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Bill Summary · SF 5224

Summary of SF 5224 (2025-2026) — Disorderly House Crime Expansion Provision (Minnesota)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill expands the state’s disorderly house crime provisions to cover additional illegal activities and to address high-risk sexual conduct within certain premises.
  • Effective date: August 1, 2026, with applicability to crimes committed on or after that date.

Key provisions and changes

1) Redefinition of “disorderly house” (Section 1 and 1a)

  • The definition of a “disorderly house” is expanded to include premises where actions or conduct habitually occur in violation of laws relating to:
    • The sale of intoxicating liquor or 3.2 percent malt liquor
    • Gambling
    • Prostitution (as defined in Minnesota Statutes)
    • The sale or possession of controlled substances (as defined by statute)
  • Subdivision 1a clarifies that a disorderly house also includes any commercial establishment or premises where high-risk sexual conduct habitually occurs with the knowledge of the owner, landlord, or manager.
  • Effective date: August 1, 2026, applicable to crimes committed on or after that date.

2) Definition of “High-risk sexual conduct” (Section 2)

  • Introduces “high-risk sexual conduct” as sexual activities likely to result in the spread of sexually transmitted or other communicable diseases due to exchange of or contact with bodily fluids (e.g., semen, blood, vaginal fluids).
  • Examples include anonymous sex and sex with more than one partner.
  • Effective date: August 1, 2026, applicable to crimes committed on or after that date.

3) Administrative/harmonization notes

  • The amendments add two new subdivisions (1a and 1b) to Minnesota Statutes § 609.33 to codify the expanded disorderly house concept and the high-risk sexual conduct definition.
  • The bill does not specify penalties within the text provided; it focuses on expanding the number and type of establishments and conduct that can be charged under the disorderly house framework.

Who/what is affected

  • Premises and establishments: Any building, dwelling, place, establishment, or premises where the enumerated illegal activities occur habitually.
  • Activities covered include:
    • Sale of intoxicating liquor or 3.2% malt liquor
    • Gambling
    • Prostitution
    • Sale or possession of controlled substances
    • High-risk sexual conduct (as defined)
  • Potentially affected entities include bar/restaurants with illicit activity, gambling venues, brothels, drug distribution/possession sites, and venues where high-risk sexual conduct occurs with owner/manager knowledge.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date for all new definitions and expansions: August 1, 2026.
  • Applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2026.
  • The bill was introduced and referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety committee (S.F. No. 5224) on April 27, 2026, with Senate sponsors Holmström, Wesenberg, Lieske, Lucero, and Gruenhagen, and co-sponsors Lieske, Holmström, Gruenhagen, Wesenberg, and Lucero.

Potential impacts (high-level)

  • Enforcement: Law enforcement and prosecutors would have an expanded framework to charge establishments where multiple disallowed activities occur habitually, including high-risk sexual conduct.
  • Public health and safety: By defining and criminalizing high-risk sexual conduct within the disorderly house framework, authorities may address venues contributing to disease transmission.
  • Compliance risk for business owners: Owners, landlords, or managers could face disorderly house charges if the premises repeatedly engage in the listed unlawful activities and such conduct occurs with knowledge of the owner/manager.

Note: The summary focuses on substantive content; the bill text provided does not include specific penalties or sentencing provisions beyond the expansion of the disorderly house definition.

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

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