Bill
SF 98
Prohibits discharging a firearm from inside or on a motor vehicle on a public roadway; violation is a simple misdemeanor with a $30 fine.
SF 98 — Pesticide applicators restricted use requirements modifications (firearm discharge provision included)
Overview
- Purpose (as introduced): The bill amends Minnesota law to address prohibited conduct related to firearms discharged from vehicles on public roadways. The title references pesticide applicators, but the version content provided focuses on a firearm discharge prohibition and related penalties.
- Status: Referred to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development. Subcommittee: Schultz, Blake, and Dickey (2025-01-23). Earlier actions include introduction and assignment to Judiciary and then to the Agriculture committee.
- Sponsor: LOFGREN (primary)
Key Provisions
- New provision added to Minnesota Statutes, section 481A.54 (introduced text references a NEW SUBSECTION 2A):
- Prohibition: A person shall not discharge a firearm from within or on a motor vehicle on a public roadway.
- Definitions relied upon:
- Motor vehicle: Defined in section 321.1, subsection 42.
- Public roadway: Defined in section 321.1, subsection 65.
- Existing law context (as explained in the bill): Current law already prohibits certain firearm discharges, including shooting a rifle over public waters, public highways, or railroad right-of-way, and prohibits shooting a shotgun with slug load, a pistol, or a revolver over public roadways.
- Penalty: Violation is a simple misdemeanor treated as a scheduled violation with a $30 fine.
- Note on scope: The version content provided only includes this firearm-related change. The bill’s title mentions pesticide applicators and restricted-use requirements, but no pesticide-related provisions are detailed in the text excerpt provided.
Affected Parties and Potential Impacts
- Affected individuals: Anyone discharging a firearm from inside or on a motor vehicle on a public roadway would be subject to the new prohibition.
- Law enforcement and prosecutors: Responsible for enforcing the prohibition and issuing the $30 simple misdemeanor penalties.
- Practical impact: Creates a clear rule against discharging firearms from vehicles on public roadways, potentially enhancing roadway safety and reducing risk to bystanders and other road users. The relatively modest penalty ($30) suggests a deterrent aimed at simple violations without heavy criminal penalties.
Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- Introduction: January 22, 2025.
- Initial floor actions: Referred to Judiciary (January 22, 2025); first reading on January 16, 2025.
- Committee actions: Referred to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development (January 16, 2025) and a subcommittee meeting on January 23, 2025.
- Next steps: If the bill advances, it would proceed through committee votes and potentially to a full chamber floor for consideration, with any amendments reflected in committee or floor action.
Notes
- The material provided does not include any specific fiscal impact analysis, regulatory details for pesticide-related provisions, or other sections beyond the new firearm discharge subsection. If you have access to the complete bill text, I can expand this summary to cover all substantive pesticide-related provisions (if any) and align the description with the bill’s full scope.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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