Overview
- DFL Rep. Matt Norris offered a 'delete everything' amendment that removed a proposed law enforcement unit, changed appointment rules, and raised the office’s cost, but it failed on a 7-7 committee vote after Republicans objected to a lack of consultation.
- The Senate last year passed a bipartisan plan 60-7 to create a nonpartisan Office of Inspector General with subpoena authority and an internal law enforcement division.
- Backers of the Senate plan, including Sen. Heather Gustafson and GOP Sen. Michael Kreun, say an independent enforcement arm is critical, while Norris argues those duties would duplicate work by the BCA’s Financial Crimes Division.
- Committee leaders say the proposal is stalled rather than dead and could return for further consideration, with the House’s 67-67 split and budget questions shaping the path forward.
- Gov. Tim Walz has said he would sign an OIG bill; a GOP senator separately alleged Walz previously sought to block the effort, a claim Gustafson described as inaccurate.