SF 4301 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Domestic abuse provisions modifications

This bill expands the legal definition of domestic abuse in Minnesota to include behaviors like stalking, harassment, and controlling actions, while also clarifying who qualifies as a family or household member. It requires law enforcement to report specific domestic abuse case data annually and authorizes arrests for suspected nonfelony domestic abuse, with arrested individuals held in custody until their first court appearance. The legislation also establishes a task force to improve responses to domestic violence crimes and mandates annual reports on officer-involved death investigations related to domestic abuse. These changes directly affect law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts, and individuals involved in domestic abuse situations across the state.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 9, 2026 Last action Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction 1st Engrossment · 7 edits · Apr 7, 2026
MODERATE
This bill updates the handling of domestic abuse cases by expanding the definition of domestic abuse to include controlling behaviors and stalking tactics. It mandates that law enforcement report specific demographic data on victims and suspects to track potential bias. Crucially, it modifies arrest and release rules, requiring that individuals arrested for violating protection orders be held in custody until their first court appearance, while allowing judges to impose strict conditions like no-contact orders and firearm bans before release.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of 'domestic abuse' to include non-physical acts like controlling behavior and stalking, and it applies stricter mandatory detention rules specifically to cases involving violations of protection or no-contact orders.
DEFINITION

Expanded the definition of 'domestic abuse' to include controlling behaviors, stalking, and unwanted acts that cause fear or intimidation, not just physical harm.

REQUIREMENT

Required law enforcement to collect and report specific data points, including the perceived gender and race of victims and suspects, to monitor for bias in domestic abuse cases.

Authorized judges to impose specific release conditions such as prohibiting firearm possession, banning alcohol or drug use, and ordering the defendant to vacate the victim's home.

Mandated that police officers write a report for every domestic abuse investigation, regardless of whether an arrest was made, to ensure data collection on all incidents.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified pretrial release provisions to require that individuals arrested for violating protection or no-contact orders must be detained until their first court appearance, unless a judge orders otherwise.

TIMELINE

Changed the arrest threshold for nonfelony domestic abuse from 72 hours to 28 days, allowing officers to make arrests based on incidents that occurred up to a month prior.

FISCAL

Removed the specific line-item appropriation for the Task Force on Improving Responses to Domestic Violence Crimes, though the task force itself remains established.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Apr 7, 2026
Upper · Passed
Comm report: To pass as amended
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Introduced
Introduction and first reading
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors