RELEASE: Democrats Block Commonsense School Safety Plan in Committee

Democrats Block Commonsense School Safety Plan in Committee

St. Paul, MN — Today, House Republicans on the Education Finance Committee brought forward a comprehensive school safety proposal focused on making immediate, practical improvements for students, teachers, and staff across Minnesota. The proposal, offered as an amendment to HF 3493, failed to advance out of committee after Democrats voted against the measure.

Rep. Ron Kresha (R–Little Falls), Co-Chair of the Education Finance Committee, released the following statement:

“Democrats made a deliberate choice today to block immediate action on a practical, bipartisan plan to strengthen school safety. By refusing to support widely supported, noncontroversial school safety proposals, Democrats are playing cynical political games that are delaying real action. Conversations about additional violence reduction strategies can continue, but they should not be used as cover to block steps we can take right now to protect students and teachers.”

The House Republican School Safety Plan Includes:

• Increased funding for school safety in public, nonpublic, and Tribal schools
• Expanded student mental health funding to support early intervention and crisis prevention
• Flexible, local options for anonymous threat reporting systems
• Funding to strengthen school safety plans tailored to local needs
• Discipline reforms to restore order in classrooms and support teachers and staff
• Additional flexibility for schools to hire student support personnel

Kresha continued, “With about a month left in session, the question is simple: are we here to get results, or play politics? Every day Democrats delay is another day we fail to act and another day where students, teachers, and families aren’t getting the school safety support they’re asking for.”

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