Criminal Justice (Children)

This bill lowers the minimum age at which a child can be charged with serious crimes in Minnesota from thirteen to ten years old, starting on August 1, 2026. It directly affects children aged ten or older who commit violent offenses, such as murder or attempted murder, by allowing them to be treated as delinquent rather than children in need of protection. The law includes specific exceptions, such as excluding first-degree murder committed by children over sixteen and excluding certain sexual exploitation cases. Additionally, the bill modifies the definition of a "child in need of protection or services" by removing the clause that allows children under ten to be placed in the foster care system for delinquent acts, with a temporary exception for violent crimes committed by those aged ten and older.

This bill, SF 4829, limits access to child care centers in Minnesota by restricting when immigration enforcement officials can enter these facilities. It directly affects licensed child care centers, license-exempt centers, and their employees. Under the new law, employees cannot allow immigration officials to enter for civil enforcement purposes unless those officials present a warrant signed by a judicial officer, and employees must request valid identification and a written statement of purpose from any official entering the facility. The law does not prevent entry by officials administering state or federally supported child care programs.

This bill restricts access to licensed child care centers in Minnesota by federal immigration and customs enforcement agents. It requires these agents to present valid identification, a written statement of purpose, and a judicial warrant before entering, with approval needed from the center's license holder. The law also mandates that when access is granted, agents must limit their presence to areas where children are not present. The measure applies to all licensed and license-exempt child care centers, excluding situations where state or federal law requires entry for program administration.