District 21 Sen. Bill Weber issued a press release late Thursday afternoon stating that Senate Republicans have introduced a legislative package aimed at putting Minnesotans' safety first.
The proposal targets three critical areas of public safety: 1) addressing the early release of prisoners, 2) increasing transparency in sentencing guidelines, and 3) enhancing investment in law enforcement training.
Said Weber, a Luverne Republican, in a press release: “Ensuring public safety is one of the government's most fundamental responsibilities. Unfortunately, recent Democrat policies have made our state less safe. That is why Senate Republicans are putting Minnesotans’ safety first. We are committed to holding violent criminals accountable, increasing transparency in our judicial process and supporting our law enforcement."
The first part of the public safety package focuses on the Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act (MRRA)—a 2023 law passed on a party-line vote that makes 92% of the prison population eligible for early release, Weber said. This section of the public safety package includes a Republican initiative that would repeal the act.
The second set of bills would: require the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission (MSGC) to record and publicly share its meetings; require legislative approval of all commission recommendations — ensuring sentencing decisions reflect public safety priorities; and create a publicly searchable database of sentencing decisions statewide.
The final proposals prioritize funding for two key law enforcement training initiatives. One would allocate $6 million in ongoing funding to the Philando Castile Memorial Training Fund, a top priority for law enforcement. A separate Republican proposal seeks to provide $3.5 million for the Violent Crime Enforcement Training Fund.
Comentários