The Minnesota Migration Act is a proposed bill aimed at studying and providing reparations grants for American descendants of chattel slavery residing in Minnesota. The bill includes the following key provisions:

1. Establishment of the Minnesota Migration Act Account

• The account is created in the special revenue fund within the state treasury.
• Funds are appropriated to the Commissioner of Human Rights for the administration of grants through the Minnesota Migration Act Advisory Council.

2. Findings and Acknowledgment of Historical Injustices

• The bill outlines how slavery and systemic racism have negatively impacted African Americans, including through:

  • The use of enslaved Black labor to build American wealth.
  • The illegal enslavement of Dred and Harriet Scott at Minnesota’s Fort Snelling.
  • Systemic discrimination through Jim Crow laws, mass incarceration, housing discrimination, and destruction of Black communities (e.g., the removal of the Rondo neighborhood for freeway construction).
  • Persistent economic, healthcare, and opportunity disparities between Black and white Minnesotans.
  • The aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, which highlighted ongoing racial injustices.

• The state issues formal apologies for:

  • Enslavement at Fort Snelling.
  • Lynching in Duluth (1920).
  • Destruction of Black communities in Minnesota (e.g., Rondo).
  • Police violence and systemic racism.
  • Racial housing covenants.
  • The presence of slavery-related language in the Minnesota Constitution.

3. Creation of the Minnesota Migration Act Advisory Council

• Purpose: The council will study historical economic benefits gained from slavery and systemic racism and develop criteria for distributing compensatory grants to affected individuals and communities.

• Duties:

  • Review damage caused by slavery and systemic racism.
  • Recommend reparations and systemic reforms.
  • Identify eligible recipients for compensation.
  • Administer grant funding for economic and social programs.

• Membership:

  • 19 voting members appointed by the Commissioner of Human Rights, including legislators, educators, business leaders, community activists, faith leaders, healthcare professionals, historians, youth members, and legal/policy experts.
  • 6 non-voting ex-officio members (state department officials).

• The council will operate for five years and meet at least monthly.

4. Grant Administration & Reporting

• The advisory council will distribute grants based on established criteria to address systemic racism and economic harm.
• Grantees and project outcomes must be reported annually to the legislature, detailing how funds are used to address historical injustices.

5. Appropriations

• $100 million in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated for the Minnesota Migration Act account.
• Additional funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 is allocated to support the council’s operations, including staffing.

Conclusion

The Minnesota Migration Act proposes a formal acknowledgment of harm caused by slavery and systemic racism, establishes a fund for reparations, and creates a council to study and implement programs addressing racial disparities in Minnesota.