[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6325020,"mediaKeyId","2335135-91f38324e53bdafd8f7ff37b10d88fb0","parentId",2335135,"title","Committee refers bill to increase penalties for driving on suspended or revoked licenses after injury or repeated offenses","audioSeconds",957,"startMs",92000,"endMs",1049000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2335135-91f38324e53bdafd8f7ff37b10d88fb0&start=92&end=1049","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2335135-91f38324e53bdafd8f7ff37b10d88fb0/thumbnail_92000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6325020/Minnesota/Committee-refers-bill-to-increase-penalties-for-driving-on-suspended-or-revoked-licenses-after-injury-or-repeated-offenses","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325020-eceb39de045f6df8ac6164d36cf6e3d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156019&Signature=AucbzdVTp3CNMzLuZ1FagUvHXHsSsz5uYJppiP5PfsXej1hgpu9THUvUx~twClKyq8RGx-B8zcW1p5gKyHvz9SKRI39p1I-9owOWivE1GhU1d5U2caPqAlttdq1lI6MhtTXNhmyYtR2xL4G9W4yj0RQe2VHae350Mn0fgutsTyFFgKlpPNYBFqCdukSesWed~E95jQMPbGt1yBUlTwm1P-A8KawdZ~O1Yk0lchEouL-OQz1ESH9E1Cb0tLE6EheoMqznkJ09hO~0dpNj8KD-FX7Z1M0u8r3osZqvPiQPIIGJWnNXd14ZuhhlW6PORTKadQw357HH9DeLOCA2z3Ohyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MNHouseInfo","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","House File 341, a bill to increase penalties for people who drive on suspended or revoked licenses in cases that cause serious injury or involve repeated offenses, was moved and referred to the House Transportation Committee after testimony and questions in the House Public Safety Committee on Feb. 18, 2025.

Representative Pat Heintzeman, the bill sponsor, said the measure is the product of nearly a decade of work and negotiation. She described the proposal as aimed at “increasing the penalty from a misdemeanor” when a person driving with a suspended or revoked license causes a collision resulting in substantial bodily harm or when a driver commits a third offense within 10 years. Heintzeman said Senator Limmer has a companion bill in the Senate.

The bill drew an emotional account from one of Heintzeman’s constituents, Sue Vanek of Nisswa, who described a 2015 crash in which an unlicensed driver struck her daughter head-on. \"Our daughter still remains a vegetable in a local nursing home,\" Vanek said. She told the committee the offender had been caught driving unlicensed repeatedly before and after the crash and questioned why the criminal penalty remained a misdemeanor.

Committee members discussed the statutory language and practical issues with enforcement. Representative Erin Murphy (asked as Representative Mueller in the hearing) asked why the bill targets \"substantial bodily harm\" rather than the higher statutory tier of \"great bodily harm.\" Heintzeman said the current language reflects prior negotiations and that she is open to amendments to refine the level of harm covered before the bill’s next committee stop.

Nonpartisan staff and committee staff also addressed fiscal implications. A staff member, Mr. Walz, told the committee he did not request a fiscal note because the bill, as drafted, does not create a felony; he said costs would likely be borne by local jurisdictions.

At the conclusion of debate Representative Heintzeman’s motion that House File 341 be referred to the committee on Transportation Finance and Policy was moved by the chair and carried by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the hearing.

The committee hearing record includes questions about enforcement practices (how repeated offenders are identified during traffic stops) and whether towing practices and dispatch records affect officers’ ability to prevent repeat driving by suspended individuals. Heintzeman and other members said law enforcement and stakeholders have long discussed the problem and that the bill represents one negotiated path forward.

House File 341 will next appear before the Transportation Committee per the committee referral.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 2/18/25","oneSentenceSummary","House File 341, a bill to increase penalties for people who drive on suspended or revoked licenses in cases that cause serious injury or involve repeated offenses, was moved and referred to the House Transportation Committee after testimony and questions in the House Public Safety Committee on Feb. 18, 2025.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MN, Minnesota","taxId",77817,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325011,"Committee lays over $ request for Hometown Heroes Outdoors after testimony on outdoor mental-health programs for first responders",682,1690000,2372000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2335135-91f38324e53bdafd8f7ff37b10d88fb0&start=1690&end=2372","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2335135-91f38324e53bdafd8f7ff37b10d88fb0/thumbnail_1690000.jpg","/articles/6325011/Minnesota/Committee-lays-over-request-for-Hometown-Heroes-Outdoors-after-testimony-on-outdoor-mental-health-programs-for-first-responders","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325011-7bb04281bef6c254999ed466b5d01fbf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156019&Signature=WimBSikvdfz4xTriBuKame~zBcCN0IVFw17SBd-pCpilI7VhRqWQ6LjlaZVB4y-OkRBxYCK6kR4Dom7UfLzpG0uRSsWsaLl2ruede-eSPTRcAGnNa5~jqMWhIORrcRsdF16QYT2nBd6JGAIubW~U-anof7jTm9IrUx-slpkcO9~yNB4OCoxBTH6MCnpnR0tl2jxTVmbS7Z-F6GPRUxwTpGyByqGauoi9CO-Z~DfaRAS9Br0SbV9nSmwMd2fkPYNhbZVfyNaBggSEtZuQroQcb7WDwe1xxGqgTFWSTYgOjr0Zwpz9E34HR8k6AtrqGt4IFfvtq717qm2MYtDROt0-pA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House File 491, an appropriation request for Hometown Heroes Outdoors to provide outdoor, peer-supported mental-health programming for first responders, was laid over for possible inclusion after a lengthy hearing and stakeholder testimony on Feb. 18, 2025.

Representative Kelly Hill introduced the measure and said the proposal would support outdoor “healing opportunities” for first responders. Christopher Tetrault, identified as president and co‑founder of Hometown Heroes Outdoors, described the organization’s work and supplied participant data to the committee: \"We have taken approximately 5,700 people outside, 2,700 of those have been Minnesotans,\" Tetrault said. He told members the group provides hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities as an adjunct, peer-supported form of therapy aimed at reducing PTSD, depression and suicide risk.

Tetrault described program measurement and a proposed spending plan for an appropriation: about $100 per person per day in program costs; 50% of requested funds directed to Outdoor Adventures, 30% to mental-health training for volunteers (including Applied Suicide Intervention Skills training), 10% to outreach and growth, and 10% to operational costs. He said Hometown Heroes operates with more than 90% of funds going directly to programs and that volunteers are unpaid.

Brian Peters, executive director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA), testified in support and said the programs provide a third-party option separate from agency employee assistance programs. \"When they reach out for help they're sometimes ostracized from the department,\" Peters said, urging committee support for House File 491.

Committee members generally expressed support but also discussed fiscal oversight. Representative Erin Mueller and others said they prefer grant or competitive procurement structures for state funds to ensure oversight and statewide reach; members suggested language changes or alternative appropriation mechanisms to allow competitive distribution and reporting requirements. Representative Hill said he appreciates the feedback and requested consideration; the chair laid House File 491 over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

The hearing included questions about which populations are served (Tetrault said Hometown Heroes serves military service members, veterans and first responders but that the present request targets first responders), program geography (26 states total; 2,700 Minnesota participants), and partnerships with organizations such as Canterbury Park’s therapeutic programs. No final appropriation vote was taken; the item was laid over for further consideration.

","House File 491, seeking an appropriation for Hometown Heroes Outdoors to deliver nature-based mental-health programming for first responders, was laid over for possible inclusion after testimony from the organization and endorsing stakeholder groups including the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325015,"Panel refers bill to suspend license when speed alone causes death, after families urge tougher penalties",387,1201000,1588000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2335135-91f38324e53bdafd8f7ff37b10d88fb0&start=1201&end=1588","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2335135-91f38324e53bdafd8f7ff37b10d88fb0/thumbnail_1201000.jpg","/articles/6325015/Minnesota/Panel-refers-bill-to-suspend-license-when-speed-alone-causes-death-after-families-urge-tougher-penalties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325015-dafb264b9a34d751d847eba6e9654e60/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156019&Signature=dJw5-jKrQTgolSjiHUlZHEs6tDqMUzytLJd38L70lP0uoIz6nDl3gSCoLovurpjTBjBY9YP7m0gu25eUCia5kYYbckzy-Kj2EFWWoUn0tj06Rk3MjCoRYuc~rM8AWYSky5pqXEdee486dWPgPqV1v0uFjmEf-jYZIkzkjO0Mif2KRxvHHcK4aGpmdMdk5FwB7zoYgrHyaB47R4WGw3XDI5x96nHX~TSr5Lem4UG3QCf-DAqgM8tzRRD5BSveIICCfrcoNhh~2ppXiWwsmZvQCyjIMmt7u~y0RYnq~HNyovcXIJzwAtugx4usMdXDRxH3BvA6jAYDTYFmfnIPjlUk3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House File 750, a proposal to require automatic license suspension where excessive speed alone causes a death, was moved and referred to the House Transportation Committee after testimony from family members of victims during the House Public Safety Committee meeting on Feb. 18, 2025.

Representative Rob Robbins, the bill sponsor, described a statutory gap: under current law criminal vehicular homicide or operation typically requires drugs, alcohol or an intoxicating substance as a contributing factor. \"There’s record amounts of high rates of speed causing accidents in our communities and there's just this gap where if the only cause is speed, not speed plus alcohol or drugs, it doesn't rise to the level that would require automatic suspension of driver's license,\" Robbins said.

Witnesses told the committee about fatal and grievous incidents. Mark Rowe testified that in May 2022 his mother-in-law was struck and killed by a driver \"driving in a 45 mile an hour zone going 95 miles an hour, 4 seconds before he hit her and killed her on the spot.\" Rowe said the driver had multiple prior excessive speeding citations and prior stops for suspended or revoked license conditions. His son-in-law, Matt Whelan, described the family’s frustration with criminal outcomes and post-conviction consequences, saying the offender was released and was later observed driving in the neighborhood after serving part of his sentence.

Committee members asked factual and procedural questions. Representative O'Hara asked whether other charges were served concurrently with the criminal vehicular homicide sentence; the family witness replied there were no other concurrent charges. Representative Tony Moore and others thanked the families and indicated support for further work on the bill.

Representative Robbins renewed his motion that House File 750 be re-referred to the Transportation Committee. The motion was carried by voice vote; the hearing record does not show a roll-call tally.

The bill would direct the commissioner to suspend a license when speed alone causes a death and require license revocation following conviction, closing the statutory gap described by the sponsor and witnesses. It will next be considered in the Transportation Committee per the referral.

","House File 750 was referred to the Transportation Committee after testimony from families who lost relatives to high-speed crashes. The bill would require the commissioner to suspend a driver's license when speed alone causes a death and would require revocation on conviction.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee refers bill to increase penalties for driving on suspended or revoked licenses after injury or repeated offenses

Committee lays over $ request for Hometown Heroes Outdoors after testimony on outdoor mental-health programs for first responders

Panel refers bill to suspend license when speed alone causes death, after families urge tougher penalties