Bill
HF 5090
Expands disorderly house to include venues involved in alcohol sales, gambling, prostitution, controlled substances, and high-risk sexual conduct in commercial premises.
Proposed bill: House File 5090
Authoring members: Rep. Davis, Rep. Roach, Rep. Wiener, Rep. Fogelman
Committee: Public Safety Finance and Policy
Date introduced: April 28, 2026
Purpose
- To expand the definition and reach of the disorderly house crime in Minnesota, by adding new conduct categories and clarifying what constitutes a “disorderly house.”
- The changes take effect August 1, 2026 and apply to crimes committed on or after that date.
Key provisions and changes
1) Expanded definition of “disorderly house” (Sec. 1 and Sec. 2)
- The statute governing disorderly houses (Minnesota Statutes, section 609.33, subdivision 1) is amended to include additional grounds for classifying a building, dwelling, place, establishment, or premises as a disorderly house.
- Expanded categories include:
- The sale of intoxicating liquor or 3.2 percent malt liquor
- Gambling
- Prostitution (as defined in statute, or acts relating to prostitution)
- The sale or possession of controlled substances
- The definition also explicitly covers commercial establishments or premises where high-risk sexual conduct habitually occurs with the knowledge of the owner, landlord, or manager.
2) New subdivision: Disorderly house definition (Sec. 2)
- Subd. 1a defines “Disorderly house” to mirror the categories listed above (sale of intoxicating liquor, gambling, prostitution/acts related to prostitution, sale or possession of controlled substances).
- It adds a specific subcategory: high-risk sexual conduct occurring in a commercial establishment or premises with knowledge of ownership/management.
- Effective date: August 1, 2026; applies to crimes committed on or after that date.
3) New subdivision: High-risk sexual conduct (Sec. 3)
- Subd. 1b defines “High-risk sexual conduct” as sexual activities likely to spread sexually transmitted or other communicable diseases due to exchange of, or contact with, bodily fluids (e.g., semen, blood, vaginal fluid).
- Examples include anonymous sex and sex with more than one partner.
- Effective date: August 1, 2026; applies to crimes committed on or after that date.
What would be affected
- Any existing or future disorderly house prosecutions in Minnesota could be affected because the definition now covers a broader range of activities (alcohol sales, gambling, prostitution, controlled substances) and specifically includes premises where high-risk sexual conduct occurs.
- Businesses or premises involved in the prohibited activities, including venues where high-risk sexual conduct is known to occur by owners/managers, could be subject to disorderly house designation and related enforcement.
Procedural and timeline considerations
- Effective date for the new definitions: August 1, 2026.
- Applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2026.
- The bill was introduced and referred to the Public Safety Finance and Policy committee on April 28, 2026.
Notes
- The bill does not specify penalties or enforcement mechanisms within the provided text beyond expanding what qualifies as a disorderly house; penalties would be governed by the underlying disorderly house statute (609.33) and any later amendments.
- The measure broadens both criminal definitions and potential regulatory oversight of premises where illegal activities or high-risk conduct occur.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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