Legislative leaders posture on possible special session on guns, school safety

After weeks of meetings to negotiate the framework of a special session on gun violence, school safety and mental health, is a gathering on the near horizon?

On Tuesday, Gov. Tim Walz and DFL leaders released a proposed framework for a special session that’d begin next Monday.

Republicans are not on board.

Walz and legislative leaders began meeting to discuss a special session framework following the Aug. 27 shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis that killed two children and injured 21 people.

House DFL Caucus Leader Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) said negotiations have reached a “clear impasse.” House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) doesn’t think discussions have broken down and the topics will be part of the Legislature’s discussions whether in a special session or during the 2026 session that begins Feb. 17.

The proposed framework calls for a special session beginning Oct. 6 that would include policies on banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, banning a binary trigger, eliminating the ghost gun loophole, strengthening Extreme Risk Protection Orders, expanding school safety funding and increasing funding for mental health treatment.

The session would need to conclude by Oct. 12.

Stephenson feels “discouraged,” but remains “resolute” the proposed measures wanted by Minnesotans would pass.

House Republican Floor Leader Harry Niska (R-Ramsey) said there aren’t enough votes in either the House or Senate to pass a bill banning assault weapons.

“I don’t think there are any Republican House votes in favor of those kinds of proposals,” Niska said, adding that bill language and a committee hearing would be needed to determine if an agreement could come together, not just generalities.

Stephenson said the entire House DFL caucus is supportive of passing gun violence prevention policies.

“We’re never going to give up on that. For our caucus, this is very personal,” he said, noting the fatal shooting of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) in June.

Demuth said the DFL’s proposed framework would cut out the legislative process. She said she responded with a “broad framework” for bills to go through the process of being filed by legislators and vetted by committees.

Demuth said her proposal would include policies on improving student safety, mental health access and public safety, plus other topics that have bipartisan support. Republicans’ proposal wouldn’t limit special session topics to only school safety and mental health and Demuth opened the door to possibly include bills on fraud in the special session framework.