News Release
House Republicans Release School Safety Agenda, Rep. Heintzeman Comments
St. Paul – Earlier today, Representative Josh Heintzeman (R-Nisswa) joined his Republican colleagues in outlining their school safety agenda that prioritizes protecting students, strengthening mental health resources, and holding violent offenders accountable.
“Every parent deserves to know their child is safe at school,” said Heintzeman. “The tragedy in Minneapolis is a painful reminder that we must do more. These proposals are about ensuring every student, in every community, has the safety and support they need.”
Provisions House Republicans will pursue include:
- Expanding school safety funding to non-public schools (Democrats ignored pleas from the Minnesota Catholic Conference in 2023 to make non-public schools eligible for security funding allocated to public schools)
- School security grants (including the SHIELD Act - HF 15)
- Flexibility for school funding streams to be used for safety improvements
- Making School Resource Officers available to every school
- Repeal or amend the Democrats' prohibition on doctors using their best medical judgment, instead of leaving their hands tied with political decisions made by the Democrat trifecta
- Boost funding for mental health treatment beds
- Mandatory minimum prison sentences for repeat gun criminals and for straw purchasers who enable a violent crime
“Students and teachers should be able to focus on learning, not worry about safety. These proposals give schools the resources they need, provide care for those who are struggling, and make sure dangerous criminals are off the streets. That is what real leadership looks like.”
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