Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to propose an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution to update certain terms for consistency with the language used in Minnesota Statutes. These changes aim to modernize and clarify terminology without altering the legal effect of the constitutional provisions.

Main Provisions

• Language Updates: The bill proposes changes in wording throughout several sections of the Minnesota Constitution. These include updating language to be gender-neutral and more inclusive, such as replacing "his" with "the person's" and "him" with "the governor" or similar appropriate terms.
• Consistency with Statutes: The amendments ensure that the language of the Constitution aligns with current Minnesota Statutes, providing clarity and reducing ambiguity in legal interpretations.
• Severability Clause: If any proposed changes are found to violate the Constitution or significantly alter legal effects, those changes will be severed, and the remaining parts will still be proposed or will remain in effect.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Neutral Language: The amendments systematically replace gender-specific pronouns with gender-neutral language throughout various constitutional sections, reflecting modern standards for inclusivity.
• Technical Adjustments: The proposed amendment does not aim to change the meaning or application of existing laws but instead focuses on updating terminology and grammatical consistency.

Relevant Terms

• Constitutional Amendment
• Gender-neutral language
• Inclusive language
• Minnesota Constitution
• Consistency with Statutes
• Severability