Looking to catch abusers, ‘Harvey’s Law’ would require cameras in daycares

Trying to fight back tears, Catherine and Hunter Muklebust say their son could still be alive if cameras caught the woman charged with his murder committing a prior alleged act of abuse at a daycare.

In September 2025, first responders were called to Rocking Horse Ranch in Savage on a report that 11-month-old Harvey Muklebust was found unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the hospital, police said. An 18-year-old employee of the daycare center has been charged in Muklebust’s death, and police say the employee admitted to choking the child.

Investigators believe this was not the only incident of abuse committed by the same employee, citing a similar 911 call made from the daycare three days prior to Muklebust’s death.

“Video footage would have answered all of the questions we had,” Catherine Muklebust testified before the House Children Families and Finance Policy Committee Tuesday.

Barring a confession, Muklebust’s alleged killer would have never been caught in this case, said Rep. Nolan West (R-Blaine).

He sponsors “Harvey’s Law” that would require the installation of cameras in infant and toddler rooms and the retention of footage for 28 days at any Minnesota daycare center that receives state funding.

No action was taken.

A 2025 law requires cameras at child care centers with active maltreatment violations. But West wants this to go further. As did many testifiers who told stories of their own children’s experiences of abuse at child care centers.

Opponents argue that cameras and footage storage requirements could be cost prohibitive and labor intensive, creating barriers for some providers. Rep. Nathan Coulter (DFL-Bloomington) was among the lawmakers who also voiced cybersecurity concerns over how images of children could be used if footage is hacked.  

“I would argue that doesn’t compare to physical harm, actual maltreatment that we’re seeing that could be stopped,” West said in response. 

Rep. Jessica Hanson (DFL-Burnsville) has proposed creating a task force to investigate best practices for child care surveillance, but West believes that would just punt a problem he says needs to be addressed now.