Minnesota's Senate File 2402 — which would, if enacted, have required school districts in the state to "provide instruction to students in grades 9 to 12 exploring the contrast between the scientific facts on how sickness, disease, pain, suffering, and death relate to the existence of complex living organisms, and how sickness, disease, pain, suffering, and death are a consequence imposed by the Creator of complex living organisms" — died in committee on April 4, 2025, when a deadline for committees to act favorably in the house of origin passed.
The purpose of such instruction, according to the bill, is "[t]o advance critical thinking skills in history and science," but it is not specified in what type of classes — history, science, or health — it would be presented. The bill was introduced on March 14, 2025, by Glenn H. Gruenhagen (R-District 17) and three of his colleagues, and referred to the Senate Education Policy Committee, where it died.
Gruenhagen previously introduced the identical Senate File 517 in 2023; it died in committee. While serving in the House of Representatives, Gruenhagen introduced a substantially similar bill, House File 2779, in 2022, as Hemant Mehta observed (February 15, 2023) on his Friendly Atheist Substack. The bill was referred to the House Education Policy Committee; received a cosponsor, John Poston (R-District 9A), who is no longer in the legislature; and apparently died in committee without receiving a hearing.
