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HF 519

A bill for an act relating to the disposition of firearms and ammunition deposited with the department of public safety through seizure or forfeiture proceedings.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Matt Windschitl

Requires Minnesota DPS to sell seized or forfeited legal firearms and ammo at public auctions, with narrow exceptions; destruction only if unsold or unsafe.

Withdrawn.
#disposition #firearms #forfeiture #publicsafetydepartment
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 519

Summary of HF 519 (Withdrawn)

Overview

HF 519, introduced on February 20, 2025 and sponsored by Windschitl (primary), proposed changes to how the Department of Public Safety handles firearms and ammunition that are seized or forfeited. The bill would require the department to sell seized or forfeited legal firearms and ammunition at a public auction, with limited exceptions. The bill is currently withdrawn and was renumbered during its progression as HF 871 before ultimately not advancing.

Purpose and intent

  • Shift disposition of seized/forfeited legal firearms and ammunition from a broader set of options to a primary requirement: sale at public auction.
  • Preserve certain exceptions where sale may not be appropriate and where the department may retain or exchange items with other agencies or for extraordinary circumstances.
  • Limit destruction to scenarios where items cannot be sold or are unsafe or damaged.

Key provisions and changes

  • Public sale requirement:

    • The department would be required to sell seized or forfeited legal firearms and ammunition at a public auction.

  • Exceptions to sale:
    The bill provides several narrowly defined exceptions that permit otherwise disposing of items outside public auction:

    • The firearm or ammunition may be used by the department for its own purposes.
    • The firearm has distinctive or unique characteristics making it a meaningful addition to the department’s weapons archive.
    • The firearm/ammunition is necessary for an exchange with a federal agency or another state agency for specified uses.
    • Extraordinary circumstances that require approval; such approvals must be recorded by the commissioner.

  • Destruction provisions:

    • Items may be destroyed only if they fail to sell at public auction or are determined to be damaged or unsafe for use.

  • Exemptions:

    • Some disposition requirements do not apply to weapons or ammunition that are illegal or offensive weapons.

Who would be affected

  • Primary: Minnesota Department of Public Safety and its management of seized/forfeited firearms and ammunition.
  • Stakeholders affected indirectly include law enforcement partners, potential buyers at public auctions, and entities involved in federal or inter-state exchanges of weapons.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative history (highlights):
    • Introduced: February 20, 2025.
    • Subcommittee: February 25, 2025 (members listed as Dieken, Gearhart, and Gosa).
    • Subcommittee meeting: March 4, 2025.
    • Committee action: March 4–5, 2025 (Subcommittee recommended passage; Committee report recommending passage; Committee vote 21-0 with 2 excused).
    • Renumbering: Committee report on March 7, 2025 renumbered as HF 871.
    • Withdrawal: March 31, 2025.
  • Status: Withdrawn (did not become law). The bill underwent committee consideration and was renumbered before being withdrawn.

Sponsor

  • Windschitl (primary sponsor).

Notes

  • The bill did not advance to enactment and thus its provisions did not take effect.
  • If similar provisions are reintroduced in the future, they would need to navigate the same procedural steps and potential amendments.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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