HF 4317 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Peace officer access to surplus badges provided.

This bill allows law enforcement chiefs to give away old or retired police badges for free to former officers or the families of deceased officers. It specifically permits chiefs to provide these surplus badges to current or retired officers who were originally issued the badge, as well as to the spouses or children of peace officers who have died. The law defines a surplus badge as one bearing a seal before May 11, 2026, or a badge from a retired officer. This measure creates a new exception to existing rules that typically restrict the transfer of law enforcement identification.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Last action Apr 7, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 3 edits · Apr 7, 2026

MINOR

The bill was updated from its introduction to its first engrossment, reflecting a revision in how surplus police badges are managed. The changes clarify that retired officers must be in 'good standing' to receive a badge and establish a new rule that decommissioned badges cannot be used for official duties, while retaining the definition of what constitutes a surplus badge based on its seal date.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a specific prohibition on using decommissioned badges for official duties, adding a layer of security to the distribution process.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility criteria were tightened to require that recipients of surplus badges must be in good standing or have retired in good standing, adding a new condition to the previous rule.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement was added stating that surplus badges provided under the act must be decommissioned and are strictly prohibited from being used by peace officers in the performance of their duties.

DEFINITION

A new definition section was added to explicitly define 'surplus badge' as a badge bearing a seal before May 11, 2026, or a badge of a retired person bearing any seal.

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

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Key actions

Committee

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

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

lower

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors