Minnesota Captive Audience Law Survives Challenge: Related Considerations for Religious Organizations in Minnesota

In 2023, the Minnesota Legislature passed an anti-captive audience law, which prohibits employers from taking any adverse employment action against an employee for refusing or declining to attend meetings or receive communications where an employer shares its opinion “about religious or political matters” and aggrieved employees can file a private right of action against their employers. See Minn. Stat. § 181.531. Under this law, "religious matters" means matters relating to religious belief, affiliation, and practice, and the decision to join or support any religious organization or association. The Minnesota law DOES NOT provide any exception for churches, houses of worship, or other religious organizations, unlike California, Illinois, and Washington, all of which provide exemptions for