Legislative Update - The Need for Public Safety

Dear Granite City Neighbors, 

We’re well into the legislative interim now, and though committee hearings and floor sessions are no longer taking place, that doesn’t mean that we should stop seeking solutions for the problems our community and state are facing. 

The recent shootings we've seen here in St. Cloud, and what we're seeing all across the state, is too much violence and not enough cops. That shooting happened just about a mile away from my house, and for some of you, I know it was even closer. It's unacceptable. It is a direct threat to the safety of our families.

I spoke to Kare 11 about this problem, and the solutions I’m proposing, which you can watch here. 

This year, I partnered with local law enforcement to craft HF 4338, a bill to invest $35 million for the Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Board to award grants to eligible police departments throughout the state for officer recruitment and retention bonuses ranging from $5,000-$10,000. 

For police departments to be eligible, they must follow - as St. Cloud already does - transparency and accountability measures. These include a civilian review board, a community policing agreement or written community engagement strategies, and body cameras, squad cameras, or both. Additionally, they must have a certain percentage of loss in the number of police officers employed with the agency - we want the dollars going to the communities who need it most. 

Our legislation is a simple, yet effective way to get police departments funding as soon as possible, while also incentivizing transparency and accountability measures to enhance safety and community trust. Inaction by Senate Republicans stopped any sort of Public Safety legislation in its tracks this year, but whether they join us at the table for a special session or not, I will continue working towards the solutions that Minnesotans need to be safe in our communities. 

Frontline Worker Bonus - Deadline This Friday!

Here’s a quick reminder that the application period for the frontline worker bonus ends this Friday, July 22. This session, I successfully fought for the bipartisan compromise that delivered a $500 million investment in these bonuses, which will go out to the Minnesotans who kept our state running during the darkest days of the pandemic. You can find more information here. 

Stay Connected

My latest column - and the last of the “legislative season”- has been published by the St. Cloud Times, which you can read here. This month, I recapped the important work that was left on the 1-yard line, and why we shouldn’t settle for that outcome. With tax cuts, new investments, and cost-saving measures for Minnesotans’ families, these common sense, bipartisan solutions are popular and effective - and we should vote them into law.

Always feel free to reach out at rep.dan.wolgamott@house.mn, or give me a call at (651) 296-6612. If you haven’t already, you can also “like” and follow my official Facebook page, or subscribe to these updates. Thank you for the incredible honor of representing our community!

Sincerely,

Rep. Dan Wolgamott