Judiciary and Public Safety Committee
Friday, February 20, 2026
Present: Senator Ron Latz - Chair, Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten - Vice Chair, Senator Warren Limmer - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Doron Clark, Senator Michael W. Holmstrom, Senator Michael E. Kreun, Senator Sandra L. Pappas, Senator Bonnie S. Westlin, Senator Torrey N. Westrom
Absent: Senator Judy Seeberger
10:00 AM, 1200 Minnesota Senate Bldg.
Minutes
Present: Senator Ron Latz - Chair, Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten - Vice Chair, Senator Warren Limmer - Ranking Minority Member, Senator Doron Clark, Senator Michael W. Holmstrom, Senator Michael E. Kreun, Senator Sandra L. Pappas, Senator Bonnie S. Westlin, Senator Torrey N. Westrom
Absent: Senator Judy Seeberger
Senator Ron Latz called the meeting to order at 10:09 am
Document Requirements 1 page documents should be in PDF format with the file name containing the document number, organization or individuals name, and indicating a position on the file i.e. pro/con/neutral. Documents should be submitted to judiciary@senate.mn. Documents received after the posted deadline or that do not meet the requirements stated may not be included in the hearing.
Testimony Requests Requests can be made via the link. The number of testifiers and length of time permitted is at the discretion of the chair and is subject to change. If the committee is able to accommodate your request, confirmation will be sent via email by Thursday, Feb. 19 at 12 p.m. This form will close Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 4 p.m.
Presentation by Muzaffar A. Chishti Senior Fellow, Migration Policy Institute, New York University School of Law.
S.F. 3628: Senator Champion: Cause of action for violations of civil rights under the color of law creation.
Senator Claire Oumou Verbeten moves adoption of the A1 amendment - adopted by voice. The following individuals testified on S.F.3628: Meagan Forbes, Director of Legislation and Senior Legislative Counsel at The Institute for Justice; Ryan Ecklund, resident of Woodbury; John Boehler, Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota; Suleiman Adan, Deputy Director of CAIR-MN (The Council on American-Islamic Relations); Christopher Marti, resident of Senate District 59; Ed Higgins; constitutional observer.
Senator Latz moved that S.F. 3628, as amended, be laid over.
Senator Claire Oumou Verbeten moves adoption of the A1 amendment - adopted by voice. The following individuals testified on S.F.3628: Meagan Forbes, Director of Legislation and Senior Legislative Counsel at The Institute for Justice; Ryan Ecklund, resident of Woodbury; John Boehler, Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota; Suleiman Adan, Deputy Director of CAIR-MN (The Council on American-Islamic Relations); Christopher Marti, resident of Senate District 59; Ed Higgins; constitutional observer.
Senator Latz moved that S.F. 3628, as amended, be laid over.
S.F. 3688: Senator Murphy: Civil action against a person for failure to render aid in certain circumstances authorization provision.
Senator Westlin moves the A2 amendment - adopted by voice.
Senator Latz moved that S.F. 3688, as amended, be laid over.
Senator Westlin moves the A2 amendment - adopted by voice.
Senator Latz moved that S.F. 3688, as amended, be laid over.
S.F. 3590: Senator Port: Circumstances when a person may conceal their identity in public modification and specific exceptions creation for law enforcement officers.
Senator Pappas moves adoption of the A1 amendment - adopted by voice. Senator Holmstrom moves and withdraws the A4 amendment. The following individuals testified on S.F.3590: John Boehler, Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota; Kat Salonek Schladt, community organizer; Shireen K. Bhatia, attorney.
Senator Latz moved that S.F. 3590, as amended, be laid over.
Senator Pappas moves adoption of the A1 amendment - adopted by voice. Senator Holmstrom moves and withdraws the A4 amendment. The following individuals testified on S.F.3590: John Boehler, Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota; Kat Salonek Schladt, community organizer; Shireen K. Bhatia, attorney.
Senator Latz moved that S.F. 3590, as amended, be laid over.
Presentation by Attorney General Keith Ellison
1:12pm- Senator Latz passes the gavel to Senator Oumou Verbeten.
1:12pm- Senator Latz passes the gavel to Senator Oumou Verbeten.
S.F. 3660: Senator Latz: Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's Use of Force Investigations Unit to conduct investigations of incidents involving federal agents requirement.
Senator Latz moves to adopt A1- adopted by voice. The following individuals testified on S.F.3660: Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Superintendent Drew Evans
Senator Oumou Verbeten moved that S.F. 3660, as amended, be laid over.
Senator Latz moves to adopt A1- adopted by voice. The following individuals testified on S.F.3660: Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Superintendent Drew Evans
Senator Oumou Verbeten moved that S.F. 3660, as amended, be laid over.
S.F. 3699: Senator Latz: Civil arrests prohibition for persons attending court proceedings.
The following individuals testified on S.F.3699: Emmanuel Williams, Staff Attorney at the Legal Rights Center; John Boehler, Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota 2:35- Senator Oumou Verbeten passes the gavel to Senator Latz.
Senator Oumou Verbeten moved that S.F. 3699, be laid over.
The following individuals testified on S.F.3699: Emmanuel Williams, Staff Attorney at the Legal Rights Center; John Boehler, Policy Counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota 2:35- Senator Oumou Verbeten passes the gavel to Senator Latz.
Senator Oumou Verbeten moved that S.F. 3699, be laid over.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:38 pm
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Senator Ron Latz, Chair |
Kyra Layman, Legislative Assistant (CLA) |