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HF 124

Acceptance of certain gifts related to a line of duty death of a public safety officer allowed, and local government expenditure authorized for public safety officer killed in line of duty.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Kristin Bahner and 11 co-sponsors

Authorizes accepting gifts/donations tied to a public safety officer's line-of-duty death and lets local governments spend funds on related funeral, memorial, or survivor costs.

Effective date 05/01/2025
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 124

Summary — H.F. 124 (2025)

Title: Acceptance of certain gifts related to a line of duty death of a public safety officer allowed, and local government expenditure authorized for public safety officer killed in line of duty.
Sponsor: A. Meyer (primary)
Companion: S.F. 1266
Effective date: May 1, 2025

Purpose / Intent

The bill’s stated purpose (from the short title) is to (1) permit the acceptance of certain gifts or donations that are connected to the line‑of‑duty death of a public safety officer, and (2) authorize local governments to expend funds in connection with a public safety officer killed in the line of duty. The intent is to enable additional private or third‑party support and to clarify or expand local government authority to pay for expenses or services arising from a line‑of‑duty death.

Key provisions (as reflected in the bill title and legislative record)

The full enrolled text was not provided in the materials supplied; the following summarizes the bill based on its title and legislative actions. If you need precise statutory language, consult the enrolled act.

  • Authorization to accept gifts: Permits a state/local entity (department, agency, or local government) to accept specified gifts, donations, or memorial contributions related to the line‑of‑duty death of a public safety officer. This likely covers contributions for memorials, funeral costs, survivor assistance, or related expenses, and may specify limits, conditions, or required reporting for acceptance and use.
  • Local government expenditure authority: Clarifies or expands the authority for counties, cities, townships, or other local units of government to expend public funds for costs associated with a public safety officer killed in the line of duty (for example, funeral costs, victim assistance, temporary survivor benefits, memorials, or departmental support). The bill may set conditions, allowable uses, and accounting/reporting requirements.
  • Administrative or reporting requirements: The title implies legal permission rather than appropriation; the act may include direction for bookkeeping, possible acceptance rules (e.g., gifts used for designated purposes), and oversight provisions.

Who is affected

  • Public safety officers (law enforcement, firefighters, EMS) and their families — through potentially expanded access to donated support and local government‑funded assistance following a line‑of‑duty death.
  • Local governments and public agencies — by receiving authority to accept gifts and to expend funds for specified purposes; they may have new administrative responsibilities for accepting, tracking, and using donations.
  • Donors and nonprofit organizations — which may be enabled to provide monetary or in‑kind support for memorials, survivor assistance, or departmental needs.

Fiscal and operational impact

  • Fiscal impact depends on whether the bill authorizes expenditures from existing local funds, requires new appropriations, or only permits acceptance of private gifts. If expenditures are authorized but not appropriated, local governments decide whether to pay costs from budgets — potentially a modest local cost in some cases.
  • Acceptance of gifts can reduce direct public expenditure if private donations fund memorials or survivor support, but might also create administrative tracking requirements.

Legislative and procedural timeline

  • Introduced: January 27, 2025; referred to Health & Human Services (later referred to other committees per legislative actions).
  • Committee activity: Passed committee with strong votes and several committee/subcommittee steps (see legislative actions for detailed chronology).
  • Passed both chambers, returned from Senate with amendment; House concurred with Senate amendments.
  • Presented to Governor: April 29, 2025. Governor approved: April 30, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State / Chapter 7: April 30, 2025.
  • Effective date: May 1, 2025.

Notes and recommended next steps

  • The version content excerpt included in the materials appears to contain unrelated language about behavioral health discharge procedures and administrative services organizations; that language does not match the bill’s title. For exact operative text, search the official enrolled bill (Chapter 7, 2025 Session) or visit the Minnesota Legislature website and review H.F. 124 (2nd engrossment / enrolled act) and S.F. 1266 for the companion language.
  • For fiscal specifics and implementation guidance, consult the bill’s fiscal note and any agency guidance published after enactment.

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

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