# Paul Novotny *American politician, member of the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2020* Paul Novotny (born May 26, 1966) is a Republican member of the [[Minnesota House of Representatives]]. He has held his seat since winning a special election in February 2020.[^1] He belongs to the [[Republican Party of Minnesota]] and holds the District 30B seat in east-central [[Minnesota]]. The district takes in the cities of [[Elk River]] and Otsego along with portions of Anoka, Sherburne and Wright Counties.[^1] Before his election, Novotny spent three decades in law enforcement. He was a police officer in Princeton and a sergeant with the [[Sherburne County Sheriff's Office]].[^1] In the House he has held minority-caucus leadership and committee posts. He has taken positions on bail, police accountability, criminal penalties and the voting rights of people on parole.[^1] ## Early life, education, and career Novotny was raised on a dairy farm in Elk River.[^1] He earned an associate of applied science degree in law enforcement at North Hennepin Community College.[^1] His law-enforcement career lasted 30 years. It included work as a police officer in Princeton, Minnesota, and service at the Sherburne County Sheriff's Office, where he was a sergeant assigned as an investigative sergeant and as a firearms instructor.[^1] ## Minnesota House of Representatives The four-term incumbent, Nick Zerwas, resigned and gave his reason as wanting more time with his family. Novotny then entered the House through a special election held February 4, 2020.[^1] He was elected to a full term in November 2020 and returned to office in the 2022 election.[^1] In the 2021–22 session he was one of the House's assistant minority leaders.[^1] The cached article lists him as the minority lead on the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. It also lists him as a member of the Human Services Policy Committee and the Ways and Means Committee.[^1] ### Political positions On policing, Novotny is against ending qualified immunity for officers and against a ban on no-knock warrants.[^1] He opposed a provision to pay burial and trauma-service costs for families of people killed by police.[^1] On bail, he drafted a bill to require greater transparency when third-party organizations post bail on someone's behalf.[^1] He has argued that bail should be set for violent offenders who threaten society, and not for nonviolent, low-level offenses.[^1] He backed a DFL bill under which judges would issue "sign and release" warrants, rather than arrest warrants, for certain misdemeanors.[^1] He co-authored a bill to raise penalties for selling or possessing fentanyl.[^1] He also co-authored legislation, prompted by a rise in thefts, to set up an electronic database tracking sales of used catalytic converters.[^1] He opposed creating a state office of youth restorative justice, arguing that it would add bureaucracy.[^1] He opposed legislation restoring voting rights to people with felony convictions while they are on parole. He said restoration would be unfair to victims of serious crimes such as homicide.[^1] He offered an amendment to make restoration of voting rights conditional on payment of fines, and the amendment failed.[^1] ## Personal life Novotny and his wife, Nicole, live in Elk River and have two children.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Paul Novotny* (revision 1378356079, retrieved 2026-10-26; CC BY-SA 4.0) — Novotny's birth date, district, party, law-enforcement career, education, special and general elections, caucus and committee roles, legislative positions and family. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Novotny