FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Amanda Tinsley
651-491-9946 (cell)
Amanda.Tinsley@house.mn.gov
News Release
House Republicans release school safety agenda
ST. PAUL – House Republicans released their school safety agenda today, including provisions to protect students as they learn, provide mental health care to those who need it, and to hold violent criminals accountable. House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, and House GOP Leader Harry Niska, R-Ramsey, released the following statement.
"Last session, we proved that we can join together to pass good bills that help Minnesotans," said Demuth. "Minnesotans deserve real solutions that will meaningfully protect students and actually reduce gun violence. The policies we are proposing will protect students, provide desperately needed mental health care, and hold criminals who commit the vast majority of gun violence accountable."
"Instead of blindly following the loudest voices calling for policies that have failed elsewhere, House Republicans have put together an agenda that will make a real difference in keeping our students safe," added Niska. "I hope Democrats will join us in supporting these common-sense reforms if the Governor calls a special session."
Provisions House Republicans will pursue include:
- Expanding school safety funding to non-public schools - Democrats ignored pleas from the Minnesota Catholic Conference in 2023 to make non-public schools eligible for security funding allocated to public schools
- School security grants (including the SHIELD Act - HF 15)
- Flexibility for school funding streams to be used for safety improvements
- Making School Resource Officers available to every school
- Repeal or amend the Democrats' prohibition on doctors using their best medical judgment, instead of leaving their hands tied with political decisions made by the Democrat trifecta
- Boost funding for mental health treatment beds
- Mandatory minimum prison sentences for repeat gun criminals and for straw purchasers who enable a violent crime
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