Minn. committee hears heated debate on House File 435, lays bill over after questions about inmate placement and safety

The Minnesota House Public Safety Committee on an unspecified date heard more than two hours of testimony and debate on House File 435, a proposal that would define and restrict access to women-only spaces in the Minnesota Correctional Facility–Shakopee and other women’s correctional settings.

Supporters told the committee the measure is intended to protect safety in women-only facilities, while opponents said the bill targets transgender people and would increase risk for an already vulnerable group. The committee laid House File 435 over at the end of the hearing; no final passage or floor vote was recorded.

The bill’s author, identified in the hearing as Representative Franson, described House File 435 as aimed at “protecting biological women and keeping those spaces women only,” and said the change represented “common sense.” Several Republican committee members and witnesses framed the proposal as responding to safety concerns raised at MCF–Shakopee.

Opponents and several Democratic members said the bill singles out transgender people and risks harming them. Representative Pinto told the committee the measure would require the Department of Corrections to undertake “a full…