Potential for severe thunderstorms across Minnesota Thursday. Storms could produce very large hail, strong winds and even tornadoes

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

A sweeping proposal to change the culture and oversight of Minnesota law enforcement is on its way to Gov. Tim Walz after lawmakers passed it early Tuesday before adjourning their special session. 

It governs how police are trained, how they’re held accountable for bad behavior and what happens when they use deadly force. 

A coalition of community groups plan to hold a press conference in front of the Governor’s Mansion in St. Paul at 3 p.m. regarding the proposal.

 during an arrest in late May, the video showing his neck pinned beneath a Minneapolis police officer’s knee gave rise to calls for more police accountability in Minnesota and far beyond. 

Get their jobs back through arbitration

Chief vows changes to put police on 'right side of history'

“That killing touched off a massive outrage of Minnesotans from all communities — Black, white, brown, urban, suburban, rural,” said Rep. Carlos Mariani, DFL-St. Paul, who added that the bill he helped write reacts directly to the Floyd incident and much more.

The bill prohibits the use of chokeholds and other restraint methods, although there would be some limited exceptions where those maneuvers are allowed. Republican Sen. Warren Limmer, another architect of the compromise, said police were supportive of the change as long as it didn’t put officers at greater risk.

“They do not want to use chokeholds in their day-to-day practice,” Limmer, R-Maple Grove, said. “They condemn that, but they reserve that opportunity to at least defend their own life or the life of someone else when all other options have been negated in the conflict.”

Minneapolis to ban police chokeholds in wake of Floyd death

How decades of bans have fallen short

Other provisions of the legislation include: 

Lawmakers met in the middle around residency expectations for large-city officers. Cities and counties could offer incentives, perhaps property tax breaks or fix-up loans, to encourage officers to live in the communities they patrol. But it won’t be mandated.

DFL House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler called the larger proposal a significant package that passed with relative speed.

“It’s too late to save George and those who died before him,” Winkler said, “but it may save lives in the future. This has been a step towards real equality under law, and it’s been bipartisan.”

Sen. Patricia Torres Ray of Minneapolis was one of a few Democrats to vote against it.

"The communities that are impacted by police brutality want more,” she said “They want transformational policy, and this bill is just not that."

The governor supports the compromise, which passed 102-29 in the House and 60-7 in the Senate.

“George Floyd’s death brought the need for meaningful police reform into sharp focus for Minnesotans across the state,” Gov. Walz said in a statement from his office. “After decades of advocacy by communities of color and Indigenous communities, the bipartisan passage of these measures is a critical step toward justice. This is only the beginning. The work does not end today.”

It’s the only bill of note to pass this special session. A public works construction bill that also contained some tax cuts could not garner a required 60 percent supermajority support to pass.

Nor did any changes to the emergency powers Walz invoked to manage the 

The ongoing concern over the coronavirus and the measures Walz has put in place to fight its spread could lead to more special sessions in the months ahead. If Walz extends his emergency authority in August, he’d have to bring the Legislature back again for the summer’s third special session.

A resolution passed Monday by the Senate urges Walz to allow school districts to decide on their own how to hold classes in the fall, but it’s not binding.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said most parents he’s interacted with are adamant that kids get back in the classroom.

Most MN families want in-person school, despise distance learning

States shouldn't force schools to reopen if virus is surging

“They know it’s important for their kids to be in school. And if for some reason they choose not to, there are other things they can do. They can do homeschool. They can do online. But the parent is involved in that driver seat position.”

Sen. Steve Cwodzinski, DFL-Eden Prairie, argued that there are still too many unknowns and that a state policy is essential.

“When that first teacher comes down with COVID-19, do all 150 of their kids get tested?” he asked. “Who pays for those tests? Is it going to happen at school? Or are their parents responsible for those tests?”

Brian Bakst

Author

Minnesota lawmakers passed a sweeping bill early Tuesday designed to change the culture and oversight of Minnesota police officers. Gov. Tim Walz is expected to sign the legislation, which was the only notable accomplishment of the second special legislative session.

Legislature passes policing bill, ends special session

Police in uniform raise their right hands.

Legislature passes policing bill, ends special session

Go Deeper.

Like this?