House adopts conference report on public safety, approves phase-out of Stillwater facility

The Minnesota House on a voice and roll-call vote approved the conference committee report on House File 2432, the judiciary and public safety omnibus, repassing the bill as amended by the conference committee.

Representative Adam Novotny, author of the conference report and cochair of the public safety and judiciary conference committee, moved adoption of the report and asked members to vote yes. The clerk later announced the roll call result: 131 yeas and 3 nays; the motion prevailed and the bill was repassed as amended by conference.

Lawmakers said the bill is a pared-down, “bare bones” public safety budget intended to cover operating adjustments and preserve a set of priorities. Representative Novotny described the package as a responsible compromise that reduced spending while maintaining targeted programs. Representative Moller (Ramsey), the committee’s cochair, said the report preserves funding for the Philando Castile law enforcement training fund at a reduced rate from the last biennium and maintains support for crime-victim advocacy programs and other services.

The conference report includes multiple policy and finance provisions described on the floor: tracking language for fleeing and stolen vehicles; a provision addressing AI-generated images used in child sexual abuse material; expanded missing-and-endangered-person definitions to include individuals diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury and autism; an expansion of law-enforcement drone use language; and a requirement that the Department of Corrections adopt Narcan for people who overdose in state correctional facilities.

A major policy change included in the conference report is a planned, four-year phase-out of the Stillwater Correctional Facility. Several members voiced support for closing the facility because of infrastructure and safety concerns, and also raised worries about how the transition would affect incarcerated people and corrections staff. Representative Hill said the closure created “conflicted” feelings because of the facility’s role in its local community and the significant disruptions expected for workers and residents; Hill urged careful planning to protect the safety and services for people who are incarcerated and for staff during the phase-out. Representative Finke called the closure “a human rights victory,” noting prior audit reports and long-standing concerns about conditions at the facility.

Lawmakers also discussed funding levels for the judiciary and related agencies. Representative Liebling, a conference committee cochair, said the conference report underfunds the judicial branch and noted that operating adjustments in the bill amount to less than a 1 percent raise for judicial staff; she expressed regret that judicial salary increases were not included in the package. Representative Scott said the bill contains a one-time $4,000,000 appropriation to support justice partner access that could help automate public access to court documents.

Other fiscal and program details identified on the floor include a $250,000 appropriation for supplemental nonprofit security grants and provisions supporting the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) crime lab’s capacity to process evidence more quickly. Representative Moller referenced that leadership agreements left roughly $14,000,000 in discretionary funding after covering operating adjustments.

On the floor, Representative Witte detailed the conference report’s carryover of Philando Castile training dollars, saying, “We passed out here $5,500,000 each year,” and noted the conference outcome brought the total to $10,000,000 when combined with other actions. Witte also thanked victims’ advocates and family members who had urged restoration of that funding.

Representatives urged continued oversight of the Stillwater phase-out. Moller and others said they expect regular reports from the Department of Corrections, public hearings and collaboration with correctional officers and other local stakeholders as the plan is implemented.

The conference report and repassage resolve disputed items between the chambers and send the amended bill forward according to legislative procedure.

Votes at a glance House File 2432 (as amended by conference): motion to adopt conference report and repass the bill — mover: Representative Adam Novotny; roll-call result: 131 yeas, 3 nays; outcome: approved.