Finance

This bill increases penalties for impersonating a police officer in Minnesota. It upgrades the base offense to a felony (up to 2 years in jail or $4,000 fine) and creates a new crime for impersonating while carrying a firearm (up to 10 years in jail or $20,000 fine). The bill also requires anyone pretending to be a law enforcement officer to identify themselves when asked and imposes harsher penalties if they commit other crimes while impersonating an officer (e.g., a misdemeanor becomes a gross misdemeanor). It directly affects individuals who falsely pose as police officers, including those using fake uniforms, vehicle markings, or equipment to mimic law enforcement.

SF 3891 allows Minnesota grocery stores to donate eggs past their quality assurance date to charitable food programs under specific conditions. The bill modifies existing egg sales rules by permitting donation of eggs that would otherwise lose their grade (after 31 days for Grade AA or 46 days for Grade A), provided they remain in original packaging, were previously graded, stay continuously refrigerated, are distributed within 30 days of the quality date, and carry required labeling (including "Donated Eggs - Not for Resale"). It directly affects retailers (offering an alternative to discarding eggs) and food assistance programs (expanding available donations). The bill does not change egg grading standards or labeling for regular retail sale.

This bill modifies Minnesota's student aid and higher education policies to better support parenting students and American Indian scholars. It expands eligibility for the American Indian Scholars program to include enrolled members of Minnesota Tribal Nations regardless of their resident tuition status, while maintaining requirements for undergraduate enrollment and academic progress. The legislation also establishes new protections for parenting students by prohibiting colleges from requiring them to withdraw, change majors, or face penalties due to their parental status, and mandates reasonable accommodations such as excused absences for childcare needs. Additionally, the bill requires postsecondary institutions to provide early course registration access to pregnant and parenting students and to offer leave policies comparable to those for temporary medical conditions.

This bill modifies eligibility requirements for noncommercial radio stations to receive state grants in Minnesota and provides a one-time appropriation of $165,000 for fiscal year 2027. The legislation updates staffing requirements from two full-time employees to 1.5 full-time or equivalent part-time staff, adjusts minimum daily broadcasting hours based on the station's year of eligibility, and clarifies that stations with primarily religious or in-school programming do not qualify. The funds will be distributed through the Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations to support member stations with resources, software, training, and assistance for consolidating expenses.

This bill strengthens protections for crime victims in Minnesota by requiring judges to confirm that victims have been informed about plea and sentencing hearings, and by expanding rules to keep minor victims anonymous in certain legal documents. It mandates that prosecutors notify victims about plea agreements and their right to object before plea hearings proceed, while also clarifying what information about victims must be included or excluded in petitions for sentence adjustments. The legislation further extends protections against employer retaliation for stalking victims and broadens the circumstances under which victims are notified when a defendant becomes eligible for automatic expungement of their criminal record. These changes affect prosecutors, judges, victims, and their employers by establishing clearer notification requirements and privacy safeguards throughout the criminal justice process.