HF 1744 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Expanded use of tracking devices authorized for fleeing motor vehicles.

This bill allows law enforcement to use mobile tracking devices (like GPS trackers) on vehicles fleeing from police officers, which was previously prohibited under state law. It directly affects police departments and officers by expanding their tools for tracking vehicles during high-speed pursuits. The key change amends Minnesota Statutes to create an exception for "fleeing motor vehicles," defining "flee" using existing law (section 609.487, subdivision 1). The policy change takes effect August 1, 2025, for crimes committed on or after that date.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 3, 2025 Last action Apr 1, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 5 edits · Apr 1, 2025

MODERATE

This bill expands law enforcement's ability to use tracking devices on both stolen and fleeing vehicles. It adds specific rules for stolen cars, requiring owner consent or a police report and mandating device removal within 12 hours if the car isn't in custody. For fleeing vehicles, it keeps the existing rules but adds a requirement to remove the device within 12 hours if the car isn't seized. The bill also introduces new reporting requirements for officers and agencies to document how these devices were used and to track the number of search warrants obtained.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly authorizes tracking devices for stolen vehicles in addition to fleeing vehicles, creating a new exception to the general prohibition on tracking without consent.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new exception allowing tracking devices on stolen vehicles if the owner consents or reports the theft to police.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the time limit for removing tracking devices from stolen vehicles to 12 hours if the vehicle is not in law enforcement custody.

Required officers to create detailed reports explaining how the tracking device impacted the investigation for both stolen and fleeing vehicles.

ENFORCEMENT

Mandated that agencies provide annual data to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension on the number of search warrants used for these tracking operations.

TIMELINE

Set the deadline for the first annual report to August 1, 2026, and requires reports every two years thereafter.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended

lower

Mar 3, 2025

Introduced

Introduction and first reading, referred to Public Safety Finance and Policy

lower

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors