This bill establishes security provisions for the Minnesota chief justice by authorizing the State Patrol to provide protection when necessary after consultation with the chief justice. It also adjusts funding allocations for the state's judicial branch, including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and District Courts, with base funding changes taking effect in fiscal year 2028. The legislation appropriates specific amounts for various court operations and includes a provision to increase hourly rates paid to forensic examiners. Additionally, it expands the State Patrol's existing security authority to include protection for other constitutional officers during credible threats.
This bill prohibits individuals from falsely claiming to represent real or nonexistent political candidates, parties, or organizations when speaking, writing, or soliciting money with intent to defraud. It applies to anyone making such misrepresentations or conspiring to do so, including those acting on behalf of political committees or funds. Violations are classified as gross misdemeanors and allow injured parties to seek civil damages, investigation costs, attorney fees, and civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation through court action. The law also clarifies that complaints about these specific violations bypass the standard administrative complaint process and go directly to enforcement authorities. The bill takes effect on August 1, 2025, for crimes committed on or after that date.
This bill establishes a new law requiring prosecutors to seek protective orders for certain evidence in criminal cases involving crimes of violence, particularly when the evidence could cause severe emotional distress or privacy violations for victims or third parties. The legislation specifically mandates that prosecutors request court protection for audio recordings of 911 calls made by minor victims and video footage showing minors captured by law enforcement recording systems. Additionally, the bill clarifies that inactive criminal investigative data containing images or recordings considered offensive to common sensibilities will be classified as private or nonpublic, though the existence of such materials must still be disclosed to requesters. These provisions aim to balance public access to court records with the need to protect victims and third parties from unnecessary exposure to sensitive or disturbing evidence.
This bill prohibits Minnesota government entities from using automated license plate reader systems and requires law enforcement agencies to obtain a judicial warrant before accessing any data collected by such systems. It also regulates private use of these readers by requiring clear signage to inform drivers when cameras are in use and mandating that personal data cannot be shared without individual consent, a court order, or a warrant. Additionally, the law requires law enforcement agencies to destroy all existing automated license plate reader data within seven days of the bill's effective date, with limited exceptions for active criminal investigations.
This bill modifies Minnesota's African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act to strengthen protections for children of color in the child welfare system. It requires social services agencies to make "active efforts" rather than just "reasonable efforts" to keep African American and disproportionately represented children in their homes, reunify them with families, and involve families in all service decisions. The law mandates that agencies consider cultural and social values when providing services, ensures community members from communities of color serve as court advocates, and requires ombudspersons to monitor compliance with these new standards. Additionally, the bill expands placement options to include relatives and community members before removing children from their homes.
This bill strengthens regulations on automated license plate reader data in Minnesota by requiring all collected data to be stored centrally at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. It limits what information can be collected to license plate numbers, timestamps, and photographs, while mandating that data not tied to active criminal investigations be destroyed within 48 hours. The law also restricts how law enforcement agencies can access the data, requiring written authorization based on reasonable suspicion and documenting each access in an audit trail. Additionally, the bill prohibits sharing data outside Minnesota unless a court order or warrant is obtained, and it extends these rules to private entities that share their collected data with law enforcement agencies.
This bill clarifies how local law enforcement agencies in Minnesota can receive reimbursements from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for specific criminal investigations, including drug crimes, stolen goods cases, gambling violations, juvenile prostitution, missing children investigations, and gang-related crimes. It also creates a new witness and victim protection fund that allows local officials to request reimbursement for services like relocation, housing, identity protection, and basic living expenses for individuals involved in criminal prosecutions who face threats. The legislation updates crime data collection requirements to align with federal standards and establishes rules for determining which criminal records cannot be sealed. Additionally, it mandates that courts provide law enforcement with access to protection orders and repeals an outdated statute regarding crime data collection.
This bill allows Minnesota chiefs of police and sheriffs to access certain expunged criminal records (from 2015 onward) to check if someone is eligible to buy, receive, or carry a firearm. It specifically permits this limited access without a court order for firearm background checks, while maintaining other expungement protections. The law requires law enforcement to securely handle these records if not used for denial, and to notify applicants if an expunged record leads to a firearm denial, providing the specific factual basis. It directly affects individuals with expunged records seeking firearms and law enforcement conducting background checks.
HF 3503 limits the common law defense of judicial and quasi-judicial immunity for state officials, such as judges and court personnel, when they violate specific rules while acting in bad faith or with actual malice. The bill defines "bad faith" as intentionally misleading or deceiving and "actual malice" as acting with ill will or improper intent to cause harm. It removes immunity protection if an official violates a mandatory rule (like a ministerial duty) or the Code of Judicial Conduct and acts with bad faith or actual malice, shifting the burden to the plaintiff to prove those elements by clear and convincing evidence. The law takes effect on August 1, 2026, for cases arising after that date.
SF 3920 modifies Minnesota's child welfare laws to redefine "active efforts" as "reasonable efforts" specifically for African American children and children disproportionately represented in foster care. The bill requires social services agencies to collaboratively engage families, consider their cultural and economic needs, and develop safety plans - before seeking court-ordered removal - to keep children with their families and prevent unnecessary out-of-home placements. Key provisions include mandatory family group meetings, culturally appropriate service referrals, and safety plans addressing specific risks (like neglect), while exempting cases involving severe abuse or parental unavailability. This law directly affects African American families and child welfare agencies across Minnesota, aiming to reduce racial disparities in foster care through concrete procedural changes.
