House approves public‑safety omnibus after close votes on juvenile changes and prediction‑market ban

The Minnesota House passed a public‑safety omnibus bill (Senate File 4760) on April 28, approving a package that bundles more than a dozen public‑safety items and several technical updates.

The package’s sponsor, Representative Novotny, described the bill as a compilation of previously passed stand‑alone measures and several remaining provisions that had bipartisan support. “House file 3990 is a public safety package,” Novotny said during floor remarks introducing the bill.

The floor debate saw multiple amendments. Representative Duran offered amendments seeking to delay parts of a recent change to the delinquency statutes and to carve out violent crimes for younger children; those amendments were defeated in close roll calls. A Duran amendment to keep the current age of delinquency prevailed in neither of two roll calls—one failed 66–67 and a later, narrower effort produced a 67–67 tie and did not prevail.

Representative Feist, opposing Duran’s proposals, argued the 2024 change raising the age was intended to speed interventions for 10–12‑year‑olds and warned that reverting the change would undermine due‑process and criminal‑competency protections. “For these reasons, please vote no,” Feist said.

A high‑profile floor amendment from Representative Greenman — labeled a12 on the floor — was adopted. Greenman described it as a prohibition on “prediction markets,” platforms that allow customers to wager on outcomes of future events outside regulated gambling frameworks. “This bill … bans the hosting, operating and advertising on prediction markets,” Greenman said, arguing the platforms circumvent state gambling safeguards and can attract underage bettors.

Greenman’s amendment drew procedural and policy objections on fiscal and jurisdictional grounds. Several members raised a point of order contending the amendment’s criminal penalty could trigger a fiscal cost; the chair ruled that the point of order was not well taken and the body voted to adopt the amendment 72–59.

Other amendments adopted during consideration included language ensuring Office of Legislative Auditor (OLA) access to certain fingerprints and a set of operational clarifications for jail medical care. Representative Lee F’s amendment to grant the OLA authority to request BCA fingerprint records was adopted with floor support.

After the amendment process concluded the House voted to pass SF4760 as amended by a 116–16 roll call. The bill now proceeds toward final enrollment and transmittal to the Senate/conferee process where necessary.

What it means: The package keeps multiple previously passed public‑safety reforms together and adds new language the House majority framed as closing enforcement and integrity gaps. Opponents warned some provisions — particularly new criminal exposures for online markets — could prompt litigation or federal preemption challenges, an argument raised repeatedly during advisory debate on fiscal notes and jurisdiction.

Next steps: SF4760 passed the House as amended and will move to the Senate side for matching action or to a conference process if differences remain.