House public safety committee OKs $2.2 billion finance bill

The business of crafting potential laws is moving at a fast pace this week with House committees scurrying to meet Friday’s noon deadline to approve their budget bills.

A case in point is the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee, which had one day to review a 49-page committee budget bill unveiled Tuesday.

But the committee members got their review done in time and quickly approved a delete-all amendment to HF2432 Wednesday, amended with five technical or clarifying amendments, and sent it to the House Ways and Means Committee.

It is sponsored by Rep. Paul Novotny (R-Elk River), who co-chairs the committee with Rep. Kelly Moller (DFL-Shoreview).

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And without any public testimony – that was Tuesday – the committee adjourned in under 15 minutes.

But the quick action on the bill Wednesday didn’t mean the bill isn’t controversial.

[MORE: Minnesota public safety officials warn of potential cuts under proposed budget]

That was evident Tuesday when the committee first considered the $2.23 billion budget proposed for the 2026-27 biennium to fund the Department of Public Safety, Department of Corrections, and several other departments, commissions and agencies under the panel’s purview.

Although that budget total met the $50 million committee target increase set by House leaders, testifiers and both committee co-chairs said the slimmed-down budget could reduce safety for the public.