New Security Measures at MN Capitol Set to Go into Place

New security measures at the Minnesota State Capitol, including fewer public entrances and increased security presence in those areas, will go into place starting Wednesday morning. Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson approved the Minnesota State Patrol’s recommendations this week.

The measures come after the June shootings of state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband (who were both killed) and state Rep. John Hoffman and his wife (who both survived). They also follow an incident last month where a man was found naked in the Capitol building late at night.

Two entrances with a total of four doors located on the south side of the Capitol building will be open during regular business hours. They are the main south entrance at the top of the Capitol steps through the far-left (west) set of two doors and the ground-level accessible entrance beneath the Capitol steps through the middle set of two doors.

Prior to these new security measures, the Capitol building had three public entrances with 14 total doors open during business hours.

In addition, Capitol security officers will have an increased presence at both public entrances. All other access points to the Capitol building during public hours are restricted to key card entry only.

Regular business hours remain from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The Capitol remains closed to the general public on Sundays.