The US Federal District Court for the Minnesota District issued an order Wednesday afternoon enjoining a new law that would unconstitutionally restrict the rights of corporations to engage in political speech. The new law – which would have restricted the ability of so-called foreign-influenced corporations to engage in political speech and ballot measures – was set to go into effect January 1, 2024. The Court enjoined the law for the near-term, saying that any restrictions on political speech must be narrowly tailored, and that the restrictions placed on corporations in the new law were not narrowly tailored, and thus, not constitutional. The Court also stated that the Chamber is likely to prevail on the merits of the case going forward.
Kurt Zellers, CEO of the Minnesota Business Partnership, released the following statement: “This is a momentous win for free speech rights and for Minnesota businesses. We are grateful to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce for leading the fight against this cynical attempt to silence Minnesota businesses.”
About the MBP
The Minnesota Business Partnership is comprised of more than 100 CEOs and top executives from Minnesota’s largest employers. Representing a broad range of business interests, political perspectives and personal philosophies, they are united by the Partnership’s mission: Maintain a high quality of life for all Minnesotans by ensuring that the state’s economy remains strong and globally competitive.