Criminal Justice (Drug Policy) in Minnesota

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 12, 2026

HF 3617: Possession of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons banned, and criminal penalties provided.

HF 3617 bans the possession of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons in Minnesota, including specific firearms like AR-15 rifles and AK-47s, as well as weapons with features such as folding stocks, pistol grips, or detachable magazines. The bill defines these weapons broadly to cover both listed models and similar firearms with minor modifications, such as redesigned versions or enhanced features. Possessing a banned weapon would be a criminal offense under amended statutes, with penalties established for violations. This law directly affects individuals who own or possess these firearms, making such possession illegal under state law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Violent Crime

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 16, 2026

HF 3350: Lifetime firearms ban on persons who are convicted of certain misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor domestic assault offenses established.

HF 3350 establishes a lifetime ban on firearm possession for individuals convicted of misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor domestic assault offenses in Minnesota. This law directly affects people convicted of these specific domestic violence crimes by permanently prohibiting them from owning, buying, or possessing firearms. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to add this ban as a standard consequence of such convictions, replacing any prior provisions that might have allowed firearm access after sentencing. It creates a concrete policy change that restricts firearm access for this group for life, without exceptions for future conduct.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Drug Policy Firearms

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 27, 2026

SF 3825: Requirement that loaded firearms be stored in locations where persons prohibited from possessing firearms cannot access the firearms

SF 3825 amends Minnesota law to require gun owners to store loaded firearms in locations where children *and* individuals prohibited from owning firearms (such as those with certain criminal records under section 624.713) cannot access them. The bill expands existing storage rules - previously focused only on children - to explicitly include prohibited persons, making it a gross misdemeanor to negligently leave a loaded firearm accessible to either group without proper security. Key provisions clarify that "loaded" includes firearms with ammunition in the chamber or magazine, and define the penalty for failure to secure firearms against access. This directly affects gun owners in households with children or individuals legally barred from firearm possession. The bill is currently in committee review after introduction on February 23, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms

in committee · Minnesota · House Feb 23, 2026

HF 3613: Liability of bystanders of drug-related overdoses limited.

HF 3613 limits legal liability for bystanders who seek medical help during drug-related overdoses. The bill amends Minnesota law to define "bystander" as anyone present during a suspected overdose and grants immunity from arrest, charges, or prosecution for drug possession when someone in good faith calls for emergency assistance. It specifically protects individuals who contact 911 or medical help while remaining on scene and cooperating with authorities, without requiring a separate finding of imminent danger to the victim. This applies to all drug-related overdoses, including those involving controlled substances. The law aims to encourage bystanders to seek life-saving medical help without fear of criminal penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SF 3661: Prohibit the sale and possession of ghost guns

SF 3661 prohibits the sale and possession of "ghost guns" - unserialized firearms made via 3D printing or lacking serial numbers - and requires all firearms to have unique serial numbers engraved on the frame or receiver. It gives current owners of unserialized firearms 180 days to add a serial number (via a federal licensee), destroy the firearm, remove it from the state, or surrender it to law enforcement. The law specifically targets DIY firearms that evade standard tracking, affecting residents who own such unserialized weapons or unfinished frames. It also bans distribution of 3D-printer firearm design files and requires public safety officials to issue notices about the new rules.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Law Enforcement

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 13, 2026

SF 3600: Lifetime firearms ban on persons who are convicted of certain misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor domestic assault offenses establishment

SF 3600 establishes a lifetime ban on firearm possession for individuals convicted of certain misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor domestic assault offenses in Minnesota. The bill directly affects people found guilty of these specific domestic violence-related assaults, prohibiting them from owning or possessing firearms for life. It amends Minnesota Statutes to implement this ban, changing existing law to require that such convictions automatically trigger the firearm prohibition. The law applies to offenses classified as misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors under Minnesota's domestic assault statutes, not felony domestic violence cases. This is a substantive policy change to restrict firearm access for a specific category of domestic violence offenders.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Drug Policy Firearms

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 24, 2025

HF 2699: Psilocybin cultivation, possession, transportation, and personal use by individuals 21 years of age or older authorized; protections established; public education and harm reduction programs established; Psychedelic Medicine Board established; criminal penalties provided; rulemaking authorized; civil actions authorized; and money appropriated.

HF 2699 legalizes personal cultivation, possession, transportation, and use of psilocybin for Minnesotans aged 21 or older, removing criminal penalties for these activities. The bill establishes a Psychedelic Medicine Board to oversee implementation, creates public education and harm reduction programs, and authorizes civil actions for related issues. It amends Minnesota’s controlled substances laws (specifically sections 152.021, 152.022, and 152.024) to exclude psilocybin from possession crime classifications for adults 21+. The legislation also appropriates funding for these programs and sets up rulemaking authority for the new framework.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 3, 2025

HF 1657: Treatment of water pipe fluid modified in the controlled substances laws.

HF 1657 modifies Minnesota's controlled substances laws to clarify that the weight of fluid used in water pipes is excluded when calculating possession thresholds, except when the mixture contains four or more fluid ounces of fluid. This change directly affects individuals who possess controlled substances (like cocaine, methamphetamine, or opioids) in water pipe fluids, as it prevents the fluid weight from counting toward criminal offense levels based on total weight. Key provisions amend sections 152.021, 152.022, and 152.023 of Minnesota Statutes to exclude water pipe fluid from weight calculations in possession crimes. The bill aims to align legal standards with practical realities of how substances are consumed, avoiding disproportionate penalties for fluid weight. It does not alter penalties for the substances themselves, only the method for measuring possession quantities.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 24, 2025

SF 2878: Office of Cannabis Management review of all verified social equity applicants before reviewing general licensing applications requirement provision

This bill requires Minnesota's Office of Cannabis Management to review all verified social equity applicants before considering general licensing applications for cannabis licenses. It directly affects cannabis business applicants who qualify as social equity applicants (typically from communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition) versus general applicants. The key provision mandates that the Office must complete all reviews of verified social equity applicants in a given licensing period before moving to general applications. This changes the review order but does not alter the number of licenses available for either category. The amendment updates Minnesota Statutes section 342.14, subdivision 4.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SF 3172: Comprehensive substance use and addiction plan requirement

This bill requires Minnesota to create and publish a statewide comprehensive plan for addressing substance use and addiction. The plan must identify barriers to treatment, develop strategies for underserved communities, expand recovery infrastructure (like detox facilities and sober housing), and address addiction among people experiencing homelessness. All state agencies operating substance use prevention, treatment, or recovery programs must align their goals and budgets with this plan. The bill directly affects state agencies managing these services and ensures Minnesotans seeking addiction support - particularly those in disproportionately impacted communities - receive coordinated care.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse Homelessness Land Use

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