SF 4898 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Legislative email, telephone numbers, and office space usage restrictions provisions

This bill restricts how members, officers, and employees of the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives can use legislative resources like email addresses, telephone numbers, and office space. It prohibits assigning legislative email addresses or phone numbers to anyone who is not a legislator, officer, or employee, and limits the use of assigned member phone numbers to the member and their authorized staff. The bill also requires written notification to caucus leaders before allowing contractors or non-employees to occupy legislative office space. Enforcement of these rules will be handled through legislative rules rather than court intervention, with no judicial authority to enforce or penalize violations.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 26, 2026 Last action Apr 27, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction 1st Engrossment · 4 edits · Apr 27, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was updated from its introduction to its first engrossment stage, reflecting changes made during legislative review. The primary substantive changes expand the definition of covered individuals to include 'interns' alongside members, officers, and employees, ensuring interns are also protected from unauthorized use of legislative resources and prohibited from misusing them. Additionally, the rules for telephone usage were clarified to specify that support staff must be 'assigned to support the member' rather than just assigned by the caucus, tightening the criteria for authorized use.
Scope change
The scope of the bill was expanded to explicitly include 'interns' as a protected class and a category of individuals subject to restrictions on legislative resources, in addition to members, officers, and employees.
ELIGIBILITY

Added 'intern' to the list of individuals who cannot establish legislative email addresses or assign telephone numbers to non-legislators.

Added 'intern' to the list of individuals prohibited from allowing non-qualifying persons to occupy legislative office space.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that legislative telephone numbers may only be shared with employees or interns who are specifically 'assigned to support the member,' narrowing the previous authorization criteria.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the text stating that court or administrative agency jurisdiction is exclusive to legislative remedies, likely due to a separate amendment or revision of the enforcement clause.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Apr 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Comm report: To pass as amended
upper
Apr 16, 2026
Committee
Pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 6, referred to Rules and Administration
upper
Apr 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Rules and Administration
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Committee
Referred to State and Local Government
upper
Mar 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduction and first reading
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors