Gov. Walz has signed an executive order that protects Minnesota's abortion services from laws in neighboring states, nearly all of the poised to ban the procedure following Friday's US Supreme Court ruling that struck down Roe vs. Wade.
The Governor also says he'll decline to honor requests to extradite individuals who are accused of committing acts related to reproductive health care that are not criminal offenses in Minnesota.
“My office has been and will continue to be a firewall against legislation that would reverse reproductive freedom,” said Walz. “This order shows our administration’s commitment to protecting patients and health care providers. Our administration is doing everything we can to protect individuals’ right to make their own health care decisions.”
Minnesota's access to abortion services remains in effect following the Doe vs. Gomez ruling, which came in 1995.
The Supreme Court's ruling stopped most abortions in South Dakota and Wisconsin, while North Dakota's law to end abortions is triggered to take effect after 30 days.
In Iowa, the defeat of Roe does not immediately change any laws but it allows state lawmakers to approve more abortion restrictions.
Minnesota 7th district Republican Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach said she's ecstatic about the Supreme Court decision, adding that she believes the 1972 ruling was unconstitutional from the beginning.
A spokesman for Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life said the group's new goal is to defeat Doe vs. Gomez.
Hundreds marched in downtown Minneapolis on Friday night to protect the Supreme Court ruling.
One protester said she's concerned about unintended consequences, such as how the ruling will affect people struggling to find care.
Others expressed fear of Democrats losing control of the governor's seat, which would eliminate Minnesota's new status as an island for legal abortion access in the upper midwest.
Former state Senator Scott Jensen, the GOP's endorsed candidate for governor, has said he would seek a total ban on abortions and instead offer, in his words, "caring alternatives" like universal adoption and family planning measures.