On Thursday, Sept. 19, the Minnesota Family Council (MFC) hosted a well-attended town hall meeting at Life Church in Fergus Falls. The event brought together community members to discuss important legislative updates for the 2023-24 biennium. It focused on key issues related to faith and family, emphasizing the restoration of religious liberty protections, the sanctity of life and concerns regarding predatory mobile gambling.

Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts, fostering an open dialogue about the challenges and opportunities facing families in Minnesota. 

Rebecca Delahunt, director of public policy of Minnesota Family Council, expressed her gratitude for the turnout. 

“The neighbors who gathered on Thursday are invested in the community and supportive of the leadership of Senator Rasmusson and Minnesota Family Council to represent their values of life, family, and religious freedom. It was a very encouraging time for all of us,” she said.

State Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls) also joined the discussion as a special guest, providing insights into the current legislative landscape. At the center of the conversation was the restoration of religious liberty protections. During the 2024 legislative session, language was successfully passed to reinstate important religious liberty protections that were removed by a Minnesota law passed last year. This legislation outlines a broad array of activities by faith organizations that are exempt from claims of discrimination.

“I am grateful to the Minnesota Family Council for hosting this event, and I appreciate all the members of our community who attended,” said Rasmusson. “A recent victory for our Minnesota faith community is the restoration of religious liberty protections. This legislation secures fundamental rights into Minnesota law that every American is afforded under the Constitution.”

Another major issue debated at the Capitol this year was the expansion of mobile sports gambling. Many groups of faith, including the MFC, had concerns about the impact sports betting would have on problem gambling in Minnesota. At the town hall event, Rasmusson spoke about his work with a bipartisan group of legislation to stop this bill from passing last session. Notably, the Star Tribune recently profiled Rasmusson’s efforts to address concerns regarding predatory mobile gambling. 

“If the state is to legalize sports gambling, there needs to be greater safeguards in place to protect individuals from problem gambling. I look forward to having further discussions on this topic in future legislative sessions,” said Rasmusson.

Finally, the town hall event focused on the topic of the sanctity of life. In light of recent legislation that severely undermines the respect and dignity of life, the MFC shared with attendees how they can stand up for the most vulnerable.

“As the legal initiative of the Minnesota Family Council, True North Legal remains vigilant in our commitment to protecting and defending our Minnesota values: life, family, and religious freedom,” said Renee Carlson, general counsel for the Minnesota Family Council and True North Legal. “We will continue to set the record straight about our first freedoms from the Capitol, to the courts. We’re in it for the long-haul. It’s events like this town hall, where we get to meet great people from Fergus Falls, that embolden our commitment to our mission, and more importantly our commitment to all Minnesotans.”

The MFC remains committed to advocating for policies that strengthen families and uphold their values. For more information on upcoming events and initiatives, please visit their website at www.mfc.org