A path to racial and economic justice
What are Racial Equity Impact Notes?
This year, our lawmakers could disrupt racial and economic injustice in Minnesota by passing a bill that would proactively tackle disparities in the form of Racial Equity Impact Notes. These notes would provide an assessment of the racial economic disparities that may be created or worsened by legislation, and ensure that communities that have been marginalized and overlooked are fully considered in the implementation of policies that impact our daily lives.
This legislation is being moved in the state house as HF (House File) 2821 and in the state senate as SF (Senate File) 3267.
Why are Racial Equity Impact Notes important?
As bill author Rep. Sencer-Mura shared, “Some bills that may seem on the surface to be having really positive effects, when you actually dig into the data, can have disparate effects on different racial groups … when we know better, we do better.”
How can we pass Racial Equity Impact Notes into law?
Right now, lawmakers are setting this racial justice legislation up to fail by stalling its movement through the legislature. To be passed into law, every bill needs to be heard at and supported in committee hearings before being brought to a vote - but committee chairs are failing to get this legislation heard at senate and house committees, and our lawmakers aren’t giving it the support it needs to be passed into law.
Act for racial and economic justice by contacting your lawmakers:
Join us in contacting two state senators who could advance its support in the senate. Sen. Zaynab Mohamed is the bill’s author, and Sen. Bobby Joe Champion is one of the bill’s co-sponsors and chair of a committee that could move this bill towards becoming a law. They need to hear from their constituents, and be reminded of our commitment to racial and economic justice.
Ask them to support Racial Equity Impact Notes and ensure its introduction to and passage through committee hearings. Remind them that by doing so, they will demonstrate their commitment to advancing racial equity and justice in Minnesota, disrupting inequity, and empowering our communities to live with dignity and joy.