Combined public safety, judiciary budget bill heads to House Floor

The session’s second omnibus budget bill heading to the House Floor is a twofer.

The House Ways and Means Committee merged the House judiciary and public safety finance budget bills Tuesday before approving the package as HF2432. The merger aligns the bill with the Senate committee structure, making it easier for potential conference committee activity.

Together, HF2432 would appropriate $2.23 billion for public safety ($50 million above February base) and $1.43 billion for the judiciary ($30 million increase) in the 2026-27 biennium. Rep. Paul Novotny (R-Elk River), a public safety committee co-chair with Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL-Shoreview), is the sponsor.

[MORE: View the public safety, judiciary spreadsheets]

The judiciary portion of the bill comes from HF2300, sponsored by Rep. Peggy Scott (R-Andover), who co-chairs that committee with Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester).

It would fund the courts, civil legal services, Guardian ad Litem Board, Tax Court, Uniform Laws Commission, Board on Judicial Standards, Board of Public Defense, and Human Rights Department.

Judiciary policy changes in the bill would establish private privileges for participants in restorative justice victim-offender conferences; allow courts to charge fees for private attorneys to access court documents; modify the definition of “custodian” in orders of protection; and modify procedures for foreclosure sales.

[MORE: Judiciary committee considers $1.43 billion budget bill for 2026-27 biennium]

The public safety portion would fund the Corrections and Public Safety departments, Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, Private Detective Board, Ombudsperson for Corrections, and Clemency Review Commission.

[MORE: Minnesota public safety officials warn of potential cuts under proposed budget]

Public safety policy changes would create a Minnesota Victims of Crime Account; make it a crime to knowingly cause or permit a child or vulnerable adult to be exposed to, have contact with, or ingest fentanyl; extend the statute of limitations for first-degree arson from five to 10 years; require prisons to maintain an ample supply of opiate antagonists (Narcan) to enable staff to rapidly respond to opioid overdoses; and mandate consecutive or executed sentences for a person who commits an assault against a sheriff or sheriff’s deputy while the person is an inmate of a local correctional facility.