On Monday, the Minnesota Senate passed emergency funding for law enforcement, as requested by Governor Walz. The bill, S.F. 2441, secures $2.75 million for the law enforcement response to civil unrest through the Interstate Emergency Management Assistance Compact and $6.3 million for Minnesota State Trooper expenses related to the unrest and Chauvin trial. 

“No matter where you live, all Minnesotans deserve to have the confidence to believe that law enforcement will be prepared to protect them from violence and unrest,” Senator Bill Weber (R-Luverne) said.  “Today, the Senate is passing emergency funding that ensures Minnesota is ready to provide adequate public safety and ensure the preservation of life, safety, and property in the aftermath of the Chauvin trial.”   

Earlier this session, the Senate passed legislation funding for the Law Enforcement Operations Account (LEO), committing to keep Minnesotans safe by securing resources for emergency law enforcement operations tied to extraordinary and unplanned emergency events. 

The Senate also passed its own version of the SAFE act appropriating $20 million for public safety and implementing safeguards to prevent the funds from being repurposed or misused.

House Democrats failed to pass the bill or Governor Walz’s version of the legislation, known as SAFE. Additionally, House Democrats have not introduced any of their own provisions regarding emergency police funding, jeopardizing the safety of residents of the Twin Cities and hindering law enforcement’s ability to respond to emergency events.   

Today’s legislation is the byproduct of a public safety conversation between legislative leaders and the Governor this weekend. Legislative leaders all agreed with the importance of getting the bill done at the time of the request.

The bill now goes to the House for consideration.