Criminal Justice (Human Trafficking)

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 24, 2025

HF 128: Penalties for engaging in prostitution with minors increased.

HF 128 increases criminal penalties for individuals engaging in prostitution with minors in Minnesota. The bill raises maximum sentences and fines based on the minor's age: up to 30 years or $40,000 for victims under 14, 20 years or $40,000 for those aged 14-15, 15 years or $30,000 for those aged 14-15 (for the act itself), and 10 years or $20,000 for victims aged 16-17. It also increases penalties for hiring minors for sexual acts across all age groups. The bill applies to crimes committed on or after its effective date of August 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases mandatory sentences and fines for minor prostitution offenses, expanding criminalization without reform focus.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SF 2380: Engaging in prostitution with minors penalties increase

This bill increases penalties for individuals who engage in prostitution with minors or hire minors for sexual acts in Minnesota. It establishes tiered penalties based on the minor's age: up to 30 years in prison or $40,000 fine for offenses involving minors under 14, up to 20 years/$40,000 for those aged 14-15, and up to 15 years/$30,000 for those aged 16-17. The bill also increases penalties for hiring or agreeing to hire minors in all age groups, with fines up to $20,000 and prison terms up to 10 years for 14-17 year olds. These changes apply to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for sex crimes against minors, strengthening public safety enforcement within criminal justice framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · Minnesota · House Feb 24, 2025

HF 543: Anti-human trafficking training funding provided, and money appropriated.

HF 543 appropriates state funds for county attorney offices to cover costs of attending anti-human trafficking training. The bill allocates money from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to reimburse all participating Minnesota county attorney offices equally for training expenses. This provides direct financial support to county prosecutors who handle human trafficking cases, ensuring consistent access to specialized training resources.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates general fund money for county attorney anti-human trafficking training reimbursement, directly funding essential public safety program through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds anti-human trafficking training for county prosecutors, strengthening case handling in criminal justice system through direct financial support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 5, 2026

HF 7: Public safety; various provisions modified relating to data held by law enforcement agencies; agency bail or bond notice; sex trafficking minimum sentences; reason for dismissing charges; liability and vicarious liability; assaulting a police officer penalty; penalties increased for obstructing trunk highway, airport, or transit traffic; tracking device placement, requirements, and expanded uses; criminal penalties; and money appropriated.

HF 7 modifies multiple public safety laws in Minnesota. It requires law enforcement agencies to make bail/bond information public and mandates county attorneys to publicly report reasons for dismissing charges. The bill establishes mandatory minimum sentences for certain sex trafficking offenses and requires individuals subject to stays in sexual conduct cases to register as predatory offenders. It also increases penalties for assaulting police officers, obstructing highway/airport traffic, and expands law enforcement's use of tracking devices on fleeing vehicles. These changes apply directly to law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and individuals involved in criminal cases.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandatory minimum sentences for sex trafficking and increased penalties for offenses like assaulting police align with expanding criminalization, opposing reform-focused policies.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationIncreases penalties for obstructing highway/airport/transit traffic, enhancing transportation safety and flow.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Policing Sentencing Airports

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in committee · Minnesota · House May 14, 2026

HF 3335: Slavery or involuntary servitude as criminal punishment for a crime prohibited, and constitutional amendment proposed.

HF 3335 proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment, removing the current exception in Minnesota's constitution that allows it for convicted criminals. The amendment would require voter approval at the 2026 general election, with the ballot question asking: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude as criminal punishment for a crime?" If passed, it would ban forced labor as a penalty for any crime, affecting Minnesota's criminal sentencing laws. This change would eliminate a historical loophole in the state constitution that permits involuntary servitude as punishment for offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits forced labor as criminal punishment, aligning with civil rights protections and criminal justice reform by eliminating a constitutional exception allowing involuntary servitude.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBans forced labor as criminal punishment, protecting incarcerated workers from exploitation and strengthening labor rights protections under constitutional amendment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Sentencing

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in committee · Minnesota · House Feb 20, 2025

HF 127: Penalties for creating, distributing, and possessing sexually explicit materials involving children increased.

HF 127 increases criminal penalties for creating, distributing, or possessing sexually explicit materials involving children in Minnesota. The bill raises maximum prison sentences for standard violations from 7 to 10 years (up to 25 years with aggravating factors) and increases fines from $10,000 to $40,000. It specifically targets offenders who possess such materials involving minors under 14, have prior sex offense convictions, or are registered predatory offenders. These changes directly affect individuals engaging in these acts, strengthening penalties under Minnesota Statutes sections 617.246 and 617.247.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory sentences (7→10 years) and fines, directly matching 'oppose' indicators of harsher penalties for sexual offenses.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 18, 2025

SF 3536: Constitutional Amendment proposal to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude as criminal punishment for a crime

This bill proposes amending Minnesota's constitution to explicitly ban slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments. It would remove the current exception allowing such punishment for crimes, making it unconstitutional to force people into labor as part of a criminal sentence. The amendment would take effect if approved by voters in the 2026 general election, where the question would ask: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude as criminal punishment for a crime?" This change directly affects all Minnesotans, particularly those in the criminal justice system, by eliminating a historical loophole in the state constitution.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends constitution to ban slavery/involuntary servitude in sentencing, advancing civil rights and criminal justice reform by eliminating a harmful punishment exception.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBans involuntary servitude as criminal punishment, protecting workers from forced labor exploitation under state penalties.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SF 3002: Mitigated departures provision for certain offenders who have been victims

This bill allows courts to sentence offenders below standard guidelines if they were victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or sex trafficking. It requires presentence reports to include information about such victimization and permits courts to order reduced sentences when the victimization contributed to the offense and serves the public interest. Offenders placed on probation may also be required to participate in trauma-focused treatment. The law applies to felony sentencing hearings starting August 1, 2025, and affects individuals convicted of crimes who were previously victims of these specific offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows reduced sentences for trauma-informed offenders, mandates trauma treatment, and aligns with reform goals to address root causes and reduce recidivism in criminal justice.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Sentencing Victims' Rights

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in committee · Minnesota · House Feb 13, 2025

HF 544: List of persons ineligible under the Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act expanded.

HF 544 expands the list of people ineligible for earned incentive release credits under Minnesota's Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act. It adds specific offenses to the existing ineligibility criteria, including labor trafficking (M.S. 609.282), sex trafficking document violations (M.S. 609.283), prostitution/sex trafficking (M.S. 609.322), and various criminal sexual conduct offenses (M.S. 609.342-609.3458). This affects individuals convicted of these specific crimes who would otherwise qualify for the credit. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes sections 244.45 (ineligibility definition) and 244.46 (applicability), effective upon enactment.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands ineligibility for rehabilitation credits by adding specific offenses, restricting access to release incentives for certain offenders.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Probation & Parole

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in committee · Minnesota · House Feb 13, 2025

HF 137: Definition of prior qualified human trafficking-related offense amended to include violations of certain state laws committed in the person's lifetime and violations of similar laws in other states.

HF 137 amends Minnesota law to broaden the definition of a "prior qualified human trafficking-related offense." It expands the definition to include any past conviction or adjudication for human trafficking-related violations committed at any point in a person's lifetime (not just within 10 years), as well as similar offenses from other states. This change directly affects individuals convicted of human trafficking crimes, as prior out-of-state or older Minnesota convictions will now count toward enhanced penalties under Minnesota Statutes section 609.321. The amendment applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands definition of prior offenses for human trafficking, increasing sentencing severity and expanding criminalization beyond prior 10-year window and out-of-state limits.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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