Bill > HF3335

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Minnesota's state constitution that would eliminate the current language allowing slavery or involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime. Specifically, the bill seeks to remove the existing provision that permits involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment, effectively prohibiting this practice entirely. If passed, the amendment would be submitted to voters at the 2026 general election, where citizens would vote on the question: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude as criminal punishment for a crime?" The proposed change would modify Article I, Section 2 of the state constitution, striking out the phrase "otherwise than as punishment for a crime of which the party has been convicted" and ensuring that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude would be permitted under any circumstances. This bill represents a significant step towards eliminating a historical legal loophole that has allowed forms of forced labor within the criminal justice system.