Know your rights to abortion and reproductive healthcare in Minnesota

In its 1995 decision in Doe v. Gomez, the Minnesota Supreme Court found that the Minnesota Constitution guarantees the right of every Minnesotan to terminate a pregnancy. The Court explicitly found that the Minnesota Constitution offers broader protection than the United States Constitution of a person’s fundamental right to make reproductive healthcare choices without state interference. This remains the case despite the U.S. Supreme Court's June 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Minnesotans' rights continue to be protected.

There are multiple federal lawsuits regarding the regulation of mifepristone, one of two drugs used for medication abortions. Mifepristone remains an approved drug for abortion. You can still access mifepristone in Minnesota and throughout the United States. If you are denied access to mifepristone by a provider or pharmacy in Minnesota, please email us at abortion@ag.state.mn.us.

Attorney General Ellison's office continues to issue guidance to Minnesotans about their rights to the reproductive healthcare of their choice, including abortion.

Minnesota Abortion Regulation After the 2023 Legislative Session

This FAQ is intended to give a high-level summary of key abortion legislation passed in 2023 in Minnesota, as well as current guidance for patients and providers.

In the 2023 legislative session, many of Minnesota’s abortion statutes and regulations changed. Most of these changes were included in three significant reproductive health care-related bills. All changes are in effect as of April 28, 2023:

Each of these bills and their most important practical effects on both patients and providers are discussed below.

Guidance for patients seeking reproductive healthcare services

If you want to share concerns about abortion care in Minnesota, especially any ways in which the fundamental right to abortion is being infringed, please email us at abortion@ag.state.mn.us.

If you have questions about your legal rights to provide or support abortion care, or if you have been threatened with arrest, prosecution, or other legal action related to abortion, the Abortion Defense Network may be able to connect you with an attorney who can answer your questions. 

If you have information or concerns about any health care facility that may be providing deceptive or inaccurate information, you can contact the Minnesota Attorney General at:

(651) 296-3353 (Metro Area)
(800) 657-3787 (Greater Minnesota)
(800) 627-3529 (Minnesota Relay)
www.ag.state.mn.us/office/Forms/ConsumerAssistanceRequest.asp

Guidance for providers of reproductive health care services

If you want to share concerns about abortion care in Minnesota, especially any ways in which the fundamental right to abortion is being infringed, please email us at abortion@ag.state.mn.us.

If you have questions about your legal rights to provide or support abortion care, or if you have been threatened with arrest, prosecution, or other legal action related to abortion, the Abortion Defense Network may be able to connect you with an attorney who can answer your questions. 

If you have information or concerns about any health care facility that may be providing deceptive or inaccurate information, you can contact the Minnesota Attorney General at:

(651) 296-3353 (Metro Area)
(800) 657-3787 (Greater Minnesota)
(800) 627-3529 (Minnesota Relay)
www.ag.state.mn.us/office/Forms/ConsumerAssistanceRequest.asp

Resources

If you want to share concerns about abortion care in Minnesota, especially any ways in which the fundamental right to abortion is being infringed, please email us at abortion@ag.state.mn.us.

If you have questions about your legal rights to provide or support abortion care, or if you have been threatened with arrest, prosecution, or other legal action related to abortion, the Abortion Defense Network may be able to connect you with an attorney who can answer your questions.

Consumer Alert: Crisis Pregnancy Centers

If you are pregnant and seeking to learn about or discuss your healthcare options, you should consult with a licensed reproductive healthcare provider.

Many so-called Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) may pose as reproductive healthcare clinics despite not providing comprehensive reproductive healthcare to consumers. Indeed, some CPCs do not provide any healthcare services at all. CPCs are private organizations that attempt to prevent or dissuade pregnant people from accessing their constitutionally protected right under the Minnesota Constitution to a safe and legal abortion.

For example, a recent comprehensive study of the CPC industry found that in Minnesota:

Patients seeking information about their reproductive healthcare options, including abortion-related care, should do their homework before scheduling an appointment with a clinic, center, or provider:

When you arrive for your appointment, make sure you are in the right place.  Many CPCs are located near clinics that provide abortion services and may intentionally use names that are similar to nearby medical clinics.

If you have information or concerns about any CPC that may be providing deceptive or inaccurate information, you should contact the Minnesota Attorney General at:

(651) 296-3353 (Metro Area)
(800) 657-3787 (Greater Minnesota)
(800) 627-3529 (Minnesota Relay)
www.ag.state.mn.us/office/Forms/ConsumerAssistanceRequest.asp