Criminal Justice (Firearms)

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 6, 2026

SF 5267: Process of firearm purchase by peace officers modification

This bill allows actively licensed peace officers in Minnesota to buy firearms by showing their official badge or government ID instead of a standard transferee permit. The law treats an officer's valid employment identification as legally equivalent to the special permit usually required for such purchases. It directly affects current Minnesota peace officers who need to acquire firearms for official use. The change simplifies the buying process by removing the need for officers to apply for and wait on a separate permit.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill streamlines firearm acquisition for peace officers, enhancing their ability to perform official duties and maintain public safety.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 13, 2026

SF 5087: Public nuisance cause of action for certain conduct related to the sale, marketing, importing, distribution, and manufacturing of firearms establishment

This bill creates a new legal mechanism in Minnesota that allows the state attorney general to sue firearm industry members for public nuisance. It directly affects businesses involved in the sale, manufacturing, importing, distribution, or marketing of firearms and related products. The legislation requires these companies to implement reasonable controls to prevent sales to prohibited individuals, stop theft, and ensure compliance with existing laws. If a company knowingly or recklessly fails to meet these standards, the attorney general can seek court orders to stop the conduct, force cleanup at the company's expense, and award financial damages.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens public safety by enabling lawsuits against firearm companies for negligence, holding them accountable for failures in preventing prohibited sales and theft.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms

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in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 4848: Public nuisance cause of action for certain conduct related to the sale, marketing, importing, distribution, and manufacturing of firearms created.

This bill creates a new legal tool in Minnesota that allows the state Attorney General to sue firearm industry members for public nuisance if their conduct harms public safety. It directly affects companies involved in selling, manufacturing, distributing, or marketing firearms and related products like ammunition. To comply, these businesses must implement reasonable controls to prevent sales to prohibited individuals, stop thefts, and ensure adherence to existing laws. If a company violates these rules, the Attorney General can seek court orders to stop the behavior, force cleanup costs, demand financial restitution, and collect damages.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates a legal tool to hold firearm industry accountable for public safety harms, strengthening enforcement and public safety oversight.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Victims' Rights

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 14, 2026

SF 5291: Various firearms provisions modifications

This bill modifies Minnesota laws regarding firearms, including banning ghost guns, reinforcing bans on semiautilitary-style weapons and binary triggers, and updating rules for storing guns and reporting discharges. It also expands the state's extreme risk protection order system to allow for anonymous threat reporting in schools and adjusts reimbursement rates for mental health providers. The legislation includes funding for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to handle ownership certifications and allocates money for a public awareness campaign about extreme risk protection orders.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens public safety by banning ghost guns, reinforcing weapon restrictions, and expanding extreme risk protection orders, directly advancing criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill adjusts reimbursement rates for mental health providers and expands threat reporting, directly supporting mental health services and public safety.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Mental Health

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in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 13, 2026

HF 4955: Appropriate agencies required to destroy firearms subject to forfeiture that are not kept for a law enforcement purpose.

This bill requires law enforcement agencies in Minnesota to destroy firearms, ammunition, and accessories that are forfeited and deemed unnecessary for official duties. Instead of selling these items, the law mandates their destruction unless they are antique weapons or military-style assault rifles, which may be sold or retained for official use. The legislation also includes safeguards to prevent agencies from selling seized property to themselves, their employees, or related individuals, ensuring sales are conducted fairly. These changes would take effect on July 1, 2026, and apply to all appropriate agencies handling forfeited property under specific state statutes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances police accountability by preventing agencies from selling seized property to themselves or employees, thereby strengthening integrity in law enforcement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement Violent Crime

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in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 16, 2026

HF 4882: Judiciary and public safety; theft of public funds, school safety, and emergency vehicles policy provided; first degree murder and impersonating a peace officer criminal provisions modified; firearms policies established; criminal penalties imposed; and money appropriated.

This bill appropriates state funds to enhance security for the judiciary and public safety agencies, including specific allocations for protecting the Chief Justice and staffing security units. It establishes a competitive grant program to help courthouses improve their physical safety and security measures, requiring recipients to contribute half of the project costs. Additionally, the legislation modifies existing criminal laws regarding first-degree murder and impersonating a peace officer while creating new offenses related to theft of public funds and misuse of emergency vehicles. The bill also updates firearms policies and authorizes the relevant agencies to create rules to implement these changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds to enhance security for judiciary and public safety agencies, directly funding essential government operations.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds judiciary security, establishes grants for courthouse safety, and modifies criminal provisions to enhance public safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement Tags Public Safety

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SF 5066: Various judiciary, public safety and corrections policy provisions modifications and appropriation

SF 5066 is a legislative package that combines specific policy changes with funding allocations for the judiciary and public safety sectors in Minnesota. The bill appropriates money for the Supreme Court's security detail, staffing for a judicial security unit, and a grant program to improve courthouse safety. Additionally, it modifies existing laws related to crimes such as theft of public funds, school safety, and impersonating peace officers, while also adjusting statutes concerning emergency vehicles and firearms.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds to strengthen judiciary security and public safety programs, directly advancing the budget and appropriations topic.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds judiciary security, staffing, and courthouse safety grants, directly strengthening public safety and corrections infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Courts Firearms Tags Public Safety

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in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 16, 2026

HF 5006: Peace officer required to conduct testing of a person suspected of carrying a firearm while under the influence, penalty for carrying a firearm with an elevated blood alcohol concentration increased, and length of time a person is prohibited from carrying a firearm after conviction increased.

This bill requires peace officers in Minnesota to mandate breath tests for individuals suspected of carrying a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It increases penalties for this offense, elevating repeat violations from misdemeanors to felonies and raising the punishment for carrying a firearm with an elevated blood alcohol concentration from a misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor. Additionally, the law extends the period during which convicted individuals are banned from carrying firearms, ranging from one year to a lifetime depending on the number of prior convictions. The legislation also clarifies that firearms involved in these violations will generally not be confiscated unless the offense is a second or subsequent one.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties and expands criminalization by mandating tests and raising punishments for firearm possession with elevated BAC.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement

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in committee · Minnesota · House May 14, 2026

HF 5140: Ownership, possession, and sale of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons and large-capacity magazines regulated; provisions for possessing dangerous weapons in schools, negligently storing firearms, and reporting on law enforcement firearms discharge modified; ghost guns criminalized; other gun safety provisions modified; and money appropriated.

This bill introduces new regulations in Minnesota to restrict the ownership and sale of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, while also banning the sale of binary trigger systems. It expands criminal penalties for possessing dangerous weapons in schools and for negligently storing firearms, and it specifically criminalizes the manufacture and sale of untraceable "ghost guns." Additionally, the legislation strengthens the state's extreme risk protection order system, requires law enforcement to report firearm discharges more comprehensively, and allocates funding to support public awareness campaigns and mental health services.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens public safety by criminalizing ghost guns, restricting dangerous weapons in schools, and enhancing firearm regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Law Enforcement

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in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 4820: Individuals who own firearms required to obtain and maintain liability insurance, criminal penalties imposed, and firearm liability insurance surcharge imposed.

This bill requires individuals who own firearms in Minnesota to purchase and maintain liability insurance that covers damages from accidental or negligent discharges. The insurance must provide a minimum coverage of $250,000 per occurrence, and owners currently holding firearms must secure this coverage by February 15, 2027. Failure to obtain or keep this insurance is classified as a misdemeanor, with repeat offenses punishable as a gross misdemeanor and mandatory fines. Additionally, the bill mandates that insurers collect a surcharge on these policies, which will be deposited into a state fund designated for gun harm reduction. Law enforcement and active-duty military personnel acting in their official capacities are exempt from these requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill imposes liability insurance on firearm owners to reduce accidental discharges and potential criminal incidents, thereby strengthening public safety and reducing criminal justice burdens.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Law Enforcement

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