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HF 4882

Judiciary and public safety; theft of public funds, school safety, and emergency vehicles policy provided; first degree murder and impersonating a peace officer criminal provisions modified; firearms policies established; criminal penalties imposed; and money appropriated.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brion Curran and 2 co-sponsors

Expand school safety funding and tighten firearm regulations, adding grants, new penalties, background checks, waiting periods, and protected zones on school property.

Author added Curran
#appropriations #courts #crimesandcriminals #firearmsanddangerousweapons #governmentaloperations-state #publicsafetydepartment
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 4882

Summary of HF 4882 (2025-2026) – Minnesota

This summary outlines the bill’s main purpose, key provisions, who is affected, and notable procedural/timeline aspects. The bill covers judiciary and public safety policy, new crimes and penalties, firearm reforms, school safety, and related appropriations.

1) Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes policy and reforms across several areas: theft of public funds, school safety, authorized emergency vehicles, enhancements to criminal offenses (including first-degree murder and impersonating a peace officer), firearms regulation, and related criminal penalties.
  • Creates funding for judiciary, public safety, and corrections programs, with targeted grant programs (notably for school safety) and security enhancements.
  • Authorizes rulemaking where appropriate and integrates changes into Minnesota Statutes with effective dates (primarily August 1, 2026 for many firearm-related provisions).

2) Key Provisions and Changes

Sectional Overview

  • Article 1: Judiciary Appropriations
  • Article 2: Public Safety Appropriations and Related Policies
    • Substantial funding for:
    • Supreme Court security and Judicial Branch Security Unit
    • Safe and Secure Courthouse Initiative (onetime, grants to governmental entities; 50% nonstate match; available until 2029)
    • Public safety and emergency management programs
  • Article 3: Policy
    • Section 1: Clarifies “Authorized emergency vehicle” definitions for public safety usage (fire, police, ambulances, municipal/emergency vehicles, volunteer rescue squads, and commissioner-designated vehicles).
    • Section 2: Commissioner-approved emergency vehicle permits; operator training; exemption from certain rulemaking procedures.
    • Section 3: Decommissioning of law enforcement vehicles to remove markings/equipment to avoid misperception as LE vehicles.
    • Section 4: School Safety Grants (establishment and operation)
    • Purpose: Support all-hazards approach to school safety; grants for prevention, preparedness, response, recovery.
    • Eligibility: K-12 schools (public and nonpublic), including Tribal schools; all-hazards planning and collaboration requirements.
    • Grant Outcomes: Development of safety/emergency operation plans; staff training; improved coordination; risk mitigation; continuity of education after emergencies.
    • Application Procedures: Transparent processes with timelines, scoring criteria, and funding limits.
    • Eligible Activities: Plans, training, behavioral threat assessments, security improvements, emergency communications/tools.
    • Ineligible Activities: Routine operating costs not tied to all-hazards approach, supplanting existing funding, or prohibited activities.

  • Article 3 (continued): Various statutory amendments related to safety and weapon policies (see Articles 4 sections below).

  • Article 4: Gun Violence Prevention

    • Section 1: Zoning authority for firearms dealers’ premises; allows reasonable land-use regulation by local governments.
    • Section 2: School property firearm restrictions
    • Prohibits possession of dangerous weapons on school property with specified exceptions (personal carry permissible under certain permits and with conditions; specific exemptions for licensed officers, military, ranges, ceremonial uses, etc.).
    • Definitions for terms like “BB gun,” “replica firearm,” and “school property.”
    • Detailed list of school property areas covered (buildings, grounds, school buses, controlled spaces, etc.).
    • Carriage exceptions for permitted possessors and on unimproved properties with notice.
    • Section 3-4: Modified and expanded penalties for possession on school property; clarified allowances for permitholders.
    • Section 5-9: Expanded firearm-related penalties, license eligibility, and civil remedies
    • New prohibitions and penalties around large-capacity magazines and semiautomatic military-style assault weapons.
    • Revised background check, transfer reporting, waiting periods, and permit processes
    • New private right of action and public nuisance framework against firearm industry members for certain unlawful conduct; includes remedies and standards for injunctive relief, damages, and attorney fees.
    • Section 6-7: Definitions for semiautomatic military-style assault weapons; detailed lists of covered firearms and subtypes.
    • Section 8-9: Background checks and transfer procedures; mandatory reporting, exemptions, and penalties for noncompliance; new transfer-permit requirements and information disclosures.
    • Section 10-21: Transfer reporting, waiting periods, disqualification grounds, and enforcement mechanisms
    • Transfer reporting timelines (3-day transfer reporting to authorities; waiting periods of up to 30 days with waivers in specific cases)
    • Denial processes for transfers, with due process and appeal rights
    • Record-keeping and privacy provisions for transfer records (with 10-year retention, digital format acceptable)
    • Section 22-34: Lost/stolen firearm reporting requirements; penalties; immunity for reporting; accuracy of reporting to authorities
    • Section 35-36: Miscellaneous technical changes and conforming edits

  • Repeals

    • Repeals certain 2024 statutes (as identified in the bill’s repealer section).

  • Effective Dates

    • Many firearm-related provisions: August 1, 2026 (crimes committed on or after that date apply).
    • Large-capacity magazine definition and other key provisions: July 1, 2026 (for certain sections).
    • Some grant provisions and rulemaking exemptions may operate on different schedules as specified.

3) Who/What is Affected

  • Government entities and public safety infrastructure (courthouses, security units, safety centers).
  • Schools (K-12 public and nonpublic, including Tribal schools) and school staff; students and families.
  • Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the judiciary.
  • Firearm owners, transferees, and dealers; firearm industry members.
  • General public through enhanced firearm safety measures, civil nuisance provisions, and public safety grants.
  • Property owners and local governments via zoning/policy authority.
  • Individuals implicated under new penalties (e.g., for theft of public funds, first-degree murder triggers, impersonation of peace officers).

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Appropriations and program funding are set for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (ending June 30), with some grants available through 2029.
  • The School Safety Grant Program is described as non-rulemaking, with an outlined application process and competitive grant procedures.
  • Many firearm-related provisions become effective August 1, 2026, with phased implementation for other sections (e.g., large-capacity magazines effective July 1, 2026).
  • Repeals of certain 2024 statutes occur as part of the codification in this bill.
  • The bill contemplates rulemaking authority where applicable and exempts certain sections from standard rulemaking (e.g., school safety grant program).

Note: This summary focuses on substantive content and policy impact. For full details, consult HF 4882’s text and the fiscal note, if available.

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

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