Bill
SF 4760
expands victim protections, strengthens data privacy for victim info, and improves coordination on missing/murdered Indigenous and Black women/girls cases.
SF 4760 (2025-2026) Omnibus Public Safety Policy Bill – Summary
Purpose and scope
- This bill is a comprehensive public safety package amending numerous Minnesota statutes to address dataprotection, domestic abuse, victims’ rights, licensing, community corrections, private investigative work, law enforcement grants, protective orders, judicial procedures, background checks, housing/shelter policies, and related public safety functions. It also includes technical corrections and several reporting requirements and penalties.
- It reorganizes and clarifies data classifications (private/confidential) held by state agencies, expands or modifies victim support and reporting provisions, and extends programs related to missing/murdered Indigenous and Black women and girls, as well as trafficking concerns.
Key provisions and changes by topic
1) Department of Public Safety data and victims’ rights
- Data classifications: The bill specifies which government data held by DPS is private or confidential, including medical data for certain license holders, sensitive disability-related data, and Social Security numbers (with narrow disclosure rules to other agencies for specific purposes).
- Victim data and privilege: It enforces careful handling of victim data and adds cross-references to related victim-support statutes (e.g., Crime Victim Oversight Act and 611A-series protections).
2) Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives and Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls
- Establishment of dedicated offices and data governance: Sections add or clarify data handling for victim support related to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives and Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls, including data privacy and interagency coordination.
- Duties and reporting: New or updated duties for the offices include case reviews, data tracking, technical assistance, collaboration with federal and tribal partners, and provision of case support to victims’ families.
3) Domestic violence and domestic abuse programs
- Domestic abuse victim services: Strengthens reporting requirements and program standards for domestic abuse counseling, including intake processes, confidentiality, information sharing with courts, and victim notification when offenders complete programs.
- Private provider standards: Updates standards for domestic abuse counseling programs, including minimum session counts (24 sessions/36 hours) and staff qualifications.
4) Domestic violence and related court protections
- Orders for protection and victim notification: Amends rules around victim notices of disposition and post-conviction rights; expands notice requirements and the processes for victim input in plea bargains and sentencing.
- Plea agreements: Requires prosecutors to notify victims about plea agreements and their rights, and adds a formal plea hearing step where the victim can object.
5) Election-related provisions
- Election day registration: Adds language allowing certain facility-based residents (e.g., residents of residential facilities and shelters) to register or update registrations on election day via a vouched process, with safeguards and forms provided by the secretary of state.
6) Driving, licensing, and data privacy
- Driver’s license data: Adds a credential identifier/subdivision for data privacy and potential privacy designations for licensees.
- Data privacy enhancements: Strengthens protections around personal data used to obtain licenses, including the ability to classify residence addresses as private data when necessary for safety.
7) Financial penalties and victim services funding
- Minimum fines and allocation: Establishes a minimum 30% of certain fines to be directed to local victim assistance programs, with the remaining 70% to the state general fund if no local program serves the county; ensures funds support direct victim services.
8) Implied connectivity with other public safety statutes
- Cross-references: The bill makes numerous cross-references to existing statutes (e.g., 609.x, 611A.x, 299A.x, 256G.x, 260E.x, 518B.x, 629.72) to harmonize provisions around victims’ rights, protective orders, and data handling.
9) Technical corrections and terminology
- Revisor instruction: The bill directs replacing the term “battered women” with “domestic abuse victims” or similar terminology throughout statutes to reflect more inclusive language.
Effective dates and timelines
- The bill includes numerous effective-dates and transition provisions (e.g., data classifications take effect upon enactment; certain election-day/vouching provisions reference secretary of state policies; some sections reference Minnesota Statutes 2024/2025 supplements and revisions).
- Several sections require agencies to report progress or develop guidance materials (e.g., DPS data governance, victim notices, and missing/murdered relative task force recommendations).
Potential impact
- Strengthened victim protections: Expanded and clarified rights, notified procedures, and program standards for domestic abuse victims and crime victims in sentencing, plea negotiations, and post-conviction processes.
- Data privacy emphasis: Higher privacy protections for sensitive data across multiple agencies, with clearer disclosure rules and special handling for victim-related information.
- Public safety operations: Enhanced coordination for missing/murdered Indigenous and Black women/girls cases, including data tracking and interagency collaboration.
- Accessibility and inclusivity: Update in terminology and broader protection for diverse victims and facility-based populations in voting and protective processes.
Notes
- This is a broad omnibus bill; many provisions are technical or procedural and require careful reading of individual sections to understand specific changes and how they interact with current law.
- If you want, I can provide a section-by-section table highlighting exact statutory amendments and anticipated operative dates.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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