Bill > SF3536

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to the Minnesota Constitution that would eliminate the existing language allowing slavery or involuntary servitude as a form of criminal punishment. Currently, the state constitution permits forced labor as a punishment for convicted criminals, but this amendment would remove that exception. If approved by voters in the 2026 general election, the constitutional change would broadly prohibit all forms of slavery and involuntary servitude in the state, without the previous caveat that such practices could be used as a criminal punishment. Voters would be asked to decide on the amendment by voting "Yes" or "No" to the specific question: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude as criminal punishment for a crime?" This proposed change reflects a growing national movement to remove language from state constitutions that could be interpreted as allowing forced labor, even in the context of criminal sentencing.

Justice

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF3536&ssn=0&y=2025