The proposed bill establishes the "Defend the Guard Act" in Minnesota, which introduces new legal provisions regarding the deployment of the Minnesota National Guard. It defines "active duty combat" as participation in armed conflict, hazardous services related to armed conflict, or duties through instruments of war. Additionally, it specifies that an "official declaration of war" must be made by the United States Congress for the Minnesota National Guard to be released into active duty combat.

Under this act, the Minnesota National Guard and its members cannot be deployed into active duty combat unless Congress has either declared war or taken specific actions to call forth the Guard for particular purposes, such as repelling invasions or suppressing insurrections. The governor is required to ensure compliance with these stipulations, although the act does not restrict the governor's ability to consent to the deployment of Guard members for civil support missions within the U.S. and its territories.