Recently the Minnesota State Legislature passed bills related to restoring voting rights for felons and allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. Here’s an update on these two legislative efforts:

Restore the Vote: On February 21st, the Minnesota Senate, by a vote of 35-30, approved legislation that would give felons leaving prison or jail the right to vote once more. Governor Tim Walz is expected to sign the bill. According to the ACLU of Minnesota, about 50,000-55,000 Minnesotans are impacted by this change in the law. Read more here.

Update 3.03.23: Gov. Tim Walz has signed the Restore the Vote bill into law.

Driver’s License for All: On the morning of February 22nd, the Driver’s License for All bill passed the Senate by a vote of 34-31. This bill will allow undocumented Minnesotans to obtain a driver’s license. Any person who is interested in obtaining a driver’s license needs only to provide a Minnesota address. This bill removes the requirement put in place in 2003 that required proof of legal residency.

Update 3.07.23: Gov. Walz has signed the Driver’s Licenses for All bill into law.