MINNEAPOLIS — Nearly a year after two of their colleagues were attacked by a man disguised as a cop, Minnesota lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to a bill that imposes stiffer penalties on people who impersonate police.

The bill, which now heads to Gov. Tim Walz, is among many changes that legislators have sought in response to the June assassination of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and attempted slaying of state Sen. John Hoffman.

The suspect disguised himself as a police officer and attacked the two lawmakers and their families in their homes in the middle of the night. Hortman’s husband, Mark, was also killed. Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were both shot several times in their Champlin home but survived.

Hoffman was the driving force behind the bill to toughen criminal penalties. It unanimously passed the Minnesota Senate on Wednesday and was approved by the House in April.

The bill increases the penalty for impersonating a police officer from a misdemeanor to a felony punishable by up to two years in prison. The sentence escalates up to five years if someone impersonating a cop gains access to a facility that isn’t open to the public, gave orders to another person or operated a vehicle marked with law enforcement decals.

The bill also requires law enforcement officers to identify themselves with their name, badge number and agency they work for.

On the Senate floor, Hoffman recalled how he opened his door early that morning because of the trust he has in law enforcement.

“I never want another person in this state to have that trust shattered,” he said.

Sen. Jeff Howe, R-Rockville, described how a legitimate police officer knocked on his door on the morning of June 14 and he let him inside.

“He told me what had happened, and what little hair I have on my head stood straight up,” Howe said. “And I realized I had made the same mistake that Sen. Hoffman and Rep. Hortman made. We need to make sure that others have that reassurance when they look out and see that vehicle or see that officer.”

A spokesman for Walz said he will sign the bill into law.

Legislators are still considering other measures in response to the June 14 attacks. Negotiators from the House and Senate held their first conference committee meeting Wednesday on a safety and security package for legislators.

The bill includes funding to maintain weapons screening and enhanced security at the Minnesota Capitol. It also would create a new unit within the State Patrol to provide protection to politicians and state Supreme Court justices who face threats.

State Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson told lawmakers the new State Patrol unit would need adequate funding to work as intended.

“We will need to be properly resourced,” he said.

Col. Christina Bogojevic, chief of the State Patrol, said she’s heard directly from lawmakers about the importance of security following last summer’s attacks.

The legislative protection unit, she said, “will help meet what legislators are looking for” and “provide a more consistent response to threats.”

©2026 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.