Criminal penalty provided for assaulting housing and redevelopment authority employees.

This bill introduces criminal penalties for assaulting employees of Minnesota housing and redevelopment authorities. It directly affects workers employed by or acting on behalf of these agencies, including paid staff, volunteers, contractors, and those in roles like property management, inspections, and tenant services. Under the new law, assaulting an employee while they are performing official duties or because of their employment is classified as a gross misdemeanor, while the same act if it causes bodily harm becomes a felony punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to $4,000, or both. The changes take effect on August 1, 2026, and apply to crimes committed on or after that date.