Committee sends legislator-safety bill to Ways and Means after debate over fiscal note and committee path
March 18, 2026 | 2026 Legislature MN, Minnesota
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A Minnesota House committee on March 17 voted to re-refer House File 37 91, an amended bill aimed at creating a standardized protocol for protecting legislators, to the committee on Ways and Means after heated debate about costs and the bill’s committee path.
Representative Green, the bill’s author, told the committee the A3 amendment “gets to the heart of what we're trying to do … to make sure that we have a consistent and reliable standard protocol for protection for legislators.” She said the amendment focuses on systems upgrades, improved communication and a centralized hub for threat assessment.
Opponents pressed for more fiscal detail and argued the bill should first go to Public Safety for subject-matter review. A committee member asked whether the measure could be sent to Public Safety “so that we get the fiscal note and what the ongoing cost is.” Another member said the absence of an updated fiscal note made it difficult to vote in a finance committee.
Committee discussion referred to an earlier fiscal estimate of about $3,980,000 for previous language; Judge Mayerson, supporting the bill’s narrower amendment, said he expected the reworked measure “will be less because we've made the bill smaller.” Authors said they had requested a new fiscal note and were working with the Department of Public Safety to align cost estimates with the amended language.
After members debated deadlines, committee expertise and process, Representative Green moved to re-refer the amended bill to Ways and Means. A roll call recorded 11 ayes and 5 nays; the chair declared the motion carried.
What happens next: The bill will be considered by the House Ways and Means Committee, which will review fiscal implications and may further amend or reassign the measure. Committee supporters said the referral preserves the bill’s path toward meeting legislative deadlines; critics said a Public Safety review would better address operational details and costs.
Representative Green, the bill’s author, told the committee the A3 amendment “gets to the heart of what we're trying to do … to make sure that we have a consistent and reliable standard protocol for protection for legislators.” She said the amendment focuses on systems upgrades, improved communication and a centralized hub for threat assessment.
Opponents pressed for more fiscal detail and argued the bill should first go to Public Safety for subject-matter review. A committee member asked whether the measure could be sent to Public Safety “so that we get the fiscal note and what the ongoing cost is.” Another member said the absence of an updated fiscal note made it difficult to vote in a finance committee.
Committee discussion referred to an earlier fiscal estimate of about $3,980,000 for previous language; Judge Mayerson, supporting the bill’s narrower amendment, said he expected the reworked measure “will be less because we've made the bill smaller.” Authors said they had requested a new fiscal note and were working with the Department of Public Safety to align cost estimates with the amended language.
After members debated deadlines, committee expertise and process, Representative Green moved to re-refer the amended bill to Ways and Means. A roll call recorded 11 ayes and 5 nays; the chair declared the motion carried.
What happens next: The bill will be considered by the House Ways and Means Committee, which will review fiscal implications and may further amend or reassign the measure. Committee supporters said the referral preserves the bill’s path toward meeting legislative deadlines; critics said a Public Safety review would better address operational details and costs.
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