Rep. Terry Stier

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens penalties for falsely impersonating a peace officer in Minnesota by upgrading the offense from a misdemeanor to a felony and adding new crimes for impersonating while possessing a firearm or using marked law enforcement vehicles. It also establishes enhanced sentencing when someone commits other crimes while pretending to be an officer, including extending maximum jail time for serious offenses. Additionally, the law requires law enforcement officers to clearly identify themselves by name, agency, and identification number when interacting with the public. These changes directly affect individuals who falsely claim to be police officers and law enforcement personnel who must follow new identification requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows law enforcement chiefs to give away old or retired police badges for free to former officers or the families of deceased officers. It specifically permits chiefs to provide these surplus badges to current or retired officers who were originally issued the badge, as well as to the spouses or children of peace officers who have died. The law defines a surplus badge as one bearing a seal before May 11, 2026, or a badge from a retired officer. This measure creates a new exception to existing rules that typically restrict the transfer of law enforcement identification.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding for peace officer training reimbursements in Minnesota, directing $2.949 million in the first year and $6.042 million in the second year to local governments for training costs. It establishes a $4.942 million annual Philando Castile Memorial Training Fund specifically for law enforcement training courses focused on use of force, crisis response, conflict management, cultural diversity, and autism training. The bill requires training sponsors to submit detailed course outlines, instructor qualifications, and learning assessments to the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, with ongoing reviews to ensure courses meet approved learning outcomes. Additionally, it raises the base funding for reimbursing other board-approved training courses from $878,000 to $3.878 million starting in fiscal year 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment that would exempt Minnesota local governments and school districts from complying with state mandates unless the state provides funding to cover the costs of compliance. The bill defines a state mandate as any requirement that affects daily operations, changes resource allocation, or alters spending priorities for these entities. If passed, it would allow local governments to formally refuse compliance through a resolution if they believe funding is insufficient, while also creating a process for agencies to contest these decisions through hearings. The amendment would be submitted to voters at the 2026 general election and would take effect on January 1, 2027, if approved.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases criminal penalties for unlawful possession of firearms in Minnesota, directly affecting individuals who have prior violent crime convictions or are otherwise prohibited from owning guns. It raises the maximum prison sentence for those with violent crime convictions who possess firearms from 15 to 20 years and increases fines up to $30,000. The legislation also elevates penalties for prohibited persons possessing certain weapons from gross misdemeanors to felonies with up to 15 years in prison, and extends sentencing enhancements for offenses committed in sensitive locations like schools and parks. Additionally, it increases penalties for illegally transferring firearms to prohibited individuals, raising the maximum sentence from two to four years for private transfers and from five to eight years for transfers resulting in subsequent violent crimes. All changes take effect on August 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires ambulance service providers in Minnesota to collect and report specific prehospital care data to the state's Office of Emergency Medical Services. The data must include information such as the total number of emergency calls, reasons for dispatch, transport destinations, patient fees, and mutual aid activities, organized by municipality. Ambulance companies must submit this annual report covering the previous calendar year, and the state director will make the collected data publicly available. The law takes effect on August 1, 2026, and applies to all licensed ambulance services operating within the state.

Maddy summaryHF 3198 appropriates $2 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1 million for fiscal year 2027 from the state general fund to the city of Brooklyn Park. This funds the Northwest Metro Regional Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), which serves six participating cities (Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, and Robbinsdale) to enhance public safety through real-time data analysis, coordination between law enforcement agencies, and community intervention staff. The RTCC must operate as a centralized facility with technology and staff to monitor and respond to criminal activity across jurisdictional lines. An advisory board, composed of police department representatives and mayors from each city, oversees the center and must submit biennial reports to the governor and legislative committees starting in 2027.

Maddy summaryMinnesota's HF 3241 modifies rules about electronic displays in vehicles by prohibiting drivers from viewing "dynamic content" (like moving videos, games, or interactive apps) on screens visible while operating a vehicle. It directly affects drivers using electronic devices or vehicle systems that show such content while the vehicle is in motion. Key exceptions include navigation systems, emergency vehicle operations, rearview cameras for visibility, and passive displays (like a phone showing a static map). The law, effective August 1, 2025, aims to reduce distractions by limiting non-essential screen use during driving.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires social media platforms to report behavioral threat assessments to educational facilities and religious institutions in Minnesota when users pose a potential threat of targeted violence. The legislation defines key terms such as social media platforms, user-generated content, and targeted violence to establish clear boundaries for compliance. Platforms must implement systems to identify and report threats while protecting user privacy and maintaining existing safety protocols. The bill directly affects social media companies operating in Minnesota and institutions that receive threat reports, creating a new reporting framework for potential violence scenarios.

Maddy summaryHF 3541 clarifies and strengthens the responsibilities of Minnesota's Division of Capitol Security. It requires the division to provide security and emergency escorts throughout the Capitol Area (until July 2026) when requested by state constitutional officers, establish an emergency manager role for security planning and training, and maintain at least one state trooper on duty at the Capitol complex 24/7 with specific investigative training. The bill designates the division as the lead agency for criminal investigations occurring in the Capitol Area, with provisions allowing other agencies to take over only through written agreement. These changes directly affect Capitol Security staff, state constitutional officers, and all individuals accessing the Capitol complex for public or official business.