Minnesota House Debates, Then Rejects Bill to Restore Grants for Pregnancy Resource Centers

The Minnesota House of Representatives debated House File 25, a bill authored by Representative Zalesnikar to restore state grants for pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes, but the chamber did not adopt the measure after a full day of debate and multiple amendment votes. The clerk recorded “There being 67 ayes and 65 nays,” and the presiding officer announced the bill did not pass.

Representative Zalesnikar, the bill’s author, framed House File 25 as a restoration of a bipartisan program that ran from 2005 through 2023. “House file 25 is really a simple common sense bill,” she said on the floor, saying the measure would reinstate “positive alternative” grants that previously funded services such as parenting classes, car-seat programs and maternity-home support.

Supporters described the grants as an extension of services that had been funded for 17 years. Representative McDonald and others cited state and grant-level data during debate, noting programs had served thousands of women and distributed material supports such as cribs and car seats. Representative McDonald said the grants had helped “over 32,000 women” and enumerated examples including car-seat safety classes and crib provision; several supporters urged reinstating the prior bipartisan approach to funding.

Opponents challenged that characterization and raised concerns about the nature and oversight of crisis pregnancy centers. Representative Gomez recounted a personal experience visiting a center and argued those organizations “go to great pains to make…