Rep. Jeff Witte announced on Apr. 24 that the Minnesota legislative session is entering its final weeks, with committees working quickly to finalize key legislation before adjournment on May 17.
Witte said that although the Public Safety Committee has finished its work for the year, other committees like Taxes will continue meeting until the end of the session. He emphasized ongoing efforts to refine and negotiate bills important to Minnesotans, stating his commitment to remain accessible for constituent concerns even after policy deadlines have passed.
Among recent developments, Witte highlighted House File 3826, a bill aimed at strengthening fraud prevention and identity theft laws in Minnesota. The bill passed unanimously in the House with a vote of 134-0 and now moves to the Senate. “At its core, this is a fraud prevention and identity theft crackdown that strengthens tools for prosecutors and investigators while modernizing how we define and prosecute emerging forms of fraud,” Witte said. He also noted bipartisan support for the measure: “In a time when agreement isn’t always the easiest thing to come by, this was a clear message from the House: fraud prevention isn’t partisan—it’s practical.” The bill would extend statutes of limitations for certain offenses from six to ten years and update definitions around digital impersonation.
Witte also discussed House File 4597, which seeks funding for a unified emergency response platform enabling real-time information sharing among Minnesota’s 911 centers. He thanked several local officials who testified in support of this initiative and recognized National Public Safety Telecommunications Week by expressing gratitude toward dispatchers statewide.
Reflecting on his tenure at the Legislature, Witte paid tribute to Representative Paul Novotny (R – Elk River), who will not seek re-election after decades of public service both as an officer and legislator: “Paul leads with integrity, shows up for people when it matters most, and has spent his career doing the kind of work that makes communities safer and stronger.” Witte credited Novotny as an important mentor during his own early days in office.
Other highlights included meetings with law enforcement leaders during Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association events at the Capitol—an organization representing more than 500 current and retired police professionals—and discussions about aging services alongside Senator Zach Duckworth with representatives from LeadingAge.
As lawmakers approach adjournment next month, Witte said he remains focused on policies supporting public safety infrastructure as well as issues affecting seniors across Minnesota.
