Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota House Bill HF675 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1.1 A joint resolution
2	2	1.2 relating to Religious Freedom Day.
3	3	1.3 WHEREAS, on January 16, 1786, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which was
4	4	1.4written by Thomas Jefferson and championed by James Madison and served as the model for the
5	5	1.5relationship between religion and government taken by the Framers of the Constitution in 1787,
6	6	1.6and the First Amendment in 1789, was enacted in Virginia; and
7	7	1.7 WHEREAS, today we understand that religious freedom is a fundamental American and
8	8	1.8human right. We declare that religious freedom is a cornerstone of democracy. We declare that
9	9	1.9religious freedom is not a privilege for the few, but a right for all. We embrace this fundamental
10	10	1.10right as one that applies to people of all religious affiliations or beliefs and people of no religious
11	11	1.11affiliations or beliefs; and
12	12	1.12 WHEREAS, we recognize that the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom has equality as a
13	13	1.13guiding and governing principle in declaring: "...all men shall be free to profess, and by argument
14	14	1.14to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge,
15	15	1.15or affect their civil capacities." Thomas Jefferson rightly understood that religious freedom
16	16	1.16encompasses "the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan, the Hindoo, and infidel of
17	17	1.17every denomination"; and
18	18	1.18 WHEREAS, we hold that religious liberty remains essential to the health and future of our
19	19	1.19democracy; and
20	20	1.20 WHEREAS, in 1992, Congress designated January 16th as Religious Freedom Day to
21	21	1.21commemorate the enactment of the Virginia Statute; and
22	22	1.22 WHEREAS, in that spirit, we recall the centrality of the Virginia Statute in shaping religious
23	23	1.23freedom as one of the highest aspirations of the American experiment; NOW, THEREFORE,
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25	25	REVISOR SGS/BM 25-0287401/27/25
26	26	State of Minnesota
27	27	This Document can be made available
28	28	in alternative formats upon request
29	29	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
30	30	H. F. No. 675
31	31	NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
32	32	Authored by Freiberg02/13/2025
33	33	The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on State Government Finance and Policy 2.1 BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it recognizes January
34	34	2.216th as Religious Freedom Day, a day in which the legislature celebrates the diversity of Minnesotans
35	35	2.3and recognizes the right of each person to hold beliefs and practice religion according to their
36	36	2.4conscience.
37	37	2.5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Minnesota promotes and
38	38	2.6encourages respect for all individuals regardless of their religious beliefs or affiliations or lack of
39	39	2.7such beliefs.
40	40	2.8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it will work
41	41	2.9to protect the rights of all people to practice their religion, free from interference in their beliefs,
42	42	2.10whether from government or any other institution or group.
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