Walz, legislative leaders announce priorities for special session

Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders on Thursday announced police reform would be a top priority for the special session, which is scheduled to begin Friday.

"Minnesotans are demanding real change," Walz said. "We stand united with House and Senate leaders and the People of Color and Indigenous Caucus, ready to get to work during the upcoming special session. I stand with the legislators who have coordinated a powerful set of reforms to make meaningful changes to our law enforcement system in Minnesota."

"Every branch of government has a role in building systems that work for all Minnesotans, and I am excited to do this work in partnership with legislative leaders," added Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan. "The problems we are facing are not new. Many of the solutions before us are not new. It is our role now to make sure these proposals are heard, acted on, and implemented to make meaningful change."

Officials said the proposals were modeled on recommendations from the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus and the Police-Involved Deadly Force Encounters Working Group chaired by Minnesota Attorney General (AG) Keith Ellison and Department of Public Safety (DPS) Commissioner John Harrington. The proposals support use of force reform, funding for alternatives to policing and greater police oversight.

The priorities include:

• Use of force reform
• Alternatives to policing
• Police oversight reform
• Voting restoration
• Community healing
• Independent prosecution and investigation reform
• Training expansion
• Prohibition of warrior training and chokeholds

You can find more details on the proposals here.