Minnesota Civil Remedies Act establishment
SF 3843, titled the "Minnesota Civil Remedies Act," establishes direct civil liability for government employees who violate individuals' rights under color of law - whether on or off duty. The bill prohibits common legal defenses like qualified immunity and sovereign immunity, allowing victims to seek compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees for civil wrongs committed by government employees. It directly affects injured individuals (who gain new legal recourse) and government employees (who lose prior immunity protections), while preserving immunity for judges, prosecutors, and legislators acting in their official capacities. The law applies to government actions occurring on or after its effective date and does not replace existing federal claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 26, 2026
Last action Mar 25, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
5
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Feb 26, 2026
Committee
Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduction and first reading
upper
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Cal Bahr
RRepublican
Co
Eric Lucero
RRepublican
Co
Nathan Wesenberg
RRepublican
Co
Susan Pha
DDemocratic-Farmer-Labor
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