St. Cloud Sun

The Minnesota House has passed the bipartisan Public Safety Omnibus Bill (HF 2432), which will increase public safety funding by $50 million above base for fiscal years 2026–2027. The bill was highlighted in a statement released by House Public Safety Committee Chairman Paul Novotny (R–Elk River).

According to Novotny, HF 2432 addresses core safety needs, corrections policy, and officer training while eliminating waste and making targeted investments.

"Tougher penalties for sex traffickers who prey on minors, inmates who assault correctional officers, and individuals who expose children to deadly fentanyl," are among the provisions in the bill, Novotny stated.

The legislation allocates over $8 million per year to support departments across Minnesota with officer training, use-of-force education, and reimbursement for local public safety efforts.

Other measures include justice reform initiatives such as extending the statute of limitations for first-degree arson, pausing the expiration of probation fees, and establishing a bipartisan working group on Brady-Giglio transparency.

Novotny noted that "$23 million from past DFL overspending" has been redirected into one-time upgrades for cybersecurity and court technology "without growing the size of government."

Additionally, the bill aims to increase transparency at the Met Council by classifying certain members as “public officials” under state data practices laws.