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SF3044 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Attorney General duties and activities appropriation, consumer protection restitution account establishment provision, consumer litigation account provisions modifications, and proceeds of litigation or settlement account establishment provision

Related bill: HF2846

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to allocate funds for the duties and activities of the Minnesota Attorney General's office and establish new financial structures for managing consumer protection-related settlements and litigation.

Main Provisions

  1. Appropriations for Attorney General's Office:

    • The bill allocates funding from the general fund and other specific funds for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support the Minnesota Attorney General’s operations.

  2. Consumer Protection Restitution Account:

    • Establishes a new account to hold money recovered from consumer enforcement actions meant for public compensation.
    • The funds will be used to compensate individuals harmed by unlawful practices.

  3. Consumer Litigation Account Reporting:

    • Requires an annual report detailing the activities and financial transactions of the consumer litigation account.
    • Introduces a new subdivision setting a maximum balance for the consumer litigation account at $2,000,000.

  4. Proceeds of Litigation or Settlement Account:

    • Creates a new account for money recovered by the state from litigation or settlements, ensuring transparency and proper allocation of funds.

  5. Annual Reporting Requirement:

    • Mandates that the Attorney General publish an annual report about enforcement actions, including financial transactions and distribution to eligible consumers.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Modifications to Minnesota Statutes section 8.31 and the addition of new subdivisions to structure and regulate the use of funds recovered through legal actions by the Attorney General.
  • Amendments to Minnesota Statutes section 16A.151 to establish procedures for managing recovered funds and ensuring their proper allocation to state and consumer protection accounts.

Relevant Terms

consumer protection, restitution account, litigation, settlement, attorney general, fiscal appropriation, consumer enforcement, public compensation, financial reporting, state treasury.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 26, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 26, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toState and Local Government
April 01, 2025SenateFloorActionComm report: To pass and re-referred toJudiciary and Public Safety

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarification on depositing unredeemed consumer enforcement public compensation."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Modifies the provisions for undistributed money recovered by the Attorney General to be potentially redirected to the general fund or consumer protection restitution account.",
      "modified": [
        "Provides for options where sums recovered cannot be distributed to victims."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "8.31",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2c"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Requirement for an annual report to include accounting of the account balance, transfers, and disbursements."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Annual reporting requirements for the Attorney General on disbursements from the consumer litigation account.",
      "modified": [
        "Specifies the information on disbursements and maximum account balance adjustments."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "8.315",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Annual transfer requirements from the proceeds of litigation or settlement account to the consumer litigation account."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Provisions for proceeds from litigation or settlements to be deposited in specific accounts.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies handling and transfer of recovered funds by state officials."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "16A.151",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  }
]

Sponsors