State Senator Bill Lieske (R-Lonsdale) on Thursday voted to repair the damage done by a law approved by Democrats last session that caused many law enforcement agencies to remove or alter school resource officers (SROs) until the legislature fixed the law. The bill passed the Senate on an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 61-3. It will be sent to Gov. Tim Walz for his signature or veto.

“Protecting students and staff must be a top priority,” Senator Lieske said. “We never should have passed last year’s law, and it would not have happened had Democrats listened to the concerns of law enforcement, school officials, or parents, but I am glad we were able to repair some of the damage today. It is time to get SROs back in schools.”

With the start of the 2023 school year, school districts across the state found the change in language meant 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.

SROs play an important role in keeping students, teachers, and school staff safe. They help mentor students to keep them on the right path, as well as refer them to helpful resources. There have been no reports of SROs harming students before the 2023 change.