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SF2084 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Supporting Women Act

AI Generated Summary

The Supporting Women Act (S.F. No. 2084) is a proposed Minnesota state bill aimed at establishing a grant program for women's pregnancy centers and maternity homes. The bill outlines eligibility requirements, permissible uses of grant funds, privacy protections, and monitoring procedures for organizations receiving funding.

Key Provisions:

  1. Establishment of Grant Program:

    • The Minnesota Commissioner of Health will administer grants to maternity homes and women's pregnancy centers.
    • Funds will be used to support housing services and other assistance for pregnant women and new mothers.

  2. Definitions:

    • Maternity Home: A supervised community-based group housing setting for pregnant women, new mothers in crisis or experiencing homelessness, and their children.
    • Women's Pregnancy Center: An organization that provides information, referrals, and support to encourage pregnant women to carry pregnancies to term and care for their children post-birth.

  3. Eligibility for Grants:

    • Organizations must be nonprofit.
    • They must provide programs or referrals to assist women during pregnancy and after childbirth.
    • Services must be free or low-cost, with housing offered free of charge.
    • Recipients cannot use grant funds to:
      • Promote or refer for abortions (except when necessary to prevent a mother's death).
      • Perform abortions.
    • Organizations affiliated with abortion providers are ineligible unless they operate independently.

  4. Use of Grant Funds:

    • Women's pregnancy centers can use funds for programs/services supporting mothers before and after childbirth.
    • Maternity homes can use funds for housing, supervision, and programs/services.
    • Services may include medical care, parenting education, mental health support, substance use treatment, housing assistance, employment assistance, financial literacy, child care, and adoption services.

  5. Privacy Protections:

    • Centers must have a privacy policy to ensure women's personal information is protected.
    • Medical care-related information must comply with Minnesota’s patient privacy laws.
    • Grant recipients must share necessary data with the Commissioner of Health for program evaluation.

  6. Monitoring and Review:

    • The Commissioner will collect reports and oversee grant recipients for compliance.

  7. Funding and Appropriations:

    • The bill redirects $4 million annually from sexual and reproductive health services grants toward this new program.
    • FY 2026 and FY 2027 allocations:
      • $3 million per year for pregnancy centers.
      • $1 million per year for maternity homes.

Implications:

  • The bill shifts funding away from sexual and reproductive health services, including organizations supporting abortion access.
  • It prioritizes funding for organizations that promote carrying pregnancies to term and parenting support.
  • Critics may argue it limits reproductive choices, while supporters may see it as strengthening resources for pregnant women and new mothers.

Would you like a more detailed analysis or a comparison with existing programs?

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 02, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 02, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toHealth and Human Services
March 09, 2025SenateFloorActionAuthor added
March 09, 2025SenateFloorActionWithdrawn and returned to author

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill reduces appropriations for the sexual and reproductive health services grants program under section 145.925.",
      "modified": [
        "Reduces general fund appropriations by $4,000,000 in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 for the mentioned program."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "145.925"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill requires compliance with privacy and data handling requirements under sections 144.291 to 144.298 for women's pregnancy centers or maternity homes.",
      "modified": [
        "Mandates compliance with healthcare information privacy provisions for any medical care provided by grant-receiving organizations."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "144.291 to 144.298"
  }
]

Sponsors