Certain actions by public officers and employees clarified to constitute misconduct, penalty for repeated misconduct increased, statute of limitations increased, and offense of public misconduct made ineligible for automatic expungement.

This bill clarifies what actions by public officers and employees in Minnesota count as misconduct, specifically including knowingly providing false information to the legislative auditor and failing to perform mandatory duties. It increases penalties for repeat offenders, raising the maximum prison sentence to three years or fines up to $5,000 for a second or subsequent violation. The legislation also extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting public misconduct and removes the offense from eligibility for automatic expungement, meaning convictions cannot be automatically sealed from public records. These changes take effect on August 1, 2026, and apply to crimes committed on or after that date.