On Tuesday, Safe Passage and our partners made a strong showing at the State Capitol.
We opened by sharing key findings from our latest child fatality report—48 children lost to maltreatment over 19 months. Board member and retired child abuse nurse Maggie Carney highlighted substance use and domestic violence as major drivers and noted that about half of the children had prior contact with child protection. She urged lawmakers to strengthen the system to better protect vulnerable kids.
That testimony helped set the stage for several important bills, including:
- HF 4408 Would require public disclosure of child fatalities and near fatalities to improve accountability. Thanks to Rich Gehrman for testifying.
- HF 4316 Would expand protections in child care centers, including required signage to help recognize and report abuse. Thanks to Dr. Nancy Harper, Crystal McNally, and Hannah Winkler for their powerful testimony.
We’re grateful to everyone who showed up and spoke out—it was a strong step forward for Minnesota’s children. You can watch their testimonies here.
But our work isn’t done. Even small bills face tough odds this session. We urge you to join us on April 14 for Day at the Capitol and help us speak up for children who can’t speak up for themselves. Learn more and register below.