Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Proposal to fund emergency management in every county draws equity questions
Summary
Representative Johnson’s HF2099 would appropriate $12 million in FY2027 to provide dedicated emergency management grants to counties, tribal nations and first‑class cities; members questioned equal per‑jurisdiction splits and asked for a needs‑based distribution plan.
Representative Johnson introduced House File 2099, which would appropriate $12 million in fiscal year 2027 from the General Fund to the Department of Public Safety to support emergency management departments for planning, training, preparedness activities and capital needs. The sponsor said federal grant instability has increased local demands and that dedicated state funding would strengthen county and tribal preparedness.
Josh Franklin of the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office (Division of Emergency Management) described multiple disasters in his jurisdiction, including wildfires and floods, and said counties often operate with very small staffs that must cover large territories. A local resident described an extended FEMA delay and the confusion residents face when major flooding strikes remote areas.
Members raised concerns about the proposed equal split of funds among 87 counties, tribal nations and four first‑class cities, noting that identical per‑jurisdiction allocations could leave high‑need rural counties underfunded and create disparities between Hennepin and sparsely populated counties. The bill sponsor said allocation conversations would continue and repeated the goal of ensuring every county at least had a starting point for more robust emergency management.
Representative Johnson renewed the motion and the committee laid HF2099 over for further consideration.
