STATE OF MINNESOTA SECOND MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
PUBLIC SAFETY FINANCE & POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative Paul Novotny, Chair of the Public Safety Finance & Policy Committee, called the meeting to order at 3:00 PM. on February 12, 2025, in Room 120 of the State Capitol Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
NOVOTNY, Paul, Chair
WITTE, Jeff, Vice Chair
MOLLER, Kelly, DFL Lead
BERG, Kaela
BLISS, Matt
CURRAN, Brion
DURAN JR, Bidal
ENGEN, Elliott
FEIST, Sandra
GREENMAN, Emma
HARDER, Bobbie
HOLLINS, Athena
HUDSON, Walter
JOHNSON, Pete
PINTO, Dave
REHM, Lucy
REPINSKI, Aaron
SCHWARTZ, Erica
STIER, Terry
Non-voting members present:
TABKE, Brad
A quorum was present.
Representative Bliss moved the minutes of February 11, 2025, be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
Caroline Palmer, Violence Prevention Program Unit, Minnesota Department of Health, gave a presentation on Minnesota’s Safe Harbor Program for human trafficking victims.
HF 128 (Rarick) Penalties for engaging in prostitution with minors increased.
Chair Novotny moved HF 128 before the committee.
Representative Rarick presented HF 128.
Testifiers:
Caroline Palmer, Violence Prevention Program Unit, Minnesota Department of Health
Chair Novotny laid over HF 128 for possible inclusion in an omnibus.
HF 131 (Knudsen) Persons subject to stays of adjudication in criminal sexual conduct cases required to register as predatory offenders.
Chair Novotny moved HF 131 before the committee.
Chair Novotny moved the HF 131 A1 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Knudsen presented HF 131.
Testifiers:
Sheriff Bryan Welk, Cass County, testified in favor of HF 131.
Kelsey Holberg, survivor, testified in favor of HF 131.
Chair Novotny laid over HF 131 for possible inclusion in an omnibus.
HF127 (Knudsen) Penalties for creating, distributing, and possessing sexually explicit materials involving children increased.
Chair Novotny moved HF 127 before the committee.
Representative Knudsen presented HF 127.
Testifiers:
Sheriff Jason Riggs, Beltrami County, testified in favor of HF 127.
Ron Hocevar, Scott County Attorney, testified in favor of HF 127.
Kelly Janssen, a citizen lobbyist, testified in favor of HF 127.
Chair Novotny laid over HF 127 for possible inclusion in an omnibus.
HF 286 (Perryman) Local units of government authorized to conduct criminal background checks under certain circumstances.
Chair Novotny moved to re-refer HF 286 to the Committee on Elections Finance and Government Operations.
Representative Perryman presented HF 286.
Testifiers:
Dave Bentrud, retired Waite Park Police Chief, testified in support of HF 286.
Anthony “Tony” Reznicek, Waite Park Police Chief, testified in support of HF 286.
Chair Novotny renewed the motion to re-refer HF 286 to the Committee on Elections Finance and Government Operations. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 130 (Harder) Mandatory minimum sentences established for certain sex trafficking offenses.
Representative Harder presented HF 130.
Chair Novotny laid over HF 130 for possible inclusion in an omnibus.
HF 129 (Repinski) Director of child sex trafficking prevention required to submit a program evaluation each odd-numbered year to the legislature.
Representative Repinski moved to re-refer HF 129 to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy.
Representative Repinski presented HF 129.
Representative Repinski renewed the motion to re-refer HF129 to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 PM.
Representative Paul Novotny, Chair
Mary McNamara, Committee Legislative Assistant