Minnesota Senate approves comprehensive gun-violence package and reports 34 votes

The Minnesota Senate approved a comprehensive gun-violence package on the floor, reporting 34 votes in favor, a lawmaker said during remarks after the vote. The package combines mental-health funding, school-safety grants and provisions intended to limit access to certain kinds of firearms.

A lawmaker who addressed reporters on the floor said the package was built after outreach to members across the aisle and in communities affected by last summer’s mass shooting at Annunciation. "We voted for today and it's... powerful, and we're really proud of that work," the lawmaker said, thanking colleagues and families who urged action.

Supporters described the bill as multi‑pronged, pairing prevention and early intervention with measures aimed at reducing access to high‑harm firearms. The speaker listed mental‑health resources and school‑safety investments as central elements and said the measure also includes provisions aimed at restricting certain weapons. He said the work drew on precedent from background‑check and red‑flag efforts in other states.

The speaker highlighted broad stakeholder engagement, naming Protect Minnesota, Everytown and Moms Demand Action among advocacy groups, and citing law‑enforcement partners — including sheriffs, chiefs and county attorneys — as part of the coalition that shaped the package.

On the floor the lawmaker framed the victory as an effort to keep children safer: "All of our kids should be very proud of what we did today," he said, urging House members to take up the measure. He said the Senate hopes the House will consider the bill in the coming weeks and that legislative leaders will negotiate with the governor where necessary.

When asked whether parts of the package could be severed if the House preferred to adopt standalone school‑safety measures, the speaker said caucus conversations would determine that strategy but reiterated families’ requests for a comprehensive approach.

The speaker repeatedly acknowledged the emotional toll on families affected by gun violence and said the measure was developed in response to those losses. He also warned colleagues about repeatedly naming shooters on the floor, noting concerns that such attention can provide a model for future perpetrators.

The House's timetable and likelihood of passage were not specified on the floor; supporters said they planned to continue outreach to House members and to pursue committee and floor action there. The lawmaker reported the Senate vote total of 34 in favor and said the result should offer voters and House members clarity on where lawmakers stand.

Next steps include continued advocacy in the House, negotiations with legislative leaders and discussions with the governor’s office, according to the speaker.