Criminal Justice (Human Trafficking)

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SF 5179: Coercion of a pregnant minor female into seeking or obtaining an abortion prohibition, human trafficking of minors screening and reporting provision, certain information displayed requirement provision, and wrongful death resulting from an abortion additional action provision

This bill makes it a felony to force or coerce a pregnant girl under 18 into seeking or obtaining an abortion, defining coercion as a broad range of actions including threats, financial pressure, or exploiting vulnerabilities. It also requires hospitals and clinics to screen patients for signs of human trafficking involving minors and mandates that certain information be displayed at abortion facilities. Additionally, the law creates a new legal cause of action for wrongful death resulting from an abortion and directs the state health commissioner to create rules implementing these measures. The legislation directly affects healthcare providers, law enforcement, and families by establishing stricter penalties and reporting requirements related to minors and reproductive health.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes coercion of pregnant minors and mandates trafficking screenings, directly strengthening law enforcement and criminal justice protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

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in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 23, 2026

HF 5064: Coercing a pregnant minor female into seeking or obtaining an abortion prohibited, suspected cases of human trafficking of minors screened and reported, certain information required to be displayed, action for wrongful death resulting from abortion added, and rulemaking required.

This bill makes it a felony to force or coerce a pregnant minor under 18 into seeking or obtaining an abortion, defining coercion broadly to include threats, isolation, financial pressure, and exploiting vulnerabilities. It requires hospitals and other facilities to screen and report suspected cases of human trafficking involving minors. Additionally, the law adds wrongful death as a cause of action for deaths resulting from abortions and mandates the creation of specific rules by the state health commissioner.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by making coercion of minors into abortion a felony and requiring trafficking screenings, thereby enhancing law enforcement accountability and victim protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SF 5064: Office of Justice Programs appropriation to support trafficking victims

This bill appropriates $250,000 from the state's general fund for fiscal year 2027 to support victims of human trafficking in Minnesota. The money will be given to the Office of Justice Programs, which must award a grant to the International Institute of Minnesota to provide essential services such as housing, medical care, food, and employment assistance to up to 25 identified survivors. The grantee is required to partner with local law enforcement, shelters, healthcare providers, and other community organizations to help victims become safe and economically self-sufficient. Additionally, the bill mandates that the organization collect data on all clients to measure the impact of the funding and ensure accountability. This is a one-time appropriation designed to aid survivors in the seven-county metropolitan area.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $250,000 from the state general fund to fund essential services for trafficking victims, directly strengthening fiscal support for public safety programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds essential services for trafficking victims, partnering with law enforcement to strengthen victim support within the justice system.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $250,000 to provide essential medical care and services to trafficking victims, directly funding healthcare access.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill funds housing services for trafficking victims, directly supporting housing needs.80% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill funds essential services for trafficking victims, a group often including immigrants, indicating support for immigrant services.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

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in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 25, 2026

HF 3871: Venue in child sexual abuse material law provided; on-scene preview of digital evidence in child sexual abuse material investigations provided; possession, sale, creation, dissemination, and purchase of child-like sex dolls prohibited; and defense of duress modified to include victims of trafficking.

This bill makes several changes to Minnesota's laws regarding child sexual abuse material and trafficking. It expands where prosecutors can file cases involving child sexual abuse material to include the county where the accused or victim lives, as well as locations where the material was found or stored. The bill also allows law enforcement to quickly examine digital devices at the scene of an investigation to identify child sexual abuse material without needing a separate warrant, provided the original warrant covers this type of evidence. Additionally, it prohibits the possession, sale, creation, or purchase of child-like sex dolls and updates the legal defense of duress to include victims of trafficking. These measures aim to improve investigation efficiency and expand protections for victims while maintaining constitutional safeguards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens child protection laws by expanding prosecution venues, enabling faster evidence examination, and prohibiting child-like sex dolls, all enhancing criminal justice response to abuse.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill strengthens cybersecurity and digital evidence handling for child safety investigations, expanding law enforcement access to digital devices to combat CSAM.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

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in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 9, 2026

HF 3963: Trafficking and sexual exploitation prevention services for youth funding provided, and money appropriated.

This bill allocates $125,000 from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to support youth trafficking and sexual exploitation prevention services in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The funding will be given to the Office of Justice Programs to grant money to Citizens Against Sex Trafficking for their Power Over Predators program. The program must expand its services to include youth, parents, and community members by collaborating with youth groups, recovery support groups, domestic violence support groups, and the Ramsey County correctional facility. These efforts aim to provide victim-centered, trauma-informed support, awareness, and education to prevent youth trafficking, sexual violence, and exploitation. The appropriation is designated as a one-time funding allocation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $125,000 from state general fund to fund youth trafficking prevention services, directly advancing public safety and essential programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill allocates funding to prevent youth trafficking and sexual exploitation, strengthening victim services and public safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Corrections Domestic Violence Human Trafficking

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SF 4292: Child sexual abuse provisions

This bill expands legal options for prosecuting child sexual abuse material cases by allowing prosecutors to choose from multiple counties for venue, including where the accused or victim lives or where the material was found. It also permits law enforcement to conduct immediate on-scene previews of digital devices to identify child sexual abuse material without needing a separate warrant, speeding up investigations while preserving data integrity. Additionally, the law prohibits the possession, sale, creation, and distribution of child-like sex dolls and strengthens legal protections for trafficking victims by modifying the defense of duress. These changes directly affect law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and individuals involved in child sexual abuse material investigations and related activities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens law enforcement capabilities for child sexual abuse cases by expanding venue options and enabling warrantless device previews, directly advancing criminal justice enforcement.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill enhances cybersecurity by enabling faster investigation of child sexual abuse material through immediate device previews, strengthening digital safety measures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

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in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 5, 2026

HF 3925: Office of Justice Programs funding provided to support trafficking victims, and money appropriated.

This bill appropriates $250,000 from the state's general fund for fiscal year 2027 to support victims of human trafficking in Minnesota. The money will be given to the International Institute of Minnesota to provide services such as housing, medical care, food, and employment assistance to up to 25 trafficking survivors. The organization must work with local law enforcement, shelters, healthcare providers, and other community partners to identify victims in the seven-county metropolitan area and help them become safe and economically self-sufficient. The bill also requires the institute to collect data on all clients to measure the impact of the funding and ensure accountability. This is a one-time appropriation that does not create ongoing funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $250,000 from state general fund to fund trafficking victim services, directly supporting budget allocation for public safety programs95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds victim services for trafficking survivors, supporting criminal justice reform through victim assistance and community collaboration85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates $250,000 for medical care services to trafficking victims, directly funding healthcare access for survivors.75% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides $250,000 funding for housing services to trafficking victims, directly supporting affordable housing initiatives for vulnerable populations.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill provides funding to support trafficking victims, many of whom are immigrants, through services like housing, medical care, and employment assistance via the International Institute of Minnesota.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Human Trafficking Law Enforcement

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SF 3938: Trafficking and sexual exploitation prevention services for youth appropriation

SF 3938 appropriates $125,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2027 to the Office of Justice Programs, which will issue a grant to Citizens Against Sex Trafficking. The funds will expand the Power Over Predators prevention program to provide youth trafficking and sexual exploitation prevention services to youth, parents, and communities in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. This one-time appropriation supports trauma-informed education, awareness, and victim-centered support through partnerships with youth groups, recovery centers, domestic violence organizations, and Ramsey County correctional facilities. The bill directly affects youth and families in the Twin Cities region by funding targeted prevention efforts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $125,000 from general fund for youth trafficking prevention services, increasing public safety program funding through targeted appropriation.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds trauma-informed youth trafficking prevention services via Office of Justice Programs, aligning with victim-centered support and public safety goals under criminal justice reform.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Domestic Violence Human Trafficking

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in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 26, 2025

HF 2869: Survivor employment readiness pilot program funding provided, and money appropriated.

HF 2869 appropriates $1 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to create a survivor employment readiness pilot program. The funding supports Avivo, a nonprofit, in providing direct services to survivors of sex trafficking and domestic abuse as they seek employment. Key provisions include covering costs for childcare, transportation, housing, legal aid, interview clothing, technology, and Internet access, while also requiring public outreach and corporate training about survivors' workforce reentry challenges. This is a one-time appropriation, specifically targeting services statewide with continued focus in the St. Cloud area.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $1M from general fund for survivor employment program, directly increasing state spending on social services per budget appropriation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds employment services for sex trafficking/domestic abuse survivors, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of victim rehabilitation and reducing recidivism through reintegration support.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly funds housing costs (alongside childcare, transportation) for survivors in employment program, directly advancing housing access for vulnerable populations.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds employment services (childcare, legal aid, interview clothing) for survivors of trafficking/domestic abuse, directly advancing workforce participation and removing employment barriers.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly funds technology and internet access as part of employment services for survivors, directly advancing digital access for vulnerable populations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Human Trafficking Probation & Parole Broadband Access

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 6, 2025

SF 2210: Director of child sex trafficking prevention requirement to submit a program evaluation each odd-numbered year to the legislature

This bill requires Minnesota's Director of Child Sex Trafficking Prevention to submit an annual program evaluation to the legislature every odd-numbered year. The evaluation must assess whether the statewide safe harbor program for sexually exploited youth is effectively reaching intended victims and if support services (like housing and counseling) are accessible and adequate. It also mandates examining outcomes such as improved identification of victims, coordination of investigations, and whether penalties under related laws fund victim services. The bill does not change the program's structure but establishes a regular reporting requirement for legislative oversight. (This is a procedural requirement affecting the Director's reporting duties, not the program itself.)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates evaluation of child sex trafficking victim support program to ensure effectiveness, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of victim protection and service accessibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking

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