[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6545876,"mediaKeyId","3355858-7837c01e41e3193941335c0171784643","parentId",3355858,"title","Conference committee adopts omnibus spreadsheet; committee approves several amendments on public safety and judiciary items","audioSeconds",5804,"startMs",293000,"endMs",6097000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3355858-7837c01e41e3193941335c0171784643&start=293&end=6097","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3355858-7837c01e41e3193941335c0171784643/thumbnail_293000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6545876/Minnesota/Conference-committee-adopts-omnibus-spreadsheet-committee-approves-several-amendments-on-public-safety-and-judiciary-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6545876-7a021e9585fc90751c2a968f3224ac46/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151581&Signature=ImeQLH0Z1FWhcGb~vfoJM6tKmHbhCVQlWwJVwZd2KLX6UsVBX~O82wetIiVpIW5QS6ssHy6bcGcuMZj2zcyb1l3w60Jyp3nRsvjA3Ixh2YYGrTxdzagNMofrGqqq9ZxSRYcyXBTyiPnpmTMIjjUcyp0F~Gi8sd09da7l-nxMhhhgzurUh4gYOw6WlxC2pDI5yZIiO8MDgy50MucIAsUCu~5V0kuogtST~KoW65mYxCdLnSb4f5AzmCxyE7JrheSVUkRTm6M0vfdFYrxMhVeDo-UWS~Vhg4SPlZWYrOTquNxjMghNAWPwwubGkxd7egePxLh0U-ZyY8oIwwptVLRw-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Minnesota Legislature","date","2025-05-17T11:49:39.163Z","article","The Public Safety and Judiciary Conference Committee on May 16 approved a package of policy items and adopted an overall spreadsheet and directed nonpartisan staff to prepare the conference committee report. The committee approved multiple amendments and provisions by voice votes. Key actions recorded in the hearing are listed below.

Votes at a glance (actions adopted in committee):

- Adoption of the A38 amendment (data-sharing controls): Chair Liebling moved adoption of the A38 amendment, described in committee as language to limit sharing of registries and lists of people with disabilities; the committee adopted the amendment on a voice vote.

- Adoption of Article II R5–R7 (Firefighting Service Study): Senator Seaburger moved and the committee adopted language requiring the State Fire Marshal to commission a third-party assessment of firefighting services in Minnesota, including incident analysis, staffing, recruitment/retention and training. Motion prevailed on voice vote.

- Adoption of Article 11 R12 as amended by A46 (portable recording / collision investigations): Senator Latz moved adoption of Article 11 R12, as amended by the A46 amendment. The amendment exempts the State Patrol from some disclosure requirements for unredacted portable recording system data and adds ‘‘guardrails’’ and notice requirements; committee adopted the section and amendment.

- Adoption of nonprofit security grants language (Article 2 R2/A40): Senator Westlund moved adoption of House/Senate language providing one-time funding ($125,000) for nonprofit security grants and a mechanism to process applications if FEMA does not fund an initiative; the committee adopted the language.

- Adoption of judges’ property-record protections and related privacy changes (House lines and A43 amendment): Representative Scott moved adoption of House language and the A43 amendment to expand protections for judicial officials’ personal data and to incorporate stakeholder changes (including clarifications about Department of Human Services appeals judges). The committee adopted the section and the amendment.

- Adoption of A39 (Stillwater decommissioning/closure plan): Chair Muller moved adoption of the A39 amendment with an oral change to move a study deadline from Dec. 31 to Sept. 30; the committee adopted the amendment. (See separate coverage for the Stillwater decommissioning language and stakeholder testimony.)

- Addition of a retired district court judge to a mandatory minimums task force: Chair Novotny offered an oral amendment to the task force membership to add a retired district court judge appointed by the chief justice; the committee adopted the amendment.

- Adoption of A45 / grant administration sunset language for certain DPS grants: Senator Latz moved the A45 amendment (synchronizing side-by-side language) and added a sunset provision that the authority in the subsection expires on 06/30/2027; the committee adopted the amendment.

- Deletion of ballistic-testing mandate from E-Trace language: Senator Latz moved to strike Senate language in Article 2 R24 (lines 27.21–27.25) that required ballistic testing of all expended shell casings for an E-Trace-related provision; the committee adopted the deletion to remove an unmanageable fiscal cost.

- Adoption of spreadsheet and direction to prepare conference committee report: Chairs moved and the committee adopted the agreed spreadsheet and directed nonpartisan staff to prepare the conference committee report and to make technical and conforming changes to reflect members’ intent.

Vote tallies: The transcript records voice votes and repeated \"aye\" responses; the committee recorded that each motion \"prevails\" or \"motion prevails.\" The hearing transcript does not provide roll-call tallies for these actions; the committee adopted the motions and directed staff to prepare the formal report and appropriations articles.

What this means: The adopted language covers a range of public safety and judiciary issues: stronger controls on certain data-sharing, a statewide firefighter service study, clarified access rules and notice requirements around collision and portable recording system data, nonprofit security grant funding, privacy protections for judges’ real-property records, deletion of a costly ballistic-testing mandate, and steps toward decommissioning Stillwater with a required study and written plan. Committee chairs repeatedly asked for further consultation and updates on issues with substantial operational impacts, particularly the Stillwater plan.

Ending: Nonpartisan staff were instructed to prepare the formal conference committee report incorporating the adopted spreadsheet; chairs asked staff to make only technical and conforming changes. Committee members asked for continued updates on implementation items and signaled plans to continue policy work in future sessions.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Conference Committee on HF2432 5/16/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Public Safety and Judiciary Conference Committee on May 16 adopted an agreed spreadsheet, approved multiple policy amendments by voice vote and directed staff to produce the formal conference committee report.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MN, Minnesota","taxId",77817,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6545880,"Conference committee adopts decommissioning study and phased closure language for Stillwater Correctional Facility",0,3099000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3355858-7837c01e41e3193941335c0171784643&start=3099&end=3099","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3355858-7837c01e41e3193941335c0171784643/thumbnail_3099000.jpg","/articles/6545880/Minnesota/Conference-committee-adopts-decommissioning-study-and-phased-closure-language-for-Stillwater-Correctional-Facility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6545880-25eea7ea59bac9a9c6db0c1cfd2db12b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151581&Signature=SNjzlwBmE4yLhB~~prgXEKaPfBCEeCH94RedHxbV2TeewqNTaBtTHPui8g~0wTUsZ4DdiIdhgu-mH8VjGPmAV5Xhi6VwzygwC7on5zPYy8WnV~63XrXveigv8sznFKBM1i-pZX0Gr9-o0FhBrbORPiKRh60f6119emHJMIOlxQlTBIXpOI02cbj8uRzQUQsJhbiNfvzUsOF~hiymHsMp3s-yZvGX4zNpI4h7i5C14lq7Okylo6FcokATtGsjBTDT5u1TIo5BhJ6PstUty2KIDvTXXQuS01g4DfrrIx~8ljlEuCdO5CsgyO3xZ6ExlI8iTv5KvtHK6Ewvc9IP39vT8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Public Safety and Judiciary Conference Committee on May 16 adopted an amendment (A39) that requires a decommissioning study and a written plan for a phased closure of the Stillwater Correctional Facility.

Representative (Chair) Muller moved adoption of the A39 amendment with an oral change moving a study deadline from December 31 to September 30; the motion passed on voice vote. The amendment includes an appropriation for a decommissioning study and requires the Department of Corrections commissioner to develop a written plan addressing staffing, transfers, program continuity, property cleanup and potential future uses for the site.

Union and corrections staff representatives urged the committee to reject or delay closure until a full plan exists. Devin Bruce, director of legislative affairs for MAPE, said the statutory process requiring legislative approval before closing a facility was being undermined and that the administration had begun transfers before the decommissioning study was completed. \"The process that we're witnessing today for the closure of Stillwater Correctional Facility is just utterly disappointing and completely adverse to the original intent of the underlying statute,\" Bruce said.

Ethan Vogel, legislative director with AFSCME Council 5, testified the committee should not approve closure without a concrete plan and oversight, warning of safety risks from moving Stillwater's population—\"roughly 1,200 people\"—into other facilities. Vogel quoted offense breakdowns for Stillwater inmates presented to the committee: \"Of those 579 sentences for homicide. 470 plus sentences for assault or domestic assault... there are 248 misconduct sentences.\" He said shifting that population into facilities without single-cell capacity and adequate staff risks violence and harm to correctional workers.

Commissioner Paul Schnell described the studies as two-fold: an operational \"management study\" addressing staffing, collective bargaining and services, and a decommissioning study addressing property status, cleanup and bond issues. He told the committee that labor-management discussions required by collective bargaining agreements must occur to determine staff impacts and transfers.

What the amendment does: The A39 amendment (as adopted):
- Appropriates funds for a decommissioning study (committee discussion noted $1,000,000; the department indicated those funds are being sourced by a cancellation elsewhere and labeled the item budget-neutral for the biennium).
- Moves the study timeline forward (oral amendment changed the deadline from Dec. 31 to Sept. 30).
- Requires the commissioner to prepare a written closure plan that addresses workforce protections, program continuity, transfers of incarcerated people, property and bonding issues, and clarifies that closure will not shorten or otherwise alter individual sentences as a mechanism for release.

Concerns and next steps: Union witnesses and some committee members said the timetable and leadership agreement that brought closure language to the conference committee allowed too little public vetting and stakeholder engagement. Several chairs urged continued legislative oversight; Chair Latz proposed a joint update in September to receive progress reports on the decommissioning work. Commissioner Schnell said the timing of some actions reflected operational realities and that required bargaining and management conversations will drive the specifics of staff protections and transfers.

Ending: The committee approved A39 with the incorporated date change. Committee members said they expect ongoing updates and stakeholder engagement as the department carries out the decommissioning study and implements any phased closure plan.

","The conference committee adopted an amendment (A39) directing a decommissioning study and requiring a written closure plan for the Stillwater Correctional Facility; union representatives and corrections staff warned the committee that a rapid phase closure without a detailed plan could endanger staff and inmates.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6545885,"Chief Justice Natalie Hudson warns judicial funding in conference agreement risks access to justice",558,1641000,2199000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3355858-7837c01e41e3193941335c0171784643&start=1641&end=2199","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3355858-7837c01e41e3193941335c0171784643/thumbnail_1641000.jpg","/articles/6545885/Minnesota/Chief-Justice-Natalie-Hudson-warns-judicial-funding-in-conference-agreement-risks-access-to-justice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6545885-96ba40111069de548ff5a21a249b2b75/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151581&Signature=KjoYjmDvNoVnf8aRhXnlQcqb0VypYyrwtBaNK0F8u07Om-OzMFzwuFI9brnVuj5ZnwhxrK2P3oWEvxYEN85lD57W22lU5x5eK2DVPXSCzPKv8qv4yYdHyDywptTdIz3gk0oY7D3Zocejy1YMXNLPXEePJ1RWRIrxw2vDARCOHwsvTj~IIVs040ldRGDx8GNrK0TCcI4PDiIa2U2O1TydSUEr6OgPvbqLMVGr1hgksxUPaX8sTNfhOVULau6H0XWviaglTRGdrWc77ji8FgXNSObC-CH8glwYT8R6E-7TARy9M44qS2eeSpmnd4s12jsSheRDQJpJMsesvk45zpewig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Justice Natalie Hudson told the Public Safety and Judiciary Conference Committee on May 16 that the conference agreement includes modest funding but does not address what she called the judiciary’s most urgent need: staffing and pay to maintain timely access to justice.

\"Without a stable, well supported workforce, our ability to provide timely access to justice will be at serious risk,\" Chief Justice Natalie Hudson said, speaking on behalf of \"the 322 judges and approximately 2,800 staff who serve in the Minnesota judicial branch.\" She said the agreement provides some one-time dollars and limited pay increases but leaves judicial salaries frozen for two years.

Hudson said the judiciary was not consulted when the branch’s budget target was set and urged fuller consultation going forward. \"As a coequal branch of government, we must be meaningfully included in decisions of this magnitude,\" she said.

Why this matters: Hudson framed courts as a constitutional institution that enforces rights, resolves disputes and is essential to democracy. She told committee members the judiciary already lags the public sector on compensation, that applicant pools for judgeships—especially in Greater Minnesota—have declined, and that the judicial branch is seeing employees leave for higher-paying local and state jobs.

The conference agreement does fund several judicial priorities Hudson listed: increases to cover insurance and compensation costs; a pay rate increase for forensic psychological examiners; and one-time funding to develop a Justice Partner Access system to improve information sharing. But Hudson said much of the funding is one-time and will not stop a longer-term decline in competitiveness for employees and applicants to judgeships.

State Court Administrator Jeff Shorban appeared with the chief justice and took no substantive issue with her characterization of the court system’s needs during the hearing, instead offering to answer technical questions from committee members.

Committee members voiced support for Hudson’s concerns on the record. Chair Latz told Hudson he shared her disappointment that legislative leaders had set the judicial target without apparent consultation. Chair Scott said there was no reason for the executive branch to pre-clear legislative work before the conference committee took it up.

What the committee did: The hearing included adoption of separate policy and technical provisions that affect the judiciary (for example, a provision to protect judges’ real property records and a Justice Partner Access provision). Committee votes on those items occurred later in the session; the conference committee adopted an overall spreadsheet that the chairs directed nonpartisan staff to convert into a formal report. The committee did not adopt any additional permanent salary increases for judges in the conference agreement presented that evening.

Context and next steps: Hudson noted the Commission on Judicial Selection has reported a nearly 50% drop in applicants for open judgeships over the past decade in some areas, and said the chief justice’s office expects continued difficulty recruiting qualified candidates if salaries remain stagnant. Committee chairs said they would continue to work with the judiciary and requested more consultation going forward.

Ending: Hudson closed by underscoring courts’ constitutional role and saying, \"Failing to invest in the courts is not just a budget decision. It is a decision about the kind of justice system that Minnesotans will have.\" Committee chairs thanked her and said they would seek ways to address the branch’s concerns in future work.

","At a May 16 Public Safety and Judiciary Conference Committee hearing, Chief Justice Natalie Hudson testified that the conference agreement’s funding leaves judicial salaries frozen, undercuts recruitment and retention, and risks timely access to justice despite modest investments included in the package.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Conference committee adopts omnibus spreadsheet; committee approves several amendments on public safety and judiciary items

Conference committee adopts decommissioning study and phased closure language for Stillwater Correctional Facility

Chief Justice Natalie Hudson warns judicial funding in conference agreement risks access to justice