The Minnesota House of Representatives debated, then tabled a bill Friday that would ask voters to approve a constitutional amendment barring discrimination based on someone’s race, class, color, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or “decisions about all matters relating to one’s own pregnancy or decision whether to become or remain pregnant.”

DFLers in the chamber said it was important for lawmakers to send the question to voters in 2026. If approved in both chambers, Minnesotans would decide whether to add the language to the state’s Constitution.

Republicans, meanwhile, said the amendment could abridge religious freedom and wasn’t transparent in what it would cover.

The proposal is expected to come up for a House vote later this weekend. With three voting days left in the legislative session, it’s not clear whether the measure could clear the Minnesota Senate, where it would need every Democrat’s support.

Bill author Rep. Kaohly Her, DFL-St. Paul, said the state needed more explicit protections in its constitution to prevent future lawmakers or courts from passing laws or issuing rulings that could limit Minnesotans’ rights.

“Case law and statutes are subject to political winds and the makeup of the political leanings of judges,” Her said. “Rights should not hinge on these changes.”

Republicans in the chamber brought several amendments that would exempt private entities from the provision, add protections based on someone’s age and pare back the amendment to solely bar discrimination on the basis of sex.

House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, and other GOP lawmakers said the amendment could limit religious freedom and set back the rights of women and girls.

“Equality is not a political stunt. We believe in equal rights under the law. And the underlying bill does not provide that,” Demuth said. “It would be unconscionable to enshrine favoritism and inequality in the Minnesota State Constitution.”

The bill has spurred a political standoff at the Capitol over other issues, including a capital investment bill, a raft of budget touch-up bills, a proposal to legalize sports betting and a proposal to boost funding to rural emergency medical services.

House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, said Thursday that the House would move forward with the bill, even as Republicans pledged to pull votes for a public construction project bill if the equal rights amendment moved forward.

“We will never trade infrastructure projects against Minnesotans’ civil rights,” Hortman told reporters. “We absolutely will not bargain on that.”

GOP leaders at the Capitol said publicly this week they want Democrats to drop the ERA as part of a deal to pass a capital investment bill. Republicans have leverage over the bill and related issues because their votes are needed to let the state take on debt to fund projects.

Demuth said Thursday the bonding bill was in jeopardy because Democrats weren’t meaningfully including Republicans in negotiations. She said that and efforts to cut off debate on the House floor Wednesday left GOP lawmakers frustrated.

“I would say everything is at risk right now,” Demuth told reporters. “Bonding, sports betting, Uber/Lyft (driver minimum wage), everything where Republican votes may be needed is at risk because of the action taken last night.”

Even if their votes aren’t needed to pass, Republicans could have a hand in what gets done before the end of the legislative session. They can burn down the remaining hours with floor debates and amendments.

Hortman has said she would cut off debate if it seems Republican members are drawing out debate to postpone votes.

Gov. Tim Walz said he hopes Republicans will limit drawn out debates on the floor and allow the equal rights amendment to come up for a vote.

“They’re holding up legislative work up there, because they don’t want Minnesotans to vote (on) whether women should have equal protections under the law and have reproductive freedoms,” Walz said Friday.

Walz said he does not plan to call a special legislative session and thought lawmakers could wrap up their business before 11:59 p.m. Sunday, the deadline for casting votes.

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