On Thursday, March 14, I voted in favor of a bipartisan fix to last session’s unvetted school resource officer (SRO) law, which caused many law enforcement agencies to remove or alter SROs until the legislature fixed the law. This Legislation has the support of Minnesota law enforcement and eliminates the overly restrictive language that hinders their ability to act in dangerous situations.

Our school resource officers play a vital role in fostering positive relationships with students and safeguarding our schools, However, a Democrat law from last session caused a number of SROs to leave their schools. Republicans urged Democrats to join us in finding an immediate, bipartisan solution to this issue, but the governor refused to call for a special session. I am grateful that we finally reached a consensus that is backed by our law enforcement officers, but we should have acted on this issue much sooner. Our SROs deserve to have the clarity the need to keep our schools safe.

With the start of the 2023 school year, school districts across the state found SRO contracts would need significant changes to meet the new law. Many law enforcement agencies removed SROs or repositioned them to be stationed outside school buildings. The short-term impact was almost immediately felt as reports of violence at schools were shared widely. Just last week, an SRO was sent to the hospital after breaking up a fight.

The bill passed the Senate with a 61-3 vote and has been signed by the governor.

I want to bring Senate File 4785 to your attention. On the surface, this bill proposes a Constitutional Amendment to establish an Independent Redistricting Commission, a move that seemingly aims to foster fairness and equity in our electoral system. However, a closer examination reveals several alarming issues that demand our attention and scrutiny.

The proposed bill intends to set up a council comprising 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans, and 5 Independents to oversee the task of drawing election lines. While the idea of having an independent commission to ensure impartiality is commendable, the devil lies in the details. How do we define someone as a Democrat, Republican, or Independent? The terms are broad and subject to interpretation, raising concerns about the true composition of the board. 

The bill stipulates a prohibition on individuals serving as lobbyists for one year after leaving state office, in addition to altering the language of the constitution to transform the Minnesota Legislature into a full-time legislative body. These additional provisions are unrelated to the core issue of redistricting, prompting questions about why they are being bundled together into a single constitutional amendment. Shouldn't these matters be deliberated and voted upon separately? While the bill was presented in committee under the guise of maintaining a part-time legislature, a closer examination reveals that in practice, it would operate as a full-time legislature. This shift could potentially alienate the diverse array of professionals, small business owners, doctors, lawyers, tradesmen, and others who bring invaluable expertise and perspectives to the legislative process. We need a legislature that is reflective of the people it serves, not one dominated by full-time politicians. 

It is our duty to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in our electoral processes. While the aim of establishing an Independent Redistricting Commission is noble, it is imperative that we thoroughly scrutinize the details and implications of Senate File 4785 to safeguard the integrity of our Republic.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me for help with any state issue or legislative initiative: [email protected] or at (651) 296-3219.

Senator Calvin Bahr

Minnesota Senate, District 31

Choose Freedom,