SF 3907 creates a court process allowing victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault to remove an abuser's property ownership rights from a "contract for deed" (a shared ownership agreement for residential property). Victims can petition a court using verified documents like protection orders, law enforcement records, or statements from licensed healthcare professionals or advocates. The abuser and property seller must be notified and given 90 days to contest the request. This specifically applies to residential properties purchased through contract for deed arrangements, not standard mortgages.
This bill requires inmates to pay all court-ordered restitution before becoming eligible for "supervision abatement status," which is a reduced supervision level after serving time. It directly affects individuals on supervised release who have restitution obligations, as they cannot transition to this lower supervision tier until payments are fully completed. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 244.46 to add this requirement, overriding previous eligibility rules that considered time served and public safety factors. This change applies to all supervised release terms, including conditional release for life sentences. The policy does not alter existing public safety risk assessments or time-served calculations.
SF 3699 bans civil arrests for people attending court as parties, witnesses, or court companions (such as family members, advocates, or interpreters). It protects individuals while traveling to, at, and returning from court, covering courthouse buildings, surrounding streets within 1,000 feet, and parking areas. The law does not apply to arrests for criminal violations or those supported by a judicial warrant. This directly affects people accessing courts for civil, criminal, or administrative cases, ensuring they cannot be detained for civil immigration matters or similar issues while participating in court proceedings.
HF 3769 clarifies and expands health care requirements for people in Minnesota's correctional facilities. It updates tuberculosis screening rules to require testing within 14 days of intake and annually, with options including blood tests or X-rays, and adds procedures for court-ordered testing if inmates refuse. The bill also requires correctional facilities to establish at least one mental health unit for short-term care and expands access by allowing transfers for "assessment, evaluation, or stabilization" when needed. Additionally, it aligns substance use disorder treatment programs with community standards while allowing flexibility for correctional settings. These changes directly affect incarcerated individuals and staff across Minnesota's state correctional facilities.
HF 3661 prohibits state and local government entities, including law enforcement agencies, from acquiring, using, or entering agreements with private companies to obtain facial recognition technology. The bill defines "face surveillance" as automated systems identifying individuals based on facial features and bans all government use of such systems. It includes enforcement mechanisms: evidence from violations cannot be used in court, affected individuals can sue for $1,000 per violation (minimum), and officials violating the law may face disciplinary action. The law takes effect August 1, 2026, and directly affects government agencies' technology use.
Minnesota Senate Bill 459 (SF 459) requires individuals who receive a "stay of adjudication" (a delayed sentence) for certain criminal sexual conduct offenses to register as predatory offenders. This applies to people charged under specific statutes including Minnesota’s criminal sexual conduct laws (609.342-609.3453) or related offenses like using minors in sexual performances (617.246). The bill amends Minnesota Statutes § 243.166 to add this registration requirement, overriding standard rules that typically apply only to those convicted. It does not apply to juveniles if a court determines good cause to waive registration. The change directly affects individuals avoiding formal conviction through stays of adjudication for these specific sex offenses.
HF 2938 allows individuals involved in traffic collisions to access unredacted data from body cameras or other portable recording systems used in their collision investigation, rather than receiving only redacted versions. This directly affects collision victims, their representatives, and law enforcement agencies that must provide the data. The bill amends Minnesota law to require unredacted data access for collision reports under section 169.09, with limited exceptions: if access would interfere with an active investigation, the data is offensive, or it's classified non-public. Agencies denying access must provide a written explanation and information about seeking court review. This changes the default from redacted to unredacted data sharing for collision investigations.
SF 956 prohibits Minnesota conservation officers from conducting searches or seizures without a warrant or court order, except in emergencies or with the person's consent. It requires officers to provide a written receipt to anyone from whom property is seized. The bill affects conservation officers enforcing natural resource laws (such as hunting and fishing regulations) and the public they interact with during enforcement. The law amends multiple Minnesota statutes to implement these requirements for property seizures.
HF 3308 creates a new civil lawsuit option for individuals who experience nonconsensual condom removal during sexual activity. The bill defines "sexual battery" as contact with intimate parts after a condom is removed without consent, allowing victims to seek damages including up to $10,000 in civil penalties, attorney fees, and other remedies. It directly affects people who face nonconsensual condom removal and those who commit such acts. The law takes effect August 1, 2025, and provides confidential court filings to protect plaintiff privacy.
HF 2825 amends Minnesota law to allow background checks for private security and detective licenses to access expunged conviction records without requiring a court order. It specifically adds private security industry applicants (covered under sections 326.3381 and 326.336) to existing categories where expunged records may be reviewed for employment. This change directly affects individuals seeking or holding licenses in Minnesota's private security sector who have had prior convictions expunged. The bill does not alter expungement procedures but clarifies that background checks for these specific licenses can consider expunged records. The policy change applies to convictions expunged under Minnesota's statutes, maintaining existing restrictions on other uses of sealed records.
