SF1822

SF1822 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Portable recording system data on certain elected officials made public provision

AI Generated Summary

This bill proposes amendments to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 13.825, subdivision 2, regarding the classification and public accessibility of data from portable recording systems (such as police body cameras).

Key changes:

Elected Officials and Felony Charges: Body camera footage of elected officials who are charged with a felony becomes public data 14 days after a criminal complaint is filed.
Data Access for Relatives of Deceased Individuals: If a person dies due to police use of force, their relatives (including next of kin, legal representatives, and the other parent of the deceased’s child) can inspect the relevant body camera footage within five days of request, unless doing so would interfere with an active investigation.
Timely Public Release of Data: In cases where a person dies due to police use of force, body camera footage must be released within 14 days, unless the chief law enforcement officer determines that public release would interfere with an ongoing investigation.
Court Appeal for Data Disclosure: Any person can challenge a decision to withhold or redact body camera footage in district court. The court will weigh public interest versus potential harm before ordering disclosure.

Overall, this bill seeks to increase transparency and public access to police body camera footage, especially in cases involving elected officials and use-of-force incidents resulting in death.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
February 23, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading
February 23, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading
February 23, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Referred to	Judiciary and Public Safety
February 23, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Referred to	Judiciary and Public Safety

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Makes portable recording system data on an elected official public if they are charged with a felony, 14 days after a criminal complaint is filed."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This bill modifies the classification of portable recording system data for certain elected officials, making it public under specified conditions per section 13.825 subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifications and adjustments on who can access portable recording system data and under what circumstances."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13.825",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Section mentioned regarding requirements for notice due to the discharge of a firearm by a peace officer.",
      "modified": [
        ""
      ]
    },
    "citation": "626.553",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Defines 'substantial bodily harm' for the purpose of classifying data collected by portable recording systems.",
      "modified": [
        ""
      ]
    },
    "citation": "609.02",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 7a"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Referenced for governing portable recording system data that are active or inactive criminal investigative data.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarification on access to these data when a subject is an elected official charged with a felony."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13.82",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 7"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Addresses the redaction of identities of certain peace officers under data practices.",
      "modified": [
        "Data redaction requirements for identities of peace officers."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13.82",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 17"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Portable recording system data classified under public personnel data.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies classification of data as public personnel data."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13.43",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Specifies that this subdivision does not apply to the collection of data classified by the amended provisions.",
      "modified": [
        "Exemption specified for data collection under these adjustments."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13.04",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  }
]