Purpose

The purpose of this bill is to propose an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution that would eliminate provisions allowing slavery or involuntary servitude as a form of punishment for crime.

Main Provisions

• The bill seeks to amend Article I, Section 2 of the Minnesota Constitution to explicitly prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude in any form, including as a punishment for crime.
• If passed, this amendment would ensure that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude could be legally used as a sentence for a convicted individual.

Significant Changes

• Currently, the Minnesota Constitution allows involuntary servitude as a punishment following a criminal conviction. This amendment would remove that exception, aligning the state's constitution with broader modern standards against involuntary servitude.

Submission to Voters

• The amendment will be presented to voters for approval during the 2026 general election.
• Voters will be asked whether they support amending the constitution to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment.

Relevant Terms

• Slavery
• Involuntary Servitude
• Criminal Punishment
• Constitutional Amendment