Minneslate Logo

SF967 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Criminal penalties for crimes committed because of the victim's political affiliation or beliefs modification

Related bill: HF908

AI Generated Summary

This legislative bill proposes to increase the criminal penalties for crimes that are motivated by the victim's political affiliation or beliefs. Specifically, it amends existing Minnesota statutes to enhance the sentences for assault when the attack is substantially driven by bias against a person’s characteristics like race, religion, sexual orientation, or specifically here, political beliefs. Under this bill, committing such an assault can result in a prison sentence of up to 364 days and/or a fine up to $3,000. If someone commits this type of crime again within five years of a prior conviction, it escalates to a felony, potentially leading to a longer prison sentence of up to one year and one day, with the same fine limit.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 03, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
February 03, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toJudiciary and Public Safety

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Political affiliation or beliefs as a motivating factor for bias-motivated crimes."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "The bill amends section 609.2231 subdivision 4 to increase criminal penalties for assaults motivated by bias, including political affiliation.",
      "modified": [
        "Increases maximum imprisonment term for assaults motivated by bias."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "609.2231",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 4"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "The bill references general statutes related to criminal damage to property in modifying penalties.",
      "modified": [
        "Enhanced penalties linked to bias motivations, including political affiliation."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "609.595",
    "subdivision": "subdivisions 1a 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "The bill involves modifying penalties for certain harassment crimes under section 609.749.",
      "modified": [
        "Adjusts penalties for harassment rooted in bias, factoring political affiliation."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "609.749",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This section is referenced to define terms related to biases, such as disability, in the context of assaults.",
      "modified": [
        ""
      ]
    },
    "citation": "363A.03",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors