SF 1812 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Election-related bribery and solicitation prohibitions expansion

This bill (SF 1812) updates election filing deadlines and financial disclosure requirements in Minnesota, but its title misleadingly references "bribery and solicitation prohibitions" - the actual text contains no such provisions. It modifies: (1) deadlines for public officials to file economic interest statements (e.g., 60 days for most roles), (2) candidate filing periods for municipal elections (e.g., 70-56 days before March elections), and (3) required details in campaign finance reports (e.g., vendor spending over $100). These changes directly affect candidates, elected officials, and campaign committees who must file financial disclosures. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026, and focuses solely on procedural election administration.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 24, 2025 Last action May 16, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 5 edits · Mar 27, 2025

MODERATE

SF 1812 was reclassified from an elections administration bill to a fair campaign practices bill, shifting its primary focus from filing deadlines to prohibiting bribery and solicitation. The bill now explicitly bans individuals from soliciting or accepting money, property, or favors to influence how a voter casts a ballot, including signing petitions or registering to vote. It also introduces civil enforcement mechanisms, allowing attorneys general and county attorneys to pursue legal action under existing statutes.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from general election administration and reporting requirements to specifically target election-related bribery and treating, while removing previous provisions regarding filing deadlines for candidates and officials.

SCOPE

The bill's title and description were changed to focus on fair campaign practices and bribery prohibitions rather than general elections administration.

REQUIREMENT

New prohibitions were added against soliciting or accepting money, property, or favors to induce a voter to refrain from voting, vote a specific way, register to vote, or sign an election petition.

Previous sections detailing specific filing deadlines for candidates and officials were removed, as the bill no longer focuses on administrative reporting timelines.

ENFORCEMENT

Civil enforcement authority was added, empowering the attorney general and county attorneys to enforce the new bribery and solicitation provisions.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the new bribery and solicitation provisions was set to August 1, 2025, with a specific note that it applies to crimes committed on or after that date.

Floor votes

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No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Judiciary and Public Safety

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Committee

Referred to Elections

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Introduced

Introduction and first reading

upper

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors