HF 1597 establishes a task force to design a public alert system for hit-and-run accidents causing injury or death in Minnesota. The task force, composed of public safety officials, law enforcement representatives, and community stakeholders, must collect data on such incidents, study similar systems in other states, and develop procedures for triggering alerts based on injury severity (bodily harm, great bodily harm, or death). It must submit recommendations to the legislature by January 15, 2026, including funding and legislative proposals for implementing the alert system. The bill appropriates unspecified funds from the general fund for the task force's work during fiscal year 2026.
HF 2380 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in services, programs, or activities receiving state funding in Minnesota. It directly affects public and private entities (like schools, hospitals, and businesses) that receive state money. The bill requires these entities to provide reasonable accommodations and bans exclusion or denial of benefits due to disability. It also specifically prohibits businesses from banning service animals or charging extra fees for them, defining "disability" broadly to include conditions substantially limiting major life activities.
This bill prohibits state, county, or municipal law enforcement agencies from disciplining or threatening to discipline peace officers solely because they appear on a prosecutor's "Brady-Giglio list." Such lists identify officers who allegedly failed to disclose evidence that could exonerate a defendant in a criminal case. The bill also creates a 10-member task force (including prosecutors, judges, sheriff associations, and police unions) to examine how these lists are used and recommend changes to procedures for adding or removing officers from them. The task force must submit a report by December 1, 2025, with findings on disclosure rules, potential statewide systems, and due process protections. The law directly affects peace officers and law enforcement agencies in Minnesota.
HF 1327 amends Minnesota's definition of "all-terrain vehicle" (ATV) by increasing the maximum allowable dry weight from 2,000 pounds to 3,000 pounds. The bill clarifies that ATVs must have three to six low-pressure or non-pneumatic tires and a width of 65 inches or less, while explicitly excluding electric-assisted bicycles, golf carts, mini-trucks, dune buggies, and vehicles designed for specific commercial uses like farming or logging. This change directly affects ATV operators, manufacturers, and law enforcement by expanding the weight threshold for vehicles classified as ATVs under state law. The policy adjustment updates regulatory definitions without altering enforcement requirements or creating new restrictions.
This bill authorizes the city of La Crescent to impose a local sales and use tax, subject to approval by voters in a separate election. The collected tax revenue would be used to cover the costs of running the tax and to fund up to $4 million for renovating the city's regional ice arena, which includes replacing the ice system and adding a rooftop solar energy setup. The legislation also allows the city to issue up to $4 million in bonds to help pay for these construction projects without needing a separate voter approval for the debt. If the tax generates enough money to cover the project costs before a set time limit, the tax would end early, with any leftover funds returning to the city's general budget.
This bill establishes a one-time $2 million grant program in fiscal year 2027 to help Minnesota law enforcement agencies hire and train investigative specialists. The funds are intended for agencies that struggle with high rates of unsolved crimes or lack sufficient staff to solve cases, with the goal of increasing the number of offenses cleared and improving support for victims. Grant recipients must use the money to create job roles, develop training, and hire non-peace officer staff who provide administrative and investigative support to detectives. To receive funding, agencies must submit detailed plans outlining their goals and performance metrics, and they are required to report back on how many specialists they hired and the impact those hires had on solving crimes.
This bill modifies the process for filling vacancies on Minnesota school boards by prioritizing the appointment of the candidate who received the most votes in the last election. If that top-voted candidate declines the seat, the board can appoint someone else, but this appointment can be overturned if at least five percent of eligible voters sign a petition within 30 days. The legislation also sets specific timelines for holding special elections, requiring them to occur by the next November unless the vacancy happens less than 90 days before the term ends. Additionally, it mandates a special election for vacancies caused by the removal of a board member, ensuring the public has a chance to vote on the replacement.
This bill prohibits local governments in Minnesota from requiring rental licenses, registrations, or inspections for homesteads occupied by relatives of the property owner. It defines "relative" broadly to include parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and cousins, covering relationships formed by blood or marriage. The legislation allows these relatives to live in the home without facing additional regulatory burdens typically associated with renting out a property, while still maintaining the homestead's tax benefits. Additionally, the bill clarifies that neither the owner nor the relative occupant can claim a specific property tax refund for these relative-occupied homesteads.
This bill would ban the import, manufacture, and sale of table saws in Minnesota that fail a specific safety test designed to prevent deep accidental cuts. Under the new rules, effective January 1, 2027, any saw capable of cutting more than 3.5 millimeters deep when a probe is moved above the table and touches the spinning blade would be illegal to sell. The law applies to all businesses selling these tools but includes an exception for companies that cannot obtain a necessary patent license on fair terms. Violations of this safety requirement could result in penalties and allow private individuals to sue for damages.
This bill authorizes the sale of up to $50 million in state bonds to fund a new water treatment facility in Rosemount. The appropriated funds will be given as a grant to the city to cover the costs of designing, building, and equipping the new infrastructure. Once the bonds are sold, the money will be held in a special fund and transferred to the Public Facilities Authority for distribution to the city. The legislation takes effect immediately upon final passage by the legislature.
This bill mandates that retail establishments in Minnesota must accept cash as a valid form of payment for goods and services. It defines cash as U.S. paper money and coins and applies the requirement to any business open to the general public. The law will take effect on August 1, 2026, ensuring that consumers can use physical currency for transactions from that date forward.
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.
