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Public Safety Finance and Policy

SIXTH MEETING

2025-2026 Regular Session - Wednesday, February 26, 2025

STATE OF MINNESOTA SIXTH 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 26, 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
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

Members excused:
FEIST, Sandra

A quorum was present.

Representative Moller moved the minutes of February 25, 2025, be approved. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 284 (Heintzeman) Information collected, and scope of background check conducted expanded for noncitizen permit to carry applicants.

Chair Novotny moved HF 284 before the committee.

Representative Heintzeman presented HF 284.

Testifiers:
Bryan Welk, Cass County Sheriff, Minnesota Sheriff’s Association testified in support of HF 284.

Chair Novotny laid over HF 284.

HF 13 (Bliss) Duty to retreat before using reasonable force in defense of self or others eliminated.

Representative Bliss moved HF 13 before the committee with a recommendation it is re-referred to the General Register.

Representative Bliss presented HF 13.





Testifiers:
Rob Doar, Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus testified in support of HF 13.
Brian Gosch, NRA testified in support of HF 13.
Maggiy Emery, Executive Director, Protect MN testified against HF 13.
Sarah Erickson, United Strategies, on behalf of Giffords testified against HF 13.
Dawn Einwalter, Moms Demand Action, testified against HF 13.

Representative Hollins moved the A1 amendment to HF 13 and requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:

AYES
MOLLER, Kelly, Lead
BERG, Kaela
CURRAN, Brion
GREENMAN, Emma
HOLLINS, Athena
JOHNSON, Pete
PINTO, Dave
REHM, Lucy

NAYS
NOVOTNY, Paul, Chair
WITTE, Jeff, Vice Chair
BLISS, Matt
ENGEN, Elliott
HARDER, Bobbie
HUDSON, Walter
REPINSKI, Aaron
SCHWARTZ, Erica
STIER, Terry

On a vote of 8 AYES and 10 NAYS, THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Representative Pinto moved the A2 amendment to HF 13 and requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:

AYES
MOLLER, Kelly, Lead
BERG, Kaela
CURRAN, Brion
GREENMAN, Emma
HOLLINS, Athena
JOHNSON, Pete
PINTO, Dave
REHM, Lucy

NAYS
NOVOTNY, Paul, Chair
WITTE, Jeff, Vice Chair
BLISS, Matt
ENGEN, Elliott
HARDER, Bobbie
HUDSON, Walter
REPINSKI, Aaron
SCHWARTZ, Erica
STIER, Terry

On a vote of 8 AYES and 10 NAYS, THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Chair Bliss renewed the motion to re-refer HF13 to the General Register.

Representative Moller requested a roll call vote for HF 13. The results were as follows:




AYES
NOVOTNY, Paul, Chair
WITTE, Jeff, Vice Chair
BLISS, Matt
ENGEN, Elliott
HARDER, Bobbie
HUDSON, Walter
REPINSKI, Aaron
SCHWARTZ, Erica
STIER, Terry

NAYS
MOLLER, Kelly, Lead
BERG, Kaela
CURRAN, Brion
GREENMAN, Emma
HOLLINS, Athena
JOHNSON, Pete
PINTO, Dave
REHM, Lucy

On a vote of 10 AYES and 8 NAYS, THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 924 (Nash) Certain retired peace officers authorized to possess firearms in the Capitol complex.

Chair Novotny moved HF 924 before the committee with a recommendation that the bill be re-referred to the General Register.

Chair Nash presented HF 924.

Testifiers:
Greg Felber, Sherburne County Commissioner and retired Hennepin County police officer, testified in support of HF 924.

Representative Moller moved the DE1 amendment and requested a roll call vote. The results were as follows:

AYES
MOLLER, Kelly, Lead
BERG, Kaela
CURRAN, Brion
GREENMAN, Emma
HOLLINS, Athena
JOHNSON, Pete
PINTO, Dave
REHM, Lucy

NAYS
NOVOTNY, Paul, Chair
WITTE, Jeff, Vice Chair
BLISS, Matt
ENGEN, Elliott
HARDER, Bobbie
HUDSON, Walter
REPINSKI, Aaron
SCHWARTZ, Erica
STIER, Terry

On a vote of 8 AYES and 10 NAYS, THE AMENDMENT WAS NOT ADOPTED.

Chair Novotny renewed the motion to re-refer HF 924 to the General Register.

Representative Moller requested a roll call vote on HF 924.


AYES
NOVOTNY, Paul
WITTE, Jeff
BLISS, Matt
ENGEN, Elliott
HARDER, Bobbie
HUDSON, Walter
REPINSKI, Aaron
SCHWARTZ, Erica
STIER, Terry

NAYS
MOLLER, Kelly
BERG, Kaela
CURRAN, Brion
GREENMAN, Emma
HOLLINS, Athena
JOHNSON, Pete
PINTO, Dave
REHM, Lucy

THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:46 PM.




Representative Paul Novotny, Chair




Mary McNamara, Committee Legislative Assistant



More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF924 (Nash) - Certain retired peace officers authorized to possess firearms in the Capitol complex.
  • HF284 (Heintzeman) - Information collected and scope of background check conducted expanded for noncitizen permit to carry applicants.
  • HF13 (Bliss) - Duty to retreat before using reasonable force in defense of self or others eliminated.
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:25 - HF284 (Heintzeman) Information collected and scope of background check conducted expanded for noncitizen permit to carry applicants.
22:12 - HF13 (Bliss) Duty to retreat before using reasonable force in defense of self or others eliminated.
1:36:16 - HF924 (Nash) Certain retired peace officers authorized to possess firearms in the Capitol complex.
Runs 1 hour, 46 minutes.


1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes
3. HF 924 (Nash) – Certain retired peace officers authorized to possess firearms in the Capitol complex.
4. HF 284 (Heintzeman) – Information collected and scope of background check conducted expanded for noncitizen permit to carry applicants.
5. HF 13 (Bliss) – Duty to retreat before using reasonable force in defense of self or others eliminated.
6. Adjourn

Testimony: Written testimony or requests to testify in person are due via e-mail to Committee Administrator john.hultquist@house.mn.gov no less than 24 hours prior to the start of the committee hearing. In-person testimony may be limited due to committee time constraints. Committee documents will be posted in advance of the hearing.