Criminal Justice (Children)

in committee · Minnesota · House May 12, 2026

HF 5135: Amendments to the age at which a child may be considered a delinquent child delayed.

This bill updates Minnesota laws to change the age at which a child can be classified as a delinquent child or a child in need of protection or services. It primarily affects the state's juvenile justice and child welfare systems by delaying the implementation of a previous rule that would have excluded children under 13 from these categories. The legislation sets a new effective date of August 1, 2027, ensuring that children under 13 who commit acts before turning 13 will no longer be processed under these specific legal definitions after that date. By removing the exclusion for young children, the bill allows the state to apply its current definitions to their actions once the new timeline begins.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill delays juvenile delinquency classification for children under 13, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce early system involvement and promote rehabilitation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Tags Children

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in committee · Minnesota · House May 12, 2026

HF 5136: Age of delinquency for certain serious offenses established to be ten years of age.

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill lowers the age of criminal responsibility, expanding criminalization of minors and reducing protections for children in the justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Tags Children

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 29, 2026

SF 5247: Protecting Families and Children Act Establishment

The Protecting Families and Children Act establishes a legal framework in Minnesota to restrict gender transition procedures for minors and strengthen parental rights in education and healthcare. It prohibits the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors, defines biological sex based on genetics and anatomy, and requires parental consent for certain school activities. The bill also creates a new felony offense for grooming minors for sexual exploitation, repeals laws banning non-coercive talk therapy, and restores home-state jurisdiction in child custody disputes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates a new felony offense for grooming minors, directly strengthening criminal justice enforcement and protecting vulnerable populations.85% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts curriculum and school activities by prohibiting puberty blockers and requiring parental consent, limiting educational access for transgender students.85% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts access to puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors, limiting specific healthcare services.95% confidence

Tags Children

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SF 4829: Limit access to child care center facilities

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts immigration enforcement access to child care centers, limiting law enforcement capabilities and protecting civil rights against warrantless searches.90% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill restricts immigration enforcement access to child care centers, limiting federal enforcement capabilities and protecting immigrant families from civil enforcement without warrants.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies Tags Children

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in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SF 4241: Childcare center facilities access limitation

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.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill restricts federal immigration enforcement access to childcare centers, limiting law enforcement capabilities and protecting civil rights of children and families.75% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill restricts federal immigration enforcement access to childcare centers, limiting ICE/agents' ability to enter without warrants, protecting immigrant families and children from enforcement actions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Detention Enforcement Sanctuary Policies Tags Children

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in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 18, 2026

HF 4444: Youth intervention program supplemental grants funding provided, and money appropriated.

This bill allocates $5 million from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to provide supplemental grants to existing youth intervention programs in Minnesota. The funding is intended to help these programs address immediate or emerging needs related to trauma experienced by the youth they serve. Each grant can be up to $50,000, and recipients must submit a work plan describing their specific intervention needs. The commissioner may use up to 10% of the total appropriation for administrative costs, and this is a one-time funding allocation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $5 million from state general fund to youth intervention programs, directly increasing funding for public services and addressing trauma needs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds youth intervention programs addressing trauma, which supports rehabilitation and reduces recidivism in the criminal justice system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Tags Children

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in committee · Minnesota · House Feb 10, 2025

HF 277: Certain recipients of money appropriated from the environment and natural resources trust fund required to perform criminal background checks on employees, volunteers, and contractors that work with children.

HF 277 requires organizations receiving money from Minnesota’s environment and natural resources trust fund for children’s services to conduct criminal background checks on all employees, volunteers, and contractors who work with children. This applies specifically to "children's service providers" as defined by state law, including those receiving trust fund appropriations. Organizations must certify these background checks are performed as part of their required work plan submissions to the commission. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2025, for all trust fund recipients operating on or after that date.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires background checks for child service providers, enhancing public safety and accountability in criminal justice context.90% confidence

Tags Children

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