Senate Cues Up Clash On Body Cameras, License Plate Readers

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota's Senate is setting up a clash with the House over body cameras and license plate readers.

Senators were originally set to debate only license plate readers, an area the Legislature has struggled with for years. But Sen. Ron Latz added language to the bill that would make most body camera footage private.

Latz says the Legislature needs to act now. The Senate voted 34-25 to add body camera restrictions and later passed the whole bill.

That could make negotiations difficult in the House, where lawmakers want to wait a year to tackle body cameras. House and Senate legislators also disagree about how long police can retain license plate scans on law-abiding citizens.

The Senate bill set the window at 90 days. The House is considering just 30 days.