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2026 MCPA Legislative Agenda Survey

1.Proposal #1: Brady Giglio Legislation Submitted by Maple Grove Chief Werner

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
Brady Giglio Bill. Continue to support legislation that must include a statutory definition of Brady material, due process for an officer or police agency to contest a county attorney’s designation of Brady material, requirement to maintain any kind of Brady data on officers and who can access the data, CJIS security compliance of data, and uniformity of protective court orders involving Brady material.

Explain why MCPA should support this proposal:
The subject of Brady/Giglio received statewide attention in the 2025 and 2024 Legislative Session by bills introduced by or supported by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office allowing access to all private data on police officers. Additionally, several bills were introduced by legislators to have a statewide Brady standard for police officers, county attorneys, and the
judiciary to follow
2.Proposal # 2: Local Control of Group Homes, Submitted by Crystal Chief Hubbard

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
Revisit the legislation passed a few years ago eliminating any type of local control over group homes in each jurisdiction. With the legislative change eliminating any local ability for code/rental/livability enforcement, local entities are at the mercy of the state (typically MDH, DHS) to regulate these facilities, which isn't happening.

Explain why MCPA should support this proposal:
Group homes effect many communities, especially those with more affordable single family housing stocks. MCPA could provide a helpful voice to how these facilities are often high utilizer of law enforcement services in dealing with issues that could be prevented or addressed in other manners.
3.Proposal # 3: Eliminate PERA penalty for Re-employment after retirement, Submitted by Battle Lake Chief Dison

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
Discontinue the Penalty on re-employment after the PERA pension draw from the first retirement. Change in current legislation that restricts Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) pensioners from working in PERA-covered positions after retirement. This restriction has an adverse effect on former law enforcement professionals who wish to continue contributing to their communities in meaningful ways. As the legislation stands today, any former law enforcement officer drawing a PERA pension is barred from working in a PERA-eligible job — whether as a school bus driver, teacher, para-professional, city employee, or even in another law enforcement or public safety role. This restriction dates back to legislation passed in the late 1950s, a time when there were far more personnel available than positions to be filled. However, that is no longer the case. In the current environment, agencies across Minnesota are facing critical staffing shortages, particularly in law enforcement and other essential public service roles. Qualified and experienced personnel — including retired officers — are often willing and eager to return to the workforce to fill these gaps. The existing restrictions not only hinder that opportunity but also penalize those who do return to service by reducing or suspending their pension benefits.



Explain the impacts on public safety or law enforcement:
It will allow PERA pensioners to return to work without financial punishment. Allowing those who have served the public to re-enter the workforce without penalty would not only benefit the retirees themselves but also the municipalities and agencies that desperately need their skills and experience.
4.Proposal # 4: Additional requirements and local control of Assisted Living Facilities Submitted by West Hennepin PS Chief DuRose

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
MN 144G.41 addresses minimum requirements for assisted living facilities, which include providing services in a manner that complies with the Nurse Practices Act, but that care does not seem to be explicitly defined. I would like to propose discuss how new language could better define requirements of assisted living facilities as it pertains to relying on emergency services for lift assists. Several cities across the state have either implemented, or are considering implementing, local ordinance and fee schedules to begin to address these incidents

Explain the impacts on public safety or law enforcement:
This impacts all areas of public safety, depending on local jurisdiction operating procedures. These calls are a growing burden on local resources that should be focusing their efforts across the community, not subsidizing private business
5.Proposal # 5: – State funding for CJIS compliant data Storage Submitted by West St Paul Chief Brian Sturgeon

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
Seek legislation to create a task force to explore ways to provide Funding for State of Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) for a state supported secure Azure Government Community Cloud tenant tailored for use by local law enforcement agencies.

Today, local law enforcement agencies struggle to keep on premise data centers and records technology solutions up to date with CJIS compliance as well as secure them from the threat of hacking and data breaches. Recent events in Minnesota over the past few years have resulted in critical down times for law enforcement, resulting in loss of access for days, or even weeks, to crucial records management systems.

The cost of IT security and compliance continues to grow and agencies are not equipped to embrace complex cloud solutions that meet CJIS compliance; staffing and technical expertise for individual agencies are not able to provide the kind of managed services necessary to maintain security and compliance on a local level.
6.Proposal #6– Improvements to Communication systems at Schools Submitted by Eagan Chief New

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
Legislation to support improvements in cellular and first responder radios in public and private schools.

Explanation From Submitter: As the supervisor of our School Resource Officers and Active Shooter programs in Eagan and having worked on the Reunification Plan for District 196 one of the major hurdles we continue to experience in our schools in communication with first responders who are working inside the incident and them being able to relay what they need to officers on the outside.

On the heels of the Annunciation Church shooting where the inability to communicate effectively was experienced by officers who were inside the church/school and coming up on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks where communication was also an issue I think we owe it to our kids, staff, and parents to improve upon a known problem.

Explain the impacts on public safety or law enforcement:
By improving the ability of Police, Fire, and EMS to communicate via radios and or cell phones while inside schools will allow first responders to provide information that will in the end save lives.
7.Proposal #7– Enhanced Penalties for illegal firearm Possession Submitted by Lower Sioux Hester

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
Establish enhanced penalties for illegal gun possession or use in Minnesota Statute Chapter 624 similar to the enhanced penalties for "Drug Free Zones" defined in Minnesota State Statute 152.01.

Explain the impacts on public safety or law enforcement:
This would only be an enhancement to existing gun laws and not any further restrictions to legal and lawful gun possession.
8.Proposal #8 - Violent Crime Enforcement Team Funding Submitted by Mankato Chief Clifton

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
Our multi-jurisdictional Narcotics/Violent Crimes Task Force Commander has advised that two additional Violent Crimes Task Force Units have been added across the state of Minnesota. While I support the additional Teams, the overall state funding for these Units has not increased, so each Unit is now receiving less overall funding. Agents on these Teams are relied upon to serve in the most violent of issues to bring community resolution.

Explain the impacts on public safety or law enforcement:
Multi-jurisdictional violent crime and narcotics interdiction units are valuable resources as these crimes often cross town and county borders. The agents on these teams provide focus, collect intelligence, and are a resource in our most challenging situations. Without increased funding, smaller towns will not have a resource to combat violent crime and drugs inside their communities.
9.Proposal #9 - Establishment of a formula for SRO Funding Submitted by Anoka Chief Youngquist

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
Seek legislative language that would offer an objective formula on School District compensates agencies for SRO services. The gap continues to grow with significant bargaining unit(s) increases in wages to what School Districts are offering in their contract.

Explain the impacts on public safety or law enforcement:
SRO services are essential to school safety. It is a valuable partnership, one that needs to be fair on both ends.
10.Proposal #10 - Revisions to Clean Slate Act Submitted by Eden Prairie Chief Sackett

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
Seek legislative language that would clarify how agencies navigate the "Clean Slate Act" of 2023. Now that the BCA has launched their system for notifying agencies of cases that need to be resolved. There are many instances of contradictory and prohibitive statutory language as outlined below:

• 609A.015, Subds. 5(f) and 5(g) – Are the records protected or the data on the person? Contradictory language in these two subdivisions.

• 13.82, Subds. 2 (arrest data), 3 (request for service data), and 6 (response or incident data) //

609A.015 – Various subdivisions in 13.82 govern what government data are publicly available at all times. 609A.015 provides protection of this data. Does this data “exist” and, if so, what is releasable?

• 13.03, Subd. 3(f) // 609A.01 – 13.03 mandates a citation to a specific statutory section when access to data is denied. 609A.01 states that we are prohibited from disclosing the existence of the data. How can we satisfy our obligation under 13.03, Subd. 3(f)?

Explain the impacts on public safety or law enforcement:
• Lack of guidance and training from the State resulting in liability to our agency, which will also cause a financial burden due to claims/litigation for alleged violations of the MGDPA. Even though we will be able to explain our response to a judge, the attorneys’ time will still need to be spent to get there.

• Transparency and public relations – We continue to make this a priority, but our hands are tied as it is currently written. Data that has always been public no longer is, and we are unable to cite our statutory reason for denying access to data. We cannot provide the data to a victim of the crime.

• Inability to share data with our business partners who share in the responsibility of investigating cases (CPS, Adult Protection, DHS Licensing, Department of Education, etc.).

• Significant increase in the time it takes to fulfill data requests – Records staffing resources are stretched thin.
11.Proposal #11 - Revisions to ERPO, Requirement for agencies to compensate for confiscated firearms Submitted by S. St. Paul Chief Wicke

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
Under 624.7175(a) related to ERPO's, law enforcement agencies appear to be compelled to compensate the respondent of an ERPO at fair market value if the respondent surrenders firearms to that agency.

There has to be another way that doesn't compel a LE agency to fund this. Current language is as follows "If a respondent permanently transfers the respondent's firearms to a law enforcement agency, the agency must compensate the respondent at fair market value and may not charge the respondent any processing or other fees."

The submitter of this proposal currently has an ERPO where the respondent refused to turn over his firearms and a warrant at his residence revealed over ninety firearms, including a rifle on a tripod aimed out the front window towards anyone approaching his residence.

Explain the impacts on public safety or law enforcement:
Given the political assassinations this summer and now the school shooting at Annunciation, the pressure is increasing to utilize the ERPO as a tool to intervene when someone is on a path to violence. Left unchanged, this clause is a significant barrier to intervention.
12.Proposal 12 - Revisions to ERPO Allow for immediate Seizure of firearms Submitted Bloomington Chief Hodges

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
Mn 624.7171 Extreme Risk Protection Order. Amend the law to allow law enforcement to immediately seize the weapons of someone whom they are applying for an ERPO prior to the scheduled hearing. This would close the gap that exists in the current law that allows a person to keep their weapons until after the order has been granted by a judge. If at the hearing it is determined that person does not meet the criteria for an ERPO their weapons would be returned to them.

Explain the impacts on public safety or law enforcement:
Having a person whom we believe meets the criteria for an ERPO allowed to hold until their weapons until a hearing presents a public safety risk.
13.Proposal #13 - Within the impersonating police officer statute - Prohibit the display of or use of LE equipment on non-Law enforcement Vehicles Submitted by Bloomington Chief Hodges

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
MN 609.4751 IMPERSONATING A PEACE OFFICER sub 2(4)ii

(ii) with any lettering, marking, or insignia, or colorable imitation thereof, including, but not limited to, stars, badges, or shields identifying the vehicle as a law enforcement vehicle, displaying equipment commonly used of law enforcement vehicles such as radio antennas, squad cameras and which a reasonable person would believe is a law enforcement vehicle governed under section 169.98, subdivision 1.

Adding "displaying equipment commonly used of law enforcement vehicles such as radio antennas, squad cameras" to the law would cover the gap that allows people to display this type of equipment confusing the public.

Explain the impacts on public safety or law enforcement:
Having people able to drive vehicles that closely resemble marked or unmarked police vehicles is dangerous for all of us.
14.Proposal #14 - Increased Penalty for Possession of a Firearm Submitted by Brooklyn Park Chef Bruley

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
Make possession of a Firearm a Felony rather than a GM. Currently the level of the crime does not match the impact this has on our community.

Explain why MCPA should support this proposal:
Increase accountability for those committing the most harm on our communities.
15.Proposal #15 - Increased penalties for impersonating a Police Officer Submitted by Brooklyn Park Chief Bruley

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
Increase impersonating an Officer Statute from a Misdemeanor to Felony. It is unconscionable that we allow people to impersonate a law enforcement officer and they get charged with a misdemeanor. We are currently in a time that police mistrust as at an all time high, the last thing we need is people impersonating an officer. This law change also shows we are responsive to the political assassination/attempt that occurred this summer. We may want to include a new law to restrict emergency lights in vehicles that look like a police car? (old police cars)

Explain the impacts on public safety or law enforcement:
Furthers public safety and builds trust in community.
16.Proposal #16 - Prohibit fees for dispatch services Submitted by Eden Valley Chief Borscheid

Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
Federal funding to Human Service departments across Minnesota have declined. These are mandatory funds that need to be supplemented. The State is not boosting funds and rather telling each individual county to come up with the mandatory funds which were previously federally funded.

What this causes is the county governments to either cut their budgets or come up with other revenue. For my city, Eden Valley, we have been requested to enter into an agreement with the Meeker County Sheriff's Office to supplement their dispatch costs instead of them reducing their budget. The requested funds for 2026 are $61,379. This was determined as the Eden Valley Police Department is 7.3% of the Calls for Service in Meeker County, so EVPD should be paying 7.3% of the $841,708 dispatch budget. EVPD has never had a payment agreement with Meeker County, nor have we ever paid specifically for the dispatch services our PD receives. I propose the legislature step in and block the ability for County Agencies to make up for the loss of funds by billing the police departments in their area.

Explain the impacts on public safety or law enforcement:
Simply put, a bill of $61,379 would be roughly a 20% increase to EVPD's budget. This is a completely unexpected cost that would either result in shutting the Police Department down or the cut of one (of our two) full-time officers.
If this trend continues/catches on, the bill to larger departments could be proportional to their department's size and they would see similar budget hardships. Most of these would come in the form of cutting personnel or equipment. With less officers on the road comes with the obvious public safety concerns.
17.Proposal #17 - Expand the definition of Drug Free zones to “shelter, services and providers who provide services to the unhoused population” Submitted by Duluth Chief Ceynowa



Describe the proposed Legislation/Statute change:
Expand the definitions of drug free zones under Minnesota Statute 152.01. To include shelters, services and providers who provide services to our unhoused population. This would all for aggravating factors to be utilized during sentencing. Several of our communities are experiencing an increase in people with substance use disorder. These individuals utilize services for the unhoused. Often these services are targeted by drug dealers and drug trafficking organizations as easy targets, with a very vulnerable population. By including these facilities convictions would allow for sentencing with mandatory minimums.

Explain the impacts on public safety or law enforcement:
As law enforcement we have a responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us. Statistically we know that the unhoused population is victimized at higher rate than the general population. By adding services providers to the definition we may have an opportunity to disrupt the targeting of this population.
18.Proposal #18 - Mandatory mental health assessment Submitted by Woodbury Chief Posel

Explain the impacts on public safety or law enforcement:
MN Statute 253B.05 Subdivision 2 addresses peace or health officer authority to take a person into custody and transport the person to a treatment facility if the officer has reason to believe the person is mentally ill or developmentally disabled and in danger or injuring self or others if not immediately detained. A gap in mental health care in Minnesota happens when someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis is arrested. Often in this situation the person is released from jail without receiving any mental health assessment or treatment which results in ongoing behavior and repeat police contacts and arrests. A proposed change that could address this gap is language under this subdivision that would state if a person meets the criteria for emergency admission under 253.B.05 at the time they were arrested, a peace officer or health officer may place a hold that requires the person to be transported to a treatment facility for a mental health assessment prior to their release from jail custody. This would allow the person to receive a mental health assessment and possibly treatment and medications in a safe environment prior to their return to the community.
Current Progress,
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