HF 3946 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Law enforcement agencies required to report information in domestic abuse cases, arrests for suspected nonfelony domestic abuse authorized, person arrested for suspected domestic abuse required to be held in custody until the person's first court appearance, Task Force on Improving Responses to Domestic Violence Crimes established, annual reports required, and money appropriated.

This bill requires Minnesota law enforcement agencies to report detailed information about domestic abuse incidents to the commissioner of public safety by January 15 each year, including data on arrests, victim and suspect demographics, and case outcomes. It authorizes arrests for suspected nonfelony domestic abuse and mandates that individuals arrested for suspected domestic abuse be held in custody until their first court appearance. The legislation also establishes a Task Force on Improving Responses to Domestic Violence Crimes to study and recommend improvements, with the requirement to submit annual reports. Additionally, the bill expands the legal definition of domestic abuse to include violations of various restraining and no contact orders, and appropriates funding to support these changes.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 5, 2026 Last action Apr 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

1st Engrossment → 2nd Engrossment · 5 edits · Apr 7, 2026

MODERATE

This bill expands the timeframe for arresting suspects of nonfelony domestic abuse from 72 hours to 28 days, allowing law enforcement more time to act on probable cause. It also adds new requirements for judges to review arrest facts and impose specific protective conditions, such as firearm prohibitions and stay-away orders, before releasing suspects. Additionally, the Task Force on Improving Responses to Domestic Violence Crimes is updated to include the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as a participant.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding arrest timelines was broadened to cover a longer period (28 days instead of 72 hours), and the scope of judicial review was expanded to include specific protective measures for victims.

REQUIREMENT

Extended the window for making an arrest for suspected nonfelony domestic abuse from 72 hours to 28 days.

Added a requirement for judges to conduct a review of arrest facts and present relevant victim information before deciding on pretrial release.

Mandated that judges consider specific factors, including prior arrests, existing protection orders, and pending petitions, when determining if a suspect poses a threat.

Authorized judges to impose new release conditions, including prohibitions on possessing firearms or weapons and requirements to vacate the victim's home.

ENFORCEMENT

Updated the Task Force membership list to include the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 11 edits · Mar 16, 2026

MAJOR

This bill significantly updates Minnesota's domestic abuse laws by removing the definition of domestic abuse from the statute and moving it to a new section, while adding specific reporting requirements for law enforcement regarding victim and suspect demographics. It expands the Task Force on Improving Responses to Domestic Violence Crimes to include individuals with lived experience and specific advocacy organizations, and clarifies arrest procedures for nonfelony domestic abuse cases.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include mandatory reporting of demographic data (gender and race) for domestic abuse incidents and broadened the Task Force membership to include lived experience advocates and specific victim service organizations.

DEFINITION

Removed the definition of 'domestic abuse' from Minnesota Statutes 518B.01, subdivision 2, and relocated it to a new section (Sec. 2) to separate it from the order for protection issuance process.

REQUIREMENT

Added new reporting requirements for law enforcement to collect and report the perceived gender and race of both the alleged victim and suspect in domestic abuse cases.

Established a new subdivision requiring officers to report on whether the victim was arrested and any alleged crime forming the basis for that arrest.

Modified the determination basis for domestic abuse incidents to include whether the conclusion was based on an officer's reasonable belief, the victim's allegation, or both.

Added a requirement to evaluate public health policies to encourage the prevention of domestic violence.

Updated the Task Force's duties to include identifying appropriate data for prosecutors and reviewing data on multiple-party arrests to assess predominant aggressor arrest policies.

Added a new task force duty to evaluate public health policies for domestic violence prevention.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a new requirement for officers to submit written reports for qualified domestic violence-related offenses regardless of whether an arrest is made.

Reordered and expanded reporting categories to include whether the suspect was arrested at the time of the incident, the time between incident and arrest, and whether the alleged offender possessed a firearm.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the Task Force membership to include individuals with lived domestic violence experience, Violence Free Minnesota, Mending the Sacred Hoop, and other specific victim advocacy organizations.

TECHNICAL

Updated the repealed statute reference in the appendix from a generic number to the specific bill number H3946-1.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Ways and Means

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Introduced

Introduction and first reading, referred to Public Safety Finance and Policy

lower

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors