Supplemental budget law funds Capitol, courtroom security

A public safety and judiciary safety and security finance law appropriates $47.44 million in the 2026-27 biennium to fund legislative, judicial, and State Capitol security programs, plus provide services to crime victims.

Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL-Shoreview) and Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park) sponsor the law that also includes several policy changes relating to public safety and security.

Spending provisions are effective July 1, 2026; policy provisions are effective Aug. 1, 2026, unless otherwise noted.

HF3230/SF3432*/CH118

Judiciary appropriations

To curb the increasing threats of violence judges and other judicial staff are facing, the law appropriates $6.97 million in Fiscal Year 2027:

• $4 million for a competitive grant program for courthouse safety and security improvements;

• $1.69 million for the judicial branch to monitor and respond to threats to judges and judicial staff;

• $967,000 for home security systems for judges and judicial staff; and

• $312,000 for additional security personnel for the judicial branch. (Art. 1, Secs. 1-7)

Public safety appropriations

The largest public safety appropriation is $12 million in Fiscal Year 2027 to a new Minnesota Victims of Crime account in the Office of Justice Programs for grants to community-based crime victim service providers such as emergency shelters and legal advocacy.

A $7.32 million appropriation in the 2026-27 biennium is for staffing, overtime, and equipping costs of additional State Patrol personnel and associated scanning equipment to perform screening of individuals entering the State Capitol. The law calls for $6.39 million in ongoing biennial funding beginning in 2028-29.

Also in the 2026-27 biennium is $2.12 million to the Philando Castile Memorial Training Fund to conduct mandatory training for peace officers in de-escalation techniques, implicit bias and crisis management to improve community-police relations.

Other notable public safety-related appropriations in Fiscal Year 2027 unless noted are:

• $7.95 million in the 2026-27 biennium for legislator security protection from the State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies when they receive credible safety threats;

• $4.7 million for Capitol security enhancements to protect legislators and visitors;

• $1.92 million in Fiscal Year 2026 to fill a State Patrol budget deficiency caused by extra Capitol detail assignments;

• $1.74 million in Fiscal Year 2026 for a new legislative services security team for the Capitol Complex;

• $1.01 million for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s threat assessment and investigation team;

• $905,000 to the BCA for non-fatal shooting clearance grants;

• $300,000 ($100,000 each) for the safety and security of the attorney general, secretary of state and state auditor;

• $159,000 to fund a domestic violence task force;

• $125,000 to provide post-release services for adult and juvenile offenders;

• $125,000 for trafficking prevention grants for youths;

• $100,000 for the Public Safety Department to maintain a database with emergency contact information for elected officials; and

• $13,000 for an expected increased incarceration rate due to a new law that increases the penalties for theft from a vulnerable adult.

Policy provisions

Changes regarding public safety and security policies are also in the new law, some of which will receive appropriations. These include:

• requiring the Department of Public Safety to maintain a database containing emergency contact information for elected officials;

• establishing a legislative services unit within Capitol Security to assess and respond to threats. An annual report will be due the Legislature;

• establishing a security services task force;

• giving the attorney general administrative subpoena power in cases of suspected fraud;

• establishing a task force on improving responses to domestic violence crimes;

• establishing the Minnesota clearance grant program to award grants to law enforcement agencies to reduce violent crime by increasing the solve rate of crimes that involve a nonfatal shooting;

• making the assault of a hospital or clinic worker a gross misdemeanor;

• increasing the criminal penalties for assaulting a vulnerable adult; and

• banning prediction market wagering.

SF3432* / HF3230 / CH118