Panel hears proposal for mandatory minimums and consecutive sentences for repeat violent offenders

Representative Matt Hudson presented House File 765 to the House Public Safety Committee, saying the bill would add mandatory prison terms and aggravated durational departures for some repeat violent offenders.

David Zimmer, Public Safety Policy Fellow with the Center of the American Experiment, testified in support and cited statistics he said show rising felony sentencing rates and a higher share of repeat offenders being sentenced. "House File 765 helps reestablish appropriate consequences for chronic and violent offenders and I urge you to vote yes on this bill," Zimmer told members.

Kendall Qualls also spoke in favor, reflecting concerns about violent crime trends in Minneapolis and urging stronger consequences.

Opponents and some committee members pushed back on the evidence and policy trade-offs. Representative Feist said statewide violent crime trends do not match the statistics cited by the bill’s supporters and urged relying on broader data before changing sentencing policy. Representative Lee Muller and Representative Greta Hollins stressed the importance of prevention and rehabilitation, and asked whether victim-advocacy groups had been consulted; Hudson said he had not engaged victim-advocates directly but thought the bill’s aim was intuitive.

Members debated whether tougher sentencing will reduce recidivism or whether it will create downstream human- and fiscal-costs. Representative Hudson argued the measure is aimed at a narrow population — defendants with three violent felony convictions — and that stronger consequences are needed for public protection. The committee laid House File 765 over for further consideration and stakeholder consultation.