Walz proposes $907 million plan including Bemidji forensic lab expansion

Governor Tim Walz released a proposed $907 million infrastructure plan on Jan. 15, 2026, that targets public safety, water systems, transportation, housing and economic development across Minnesota. For Beltrami County residents, the most immediate and tangible item is funding aimed at expanding the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Bemidji regional office and forensic laboratory, a move that could affect local criminal justice capacity and forensic turnaround times.

The administration framed the plan as a broad investment in state priorities, with money earmarked for multiple projects across Minnesota. While the package is statewide in scope, the Bemidji lab expansion stands out for Beltrami County because it would increase regional investigative capacity and potentially reduce the time it takes to process evidence for county law enforcement and prosecutors. That in turn could mean quicker case resolutions for victims and accused, and less backlog for local courts.

The proposal now moves into the legislative phase. Lawmakers in St. Paul will review, amend and vote on funding during the 2026 legislative session. Infrastructure proposals of this size typically undergo committee hearings and appropriation decisions before any projects receive final authorization and funding. Until the legislature acts, the expansion and other listed projects remain proposals rather than committed expenditures.

Local officials and public safety partners will be watching the process closely. An expanded BCA presence in Bemidji could bring additional staff, new equipment and construction work to the area, creating short-term jobs and long-term public safety capacity. For rural counties like Beltrami, having closer access to forensic services often reduces the logistical burdens of sending evidence to distant labs and the administrative delays that follow.

Beyond the direct justice system effects, the plan’s broader buckets - water systems, transportation, housing and economic development - reflect concerns common in northern Minnesota: maintaining safe roads in seasonal conditions, upgrading aging water infrastructure in small towns, and supporting housing for workers. If approved, those investments would intersect with local priorities and could support recruitment and retention of professionals, including those needed for expanded lab operations.

This proposal also fits a wider trend of states investing in forensic and public safety infrastructure to address case backlogs and strengthen regional investigative networks. For Beltrami County, the question now is whether state lawmakers will prioritize the Bemidji expansion when they draft the final capital and operating budgets.

What comes next for residents is a period of oversight and civic engagement: county leaders, law enforcement and the public will track the legislative calendar this session to see whether the plan moves from proposal to funded project, and to assess timelines for construction, staffing and the expected improvements to forensic turnaround times.