Mental health access for first responders sought in laid-over bill

During a peer support angling event for first responders last year following the 2024 fatal shooting of three first responders in Burnsville, some officers and firefighters were told they could not participate.

Rep. Bidal Duran

The services provided at the event were believed to breach a state law prohibiting gifts to local officials. Exceptions allowed include trinkets and mementos worth less than $5, plaques for a charitable cause, and services of insignificant value but make no reference to mental health support.

“If an officer is invited to attend a mental health retreat, if a firefighter is offered a resilience workshop funding by a nonprofit, if a deputy is invited to a peer support weekend with other responders, at what point does support become a prohibited gift?” Chris Tetrault, co-founder and president of Hometown Hero Outdoors, told the House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee Monday.

HF2526, sponsored by Rep. Bidal Duran (R-Bemidji), seeks to clarify what services can be provided to first responders, thereby increasing access to mental health support by creating two new exceptions to the gift-giving prohibition:

• mental health services or wellness support, such as counseling, therapy, peer support, recreational activities and wellness days provided by a nonprofit organization; and
• meals or events organized by a nonprofit specifically designed to provide comfort to first responders in the wake of a death or significant traumatic event that occurred in the line of duty.

“This bill is not about gifts; it’s not about perks; and it’s definitely not about favors. It’s about mental health access and statutory clarity,” Tetrault said.

DFLers worried over the definition of who could receive this gift.

“This bill, as it stands, expands the law to cover a term that is not defined,” said Rep. Nathan Coulter (DFL-Bloomington).

Committee members discussed two different amendments that would define to whom the exceptions would apply, but the bill was ultimately laid over for future consideration.

“It’s important we get this language right,” said Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL-Golden Valley), a committee co-chair.