STATE OF MINNESOTA SEVENTEENTH 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 3:01 PM on April 2, 2025, in Room 120 of the State Capitol Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
NOVOTNY, Paul, Co-Chair
MOLLER, Kelly, Co-Chair
WITTE, Jeff, Vice Chair
FEIST, Sandra, Vice Chair
BERG, Kaela
BLISS, Matt
DURAN JR, Bidal
ENGEN, Elliott
GREENMAN, Emma
HARDER, Bobbie
HOLLINS, Athena
HUDSON, Walter
JOHNSON, Pete
REHM, Lucy
REPINSKI, Aaron
SCHWARTZ, Erica
STIER, Terry
TABKE, Brad
Members Excused:
CURRAN, Brion
PINTO, Dave
A quorum was present.
Representative Duran moved to approve the minutes of April 1, 2025. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 538 (Stier) Use of deadly force by peace officer to protect person from apparent death modified.
Representative Stier moved HF 538 before the committee.
Representative Stier presented HF 538.
Testifiers:
Imran Ali, Legal Counsel, Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, testified in support of HF 538.
Representative Stier moved the A2 amendment to HF 538 before the committee. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Stier renewed the motion to re-refer HF 538, as amended, to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 2825 (Hudson) Access to expunged conviction records of applicants for licenses and positions in private security industry provided.
Representative Walter Hudson moved HF 2825 before the committee.
Representative Hudson moved the A1 amendment before the committee. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Hudson presented HF 2825.
Testifiers:
Richard Hodsdon, Chair, Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services testified in support of HF 2825.
Greg Cook, Executive Director, Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services, testified in support of HF 2825.
Representative Hudson renewed the motion to re-refer HF 2825, as amended, to the Committee on Judiciary Finance and Civil Law. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 963 (Rarick) Commissioner of Corrections authorized to revoke earned incentive credits granted under Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act.
Chair Novotny moved HF 963 before the committee.
Chair Novotny moved the A2 amendment before the committee. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Testifiers:
Commissioner Paul Schnell, Minnesota Department of Corrections, testified in support of HF 963, as amended.
Chair Novotny renewed the motion to re-refer HF 963, as amended, to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 3006 (Moller/Novotny) Department of Corrections deficiency funding request.
Chair Moller moved HF 3006 before the committee.
Testifiers:
Commissioner Paul Schnell, Minnesota Department of Corrections testified in support of HF 3006.
Chair Moller renewed the motion to re-refer HF 3006 to the Committee on Ways and Means. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF 467 (Harder) Sunset of correctional fees repealed.
Representative Harder moved HF 467 before the committee.
Representative Harder presented HF 467.
Testifiers:
Mike McMullen, Supervisor of Wright County Probation, testified in support of HF467.
Will Cooley, Policy Director, Minnesota Justice Research Center testified in opposition to HF 467.
Representative Harder moved the DE1 amendment to HF 467.
Representative Harder presented the DE1 amendment to HF 467. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Commissioner Paul Schnell, Minnesota Department of Corrections testified on DE1 amendment to HF 467.
Chair Novotny laid over HF 467, as amended.
HF 2812 (Stier) Commissioner of corrections required to charge a fee for incarcerated person communications services.
Representative Stier moved HF 2812 before the committee.
Testifiers:
Commissioner Paul Schnell, Minnesota Department of Corrections testified on HF 2812.
Chair Novotny laid over HF 2812.
Vice Chair Witte assumed the gavel at 4:10 PM.
HF 2892 (Novotny) Community justice reinvestment account in the special revenue fund eliminated.
Chair Novotny moved HF 2892 before the committee.
Chair Novotny presented HF 2892.
Vice Chair Witte laid over HF 2892.
HF 2532 (Novotny) Community crime and violence prevention account eliminated, and unexpended amount transferred to the general fund.
Chair Novotny moved HF 2532 before the committee.
Chair Novotny presented HF 2532.
Testifiers:
Maggiy Emery, Executive Director, Protect MN, testified in opposition to HF 2532.
Jordan Borer-Nelson, Executive Director, MAD DADs testified in opposition to HF 2532.
Ryan Pervananze, Director of Economic Development, Carlton County, testified in opposition to HF 2532.
Leah Kondes, Moms Demand Action, testified in opposition to HF 2532.
Tom Steinmetz, Executive Director, Healthy Community Initiative, testified in opposition to HF 2532.
Justin Terrell, Executive Director, Minnesota Justice Research Center, testified in opposition to HF 2532.
Sheriff Bob Fletcher, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department, testified in opposition to HF 2532.
Vice Chair Witte laid over HF 2532.
HF 2875 (Nash) Crime of damage or theft to telecommunications equipment extended to broadband and cable services.
Vice Chair Witte moved HF 2875 before the committee.
Representative Nash presented HF 2875.
Testifiers:
Melissa Wolf, Executive Director, Minnesota Cable Association, testified in support of HF 2875.
Vice Chair Witte laid over HF 2875.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:54 PM.
Representative Paul Novotny, Chair
Mary McNamara, Committee Legislative Assistant