Minimum age for delinquency ten years of age maintenance

SF 2497 raises Minnesota's minimum age for juvenile delinquency from 10 to 13 years. It amends statutes to exclude children under 13 from being classified as "delinquent children" for most offenses committed before their 13th birthday, effective August 1, 2026. This change applies to both general delinquency (Minnesota Statutes 260B.007) and juvenile petty offenses (Minnesota Statutes 260B.007, subdivision 16). The bill directly affects children under 13 who commit offenses that would otherwise be handled in juvenile court. It does not apply to serious crimes like murder or sex offenses involving minors.