The Minnesota House of Representatives early Friday morning passed what's called the transgender refuge bill, a measure that prevents out-of-state laws from interfering in the practice of gender-affirming health care.
The 68-62 vote came at the end of an all-night floor session that ended not long after 5:00 a.m.
DFL Representative Leigh Finke of St. Paul sponsored the bill, saying there is a responsibility to create more space for the community to live their lives without fear of violence, abuse, or political attack.
Finke is the first trans-woman elected to the Minnesota House.
Republicans opposed the measure, with Representative Peggy Scott of Andover saying the measure allows children to seek and receive radical medical treatments … all without their parents’ guidance.
There is a similar bill making its way through the Minnesota state Senate.
