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Senate panel lays over bill to fund local emergency managers statewide
Summary
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee heard testimony supporting Senate File 21‑19, a proposal to create an ongoing state appropriation to fund local emergency managers in counties, tribes and four cities of the first class; the committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion in the omnibus budget.
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee members heard testimony Monday on Senate File 21‑19, a bill that would establish a state appropriation to provide recurring funding to local emergency management programs across Minnesota.
The bill’s sponsor described local emergency managers as statutorily required under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 12, and said the measure would ensure “each county, tribe, and city of the first class has the resources necessary to employ and equip dedicated emergency managers.” The author said the appropriation would be ongoing if enacted.
Winona County Emergency Management Director Ben Klinger testified that his office is a one‑person operation and that local programs “rely heavily on federal grants.” Klinger told the committee Winona’s emergency management grant dropped from $28,000 to $20,000 in the most recent year. City of Duluth Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Sean Krueger said the proposal would complement local resources and cited equipment and maintenance costs, including siren upkeep that he said rose from about $11,000 to $18,375 in 2024.
Krueger described a $12,000,000 request in the bill that, as drafted, would be distributed by the commissioner of public safety at about $117,000 per agency (counties, tribes and cities of the first class). Senators and witnesses discussed that the money would be distributed evenly to eligible counties, tribes and cities and that recipients could use the funds to hire full‑time managers, add staff, buy equipment, or cover training and planning costs.
Committee members raised questions about the equal per‑entity split. Senator Limmer argued a flat per‑entity distribution could fail to target jurisdictions with greater need, while the bill’s author and testifiers said an equal stipend would still provide proportionally greater benefit to smaller counties. Committee staff and witnesses clarified the federal Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) is currently passed through the state and that Minnesota does not have a standing base appropriation for these local programs; witnesses said current state support is limited.
No formal roll‑call vote was taken on the bill in committee; Chair Lutz said SF 21‑19 would be laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus budget so lawmakers can consider funding during the budget process.
