Nearly a year after a gunman fatally shot former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and state Sen. John Hoffman, the Minnesota House is expected to vote Wednesday on new measures intended to better protect state lawmakers.
The legislation would create an emergency contact database for elected officials and provide greater security for state lawmakers. It would also set aside funds for a “security services task force.”
The $1.2 million earmarked specifically for lawmaker safety would mostly include personnel and technology used to help identify threats and add protection on the state Capitol campus, state Rep. Brion Curran, DFL-White Bear Lake, told MPR News.
“We want to make sure that the position that's held is protected. And we know now, in a very real and devastating way, how our democracy can be put at risk,” said Curran, who co-authored the bill.
No money is intended be used to specifically reimburse or add security to the personal homes or lives of officials in the state Curran added.
Listen to the full conversation by clicking the player above.