Senator Mark Koran (R–North Branch) this week joined hundreds of Minnesota families at the Rally for Health and Parental Rights at the State Capitol.

“Parents know what’s best for their children,” said Sen. Koran. “Thanks to all the families who showed up to fight for their rights. This is how we protect our freedoms, especially when it comes to school choice, whether that’s homeschool, public, or private, and health decisions like vaccinations. Parental rights need to be protected, and over 1,000 parents, kids, and entire families showed up to make their voices heard.”

The rally was organized by Minnesotans for Health & Parental Rights, a community-based organization dedicated to protecting parental rights in education and medical decisions.

Families turned out in large numbers partly in response to Senate File 3439, legislation moving through the Senate that would eliminate the “conscientiously held beliefs” exemption for the MMR vaccine. In Minnesota, religious objections currently fall under this exemption.

The bill was recently heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and is now headed to the Education Policy Committee.