Ten years of age maintained as the minimum age of delinquency.

HF 287 would amend Minnesota law to exclude children under 13 years old from being classified as "delinquent children" or "juvenile petty offenders" for most offenses. This means children under 13 who commit acts that would typically be handled in juvenile court (like minor property crimes or underage drinking) would no longer face those proceedings. The bill changes two key legal definitions in Minnesota Statutes to set 13 as the minimum age for such classifications, effective August 1, 2026. It directly affects children under 13 who would have been processed through the juvenile justice system for minor offenses.