Senate Republicans called into question the ability of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights to conduct a fair and impartial investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department for civil and human rights abuses. Senators Ron Latz and Jeff Hayden issued the following response.
Late Tuesday evening, the Minnesota Senate passed legislation addressing criminal justice and policing reform. In response, Senator Steve Cwodzinski (DFL-Eden Prairie) released the following statement.
Senator Greg Clausen (DFL- Apple Valley) voted no on several of the public safety bills that passed the Senate in the late hours of Tuesday, June 16.
On Tuesday, the Minnesota Senate passed five bills related to police accountability measures in response to the murder of George Floyd. Despite attempts by members of the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus and other DFL members of the Senate to include additional community-led proposals, no additional legislation was considered.
Late Tuesday evening, the Minnesota Senate passed five bills related to criminal justice and policing reform. The legislation, handpicked by Senate Republicans, did not include any meaningful proposals suggested by members of the legislature’s People of Color and Indigenous Caucus, nor did the bills receive an official committee hearing where amendments are normally made to improve and finalize support for bills.
Senator Melisa Franzen, DFL-Edina, released the following statement in response to the weak criminal justice reform bills from the Senate Republicans that were passed off the floor today.