and families deserve our support in the midst of difficult circumstances. But DFL lawmakers have just voted against that care and against that support," said MCCL Co-Executive Director Cathy Blaeser. "These are extreme and inhumane positions that Minnesotans rejected in last fall's election and will continue to speak out against."
The first bill, the Born Alive Infant Protection Act (HF24), would restore a former (bipartisan) policy ensuring appropriate measures to “preserve the life and health" of born-alive infants, which was repealed by the DFL-led legislature and Gov. Tim Walz in 2023. Opponents falsely claimed the bill would mandate futile measures for babies with lethal conditions; in truth, it would only require "reasonable measures consistent with good medical practice," and reports from the Minnesota Department of Health show that doctors have never interpreted the policy to require extraordinary or burdensome treatment.
The second bill, the Supporting Women Act (HF25), would provide grants to pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes that assist pregnant women, new mothers, and their children. These organizations may offer services including housing assistance, nutrition, adoption, parenting education, and much more. Previously, the bipartisan Positive Alternatives Act, enacted in 2005, provided grants to such programs, but it was repealed by the DFL majority in 2023.