Minnesota School Safety Bills Stalled in St. Paul House Committee

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A Republican-led school safety package, HF 3493 sponsored by Rep. Bryan Lawrence, R-Princeton, failed on a party-line vote April 14 in the Minnesota House Education Finance Committee. The bill sought to mandate a model school safety plan from the Minnesota School Safety Center, create a list of third-party anonymous threat reporting systems and set safe school revenue at $68 per pupil, expanding aid to nonpublic schools for student support and facility grants up to $500,000.[2][4] Republicans also proposed discipline reforms allowing K-3 suspensions up to three days with superintendent approval, alongside increased funding for mental health intervention and local safety plans.[1][2] Democrats blocked the GOP amendment to HF 3493, voting it down despite its focus on immediate improvements for public, nonpublic and Tribal schools, including $25 million redirected from the Northern Lights Express rail project to security grants.[1][3] Rep. Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls, criticized the rejection as blocking 'commonsense' measures like flexible anonymous reporting and classroom discipline restoration.[1] The defeat highlighted deep partisan divides, with Republicans arguing for practical, local solutions amid rising school threats across the state.[2] A DFL-backed delete-all amendment to HF 4893, their own school safety bill, failed shortly after on April 16, also along party lines, stalling comprehensive enhancements.[2][4] The DFL proposal emphasized consultations with licensed mental health professionals, expanded behavioral health support and gun limits, contrasting GOP priorities on funding flexibility and enforcement.[3] With the 2026 legislative session pressing on, education advocates in districts from Minneapolis to rural areas urged compromise as no bills advanced, leaving Minnesota schools without new safety resources.[1][4]