Time to ‘rethink how the people's house operates’: Board weighs Capitol security changes
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
The Advisory Committee on Capitol Security took its first steps Wednesday toward adding new security protocols on the Capitol complex following the shootings of two lawmakers and their spouses in June and a break-in at the Capitol last month.
The panel heard from security staff about existing security measures and briefly mentioned some of the changes individual members would like to see before going into closed session.
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan chairs the board and said it would meet again next month to continue the discussion about potential security adjustments that might be needed. She said the board would look at precautions in place in other state capitols and make a recommendation about what could change in Minnesota.
“This house belongs to all of us. These grounds need to remain safe, and as you can tell from the presentation, it literally takes all of us to make sure that that happens,” Flanagan said.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
As they came together, several members said there was a renewed focus on Capitol safety after House DFL Leader Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in June and state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were wounded by a gunman. They said some steps had been taken to safeguard lawmakers when they’re off campus, but more can be done to keep them, and others who visit the Capitol, safe.
“Sadly, this violence has now occurred here with the attempted murder of Sen. Hoffman and his family, and with the political assassination of Melissa and Mark Hortman and their dog, Gilbert, we continue to grieve their loss, and we will never be the same,” state Rep. Kelly Moller, DFL-Deephaven, said.
“I am honored that Melissa appointed me to serve on this committee,” she continued. “Ensuring that members, staff and the public were safe in the Capitol Complex was her priority, and I know that it is a priority for all of us as an advisory committee.”
Some Democratic lawmakers on the panel said the state should adopt a ban on weapons at the Capitol and implement weapon detection technology.
Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson said the board should consider rolling out weapons detection technology across more buildings on the complex as judges, judicial staff and other public officials face a growing number of threats. The Minnesota Judicial Center is the only building on the complex with that technology.
“The Minnesota Capitol is often called the people's house. And no one believes that more than I do, but I also believe that the time has come in 2025 to rethink how the people's house operates,” Hudson said.
State Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, said there are cultural changes, not just technology changes, that need to be made. He urged his peers to turn down the political rhetoric and to be mindful of what’s going on around them when they’re in St. Paul.
“I'd like to caution the committee not to be lulled into a false sense of security by using technology alone. This goes far deeper than just the physical aspect of products that a number of corporations will want to sell the state of Minnesota,” Limmer said. “We personally have a responsibility to be aware of our surroundings, important threats, when we receive them and take due diligence to respectfully manage our interactions with the public.”
While any recommendations could be significant, they’re likely not the final step in implementing new security measures. The Legislature and Gov. Tim Walz would still need to sign off on proposals that require new state funding or law changes. Plans to put in metal detectors, ban guns on the premises and require bag checks would likely be among those.
Rep. Jim Nash, R-Waconia, sits on the board and he said any changes would likely take time. The Legislature isn’t scheduled to return until February.
“I think that there is a desire by some to implement a great many changes prior to our return in February, but I would point out to people that there would be required statutory changes that cannot be executed until we come back in February,” Nash said. “So if you’re going to do certain things that require us to pass a bill, you have to wait.”
The Republican also noted the state’s tight budget situation. Changes that require additional state funds could face a tough path through the Legislature. The board has requested additional funding for security measures in the past and at last report earlier this year it said the unfunded need is more than $39 million.
Gov. Tim Walz is not a member of the board, but he said the panel should strike a balance between easy access for the public and safeguards that could weed out bad actors.
“What I would say is, if you have to walk through one door and you have to walk through a metal detector, and you can’t be carrying a gun, I don’t think that prohibits you from doing everything you need to do,” he said.
The DFL governor recommended banning firearms from the Capitol complex and installing metal detectors in the Capitol building. Minnesota is one of just a few states that doesn’t have metal detectors at the Capitol. Flanagan echoed some of those proposals on Wednesday.
Ahead of the meeting, the Department of Public Safety took some steps to shore up security on the Capitol complex. Public entrances were reduced to two from three and officers more consistently monitor those doorways.
The department also installed alarms on all external doors to notify security if a door is propped or left open. The man who gained unauthorized access to the Capitol last month propped a door open with a wooden wedge and re-entered after hours.
The department is also hiring 19 additional Capitol security officers. Officials said those officers should be in place early next year.
The House of Representatives and Senate have also made funding available to legislators to add security systems at their homes. They said the enhanced security measures were important since lawmakers face threats outside the Capitol.
A third-party security review of the Capitol is expected to be completed later this year. Public safety officials said they would continue making changes ahead of its release if they find areas where they can improve.
