HF3335

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to propose an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution. It aims to eliminate language that allows slavery or involuntary servitude as a form of criminal punishment, aligning state law with contemporary human rights standards.

Main Provisions

• The bill seeks to amend Article I, Section 2 of the Minnesota Constitution.
• The proposed amendment explicitly states there shall be no slavery or involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime.
• The amendment will be presented to the voters in the 2026 general election, where they can vote "Yes" or "No" on whether to change the state constitution accordingly.

Significant Changes

• Currently, the Minnesota Constitution permits involuntary servitude as a punishment for a crime. This bill aims to remove this exception, thereby prohibiting any form of slavery or involuntary servitude, even as punishment for a crime.

Relevant Terms

• Slavery
• Involuntary Servitude
• Criminal Punishment
• Constitutional Amendment
• Human Rights