SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Governor Tim Walz and DFL legislative leaders released a proposal for a special session after Minnesota’s GOP Senate leader said talks broke down Tuesday morning.
Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson (R – East Grand Forks) said the meeting ended after 10 minutes when Democrats ended talks indicating “they would no longer work with Republicans to find agreement for a special session.”
“If Governor Walz wants a special session, which only he can do, Senate Republicans will be there to do the important work to keep our kids and communities safe. Minnesotans deserve better than slogans and press conferences, they need solutions,” Johnson said in a statement obtained by Flag Family News. “Democrats and Governor Walz are avoiding the regular committee process that invites public scrutiny and stakeholder input. Only through the full legislative process can Minnesotans truly have a voice and a seat at the table, ensuring their will and not backroom deals, shapes our public policy.”
The Democrats’ proposal for a special session scheduled to begin Monday, October 2 includes:
- Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines ban
- Binary trigger ban
- Eliminate the ghost gun loophole
- Strengthen Extreme Risk Protection Orders, including increased funding for public outreach and education
- Expand school safety funding
- Increase funding for mental health treatment
- Strengthen prohibitions against domestic abusers to ensure they do not have access to firearms
- Increase criminal penalties for violent offenses committed with a firearm and increase criminal penalties for impersonating a police officer
- Increase funding to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Team
“This proposal meets the expectations that Minnesotans have for their elected leaders – that we respond to threats to public safety and take direct action on guns,” Walz said in a statement obtained by Flag Family News. “We will not let this issue simply go away. Our offer addresses mental health, school safety, support for law enforcement, and most importantly, common sense gun laws.”
The Democrats’ proposal says money to fund these plans need to be agreed on by the governor and House and Senate leadership from both parties before the special session begins.
Under the proposal, bills that are debated on during the special session will need to be passed by 11:59 PM on Sunday, October 12.
