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HF 560

Use of facial recognition technology as part of the driver's license and Minnesota identification card application process required.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Duane Quam

The bill elevates parental rights as constitutionally protected, repeals the minor gender-transition prohibition, and applies strict scrutiny to any limits on parental decision-mak

Introduction and first reading, referred to Transportation Finance and Policy
#drivers'licenses #training #andidcards #publicsafetydepartment
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 560

Bill Summary: H.F. 560 (Introduced February 24, 2025)

Note about inconsistent metadata
- The bill file provided contains two conflicting pieces of information. The bill title at the top refers to requiring facial‑recognition capture for driver’s license/ID applications, but the full bill text and explanation concern parental rights and repeal of Code section 147.164 (prohibitions on gender‑transition procedure‑related activities for minors). This summary is based on the bill text supplied (parental‑rights / repeal of §147.164). If you intended the facial‑recognition bill, please provide the correct text or confirm the intended bill number.

Purpose / Intent

H.F. 560 seeks to (1) strengthen and restate parental/guardian decision‑making authority over minor children, (2) remove Minnesota Code section 147.164 — identified in the bill as the statutory prohibition on gender transition procedure‑related activities for minors — and (3) make a conforming change to Code section 601.1(2). The bill declares parental decision‑making a constitutionally protected right and specifies that any restriction on that right must be reviewed under strict scrutiny.

Key provisions

  • Amends Minnesota Statutes §601.1, subd. 2 to state that a parent or guardian “bears the ultimate responsibility, and has the fundamental, constitutionally protected right” to make decisions affecting a minor child’s medical care, moral and religious upbringing, residence, education, and extracurricular activities. The amendment asserts any restriction on that right is subject to strict scrutiny.
  • Repeals Minnesota Statutes §147.164. The bill’s explanatory language identifies §147.164 as the provision addressing “gender transition procedure‑related activities — minors — prohibitions.” Repeal therefore would eliminate the statutory ban referenced.
  • Effective date: the Act “takes effect upon enactment.”
  • Retroactive applicability: the Act applies retroactively to March 22, 2023.

Who would be affected

  • Minors and their parents/guardians: changes how parental authority and decision‑making over minors, particularly regarding medical or gender‑related care, is framed in statute.
  • Health care providers and schools: statutory prohibitions previously in §147.164 would be removed, potentially changing legal obligations and permissible services regarding gender‑affirming care for minors.
  • State agencies and courts: repeal and the strict‑scrutiny language may affect enforcement, regulatory guidance, licensing, and litigation concerning minor‑related medical care and parental‑rights challenges.
  • Parties to actions or policies dating from March 22, 2023 onward: retroactive application can affect legal status of actions taken, compliance assessments, or pending litigation.

Procedural status and sponsors

  • Introduced: February 24, 2025.
  • Committee referral(s): the provided record lists both Transportation Finance and Policy and Judiciary referrals (conflict in supplied metadata). Verify current referral and committee assignment on the official Minnesota Legislature website for up‑to‑date status.
  • Sponsors (primary listed): B. Meyer, Croken, Wessel‑Kroeschell, Levin, Brown‑Powers, Kurth, Amos Jr., McBurney, Wichtendahl.

Notable legal and practical implications

  • Repeal of §147.164 appears intended to remove a statutory prohibition on gender‑transition procedures for minors; the bill does not itself detail what medical procedures or activities were covered by §147.164 — consult the current text of §147.164 for specifics.
  • The bill’s retroactive effect to March 22, 2023 could have consequences for past decisions, provider actions, licensure, or pending litigation; retroactivity can raise complex legal issues.
  • The strict‑scrutiny protection for parental rights elevates the constitutional standard for any future restrictions the state might enact affecting parental decision‑making.

If you want, I can:
- Pull and summarize the existing §147.164 to show exactly what would be repealed.
- Check the Minnesota Legislature website for current committee referrals and bill text versions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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