On Thursday, the Minnesota Senate passed its Judiciary and Public Safety budget bill prioritizing funding for domestic abuse shelters, crime victim services, emergency communications, and 911 services.

A significant advancement included in the bill will close the “intoxication loophole” brought to light by a Supreme Court ruling that overturned a sexual assault conviction because the victim was voluntarily inebriated. The Senate has consistently supported and created stronger laws to combat sexual assault and to bring awareness to victims of sexual assault. 

“Senate Republicans are committed to keeping Minnesotans safe and funding our courts, law enforcement, and corrections needs,” Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria) said. “Combined with our previous reforms, this legislation ensures justice for victims while protecting all Minnesotans from bad actors.”

Notable provisions include: 

• Increased penalties on child pornography, sex trafficking and solicitation of children, and child torture
• Harsher penalties for individuals selling fentanyl
• Increased probation funding to supervise and protect communities where offenders live
• Expansion of alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenders
• Appropriation for the “Healthy Start Act,” a temporary release program for pregnant and postpartum inmates

Senate Republicans are committed to ensuring Minnesota’s constitutionally required public safety responsibilities are met through a robust Judiciary budget. In the 2020 Special Session, Senate Republicans passed a widely supported, bipartisan package of common-sense reforms for Minnesota law enforcement. That legislation included achokehold ban, duty to intervene, training on crisis response and flexibility, and many other reforms to ensure thesafety of our officers and Minnesotans.