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HF 4092

Crime of disseminating personal information expanded to include all individuals, and civil action for dissemination of personal information created.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Leigh Finke and 2 co-sponsors

Minnesota bill expands criminal penalties and creates civil lawsuits for unlawfully sharing anyone's personal information, strengthening privacy protections statewide.

Authors added Finke and Rehrauer
#datapracticesandprivacy #legalproceedings #publicsafetydepartment
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 4092

Legislative bill overview

HF 4092 expands Minnesota's crime of disseminating personal information to cover all individuals (not just a limited subset) and creates a new civil cause of action allowing people to sue for damages when their personal information is unlawfully shared. The bill broadens both criminal penalties and private legal remedies for privacy violations involving the unauthorized disclosure of identifying information.

Why is this important

This legislation directly affects privacy protections in Minnesota by creating dual enforcement mechanisms—both criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits—for information breaches. It impacts data handlers, businesses, institutions, and individuals by establishing clearer legal consequences for unauthorized disclosure of personal details like addresses, identification numbers, and financial information.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition scope: Determining what constitutes "personal information" requiring protection—overly broad definitions could criminalize routine disclosures while narrow ones may leave gaps
  • Liability for negligence vs. intent: Whether the law applies only to intentional dissemination or extends to negligent data handling, affecting data security standards across sectors
  • Civil liability burden: Creating private rights of action may generate litigation against businesses, institutions, and individuals, raising questions about damages standards and potential frivolous claims

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

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