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HF 7

Public safety; various provisions modified relating to data held by law enforcement agencies; agency bail or bond notice; sex trafficking minimum sentences; reason for dismissing charges; liability and vicarious liability; assaulting a police officer penalty; penalties increased for obstructing trunk highway, airport, or transit traffic; tracking device placement, requirements, and expanded uses; criminal penalties; and money appropriated.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Keith Allen and 26 co-sponsors

HF7 clarifies delivery-network liability: insurers may take primary coverage, drivers and platforms face new disclosure duties; penalties rise and tracking devices expand use.

Author added Repinski
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 7

HF 7 — Public safety; various public‑safety, criminal‑law, law‑enforcement data, and insurance provisions (Introduced Jan 14, 2025)

Summary — purpose and intent

HF 7 is a multifaceted public‑safety bill that makes substantive changes across criminal law, law‑enforcement data practices, tracking‑device rules, and civil/insurance liability related to “delivery network” drivers (gig delivery). The bill seeks to (1) modify who has access to and how data held by law enforcement agencies is handled; (2) change or increase certain criminal penalties (including for assaulting officers, obstructing highways/airports/transit, and sex‑trafficking minimum sentences); (3) expand and regulate placement/uses of tracking devices and associated criminal penalties; and (4) create or clarify liability and insurance responsibilities among delivery network companies, their insurers, and drivers. The bill also includes unspecified appropriations.

Key provisions (as reflected in available text)

  • Delivery network insurance and claims rules
    • Preserves existing insurer policy exclusions for vehicles used for delivery service (does not invalidate prior exclusions).
    • Creates a right of contribution or indemnity for an insurer that defends/indemnifies a claim against a delivery network driver when that driver’s own policy contains an exclusion.
    • Requires insurers of delivery network companies (providing coverage under chapter provisions) to assume primary liability in claims when there is a dispute over when a driver’s “delivery available” or “delivery service” period began/ended or when the company fails to provide required information.
    • Requires cooperation among delivery network companies and insurers during coverage investigations, including exchange of precise times for the 12 hours before and 12 hours after a crash and disclosure of insurance limits and exclusions.
  • Criminal law and sentencing changes (broad topics listed in title)
    • Increases or modifies minimum sentences for sex‑trafficking offenses.
    • Requires courts to state reasons when dismissing charges (language in title suggests new or clarified requirements).
    • Changes rules on liability and vicarious liability (affecting employer/agency exposure).
    • Increases penalties for assaulting a police officer and for obstructing trunk highways, airports, or transit traffic.
  • Tracking devices
    • Expands authorized placement, use cases, and requirements for tracking devices; creates or modifies associated criminal penalties.
  • Law enforcement data
    • Modifies provisions relating to data held by law enforcement agencies (specifics not included in the available excerpt).
  • Appropriations
    • The bill includes money appropriated (no amounts provided in the available text).

Who would be affected

  • Delivery network companies (e.g., gig delivery platforms), their insurers, and drivers — new documentation, disclosure, and coverage responsibilities; potential shifts in primary liability.
  • Automobile insurers — potential subrogation, contribution, and indemnity claims.
  • Law enforcement agencies — changes to data handling obligations and tracking‑device rules; possible new reporting or disclosure duties.
  • Defendants, prosecutors, and courts — changes to sentencing, dismissal reason requirements, and criminal penalties.
  • Public infrastructure operators (highway, airport, transit systems) — changes to penalties for obstruction.

Procedural status (as of information provided)

  • Introduced January 14, 2025 (Chief sponsor: Rep. Lohse).
  • Multiple committee and subcommittee actions in January–March 2025; renumbered as HF 545 in one committee report.
  • Most recent status: Committee report, to adopt as amended and re‑refer to Ways and Means (March 17, 2025).
  • Companion bill: SF 1363.

Notes and caveats

  • The available bill excerpts focus heavily on delivery network/insurance provisions; many title topics (specific penalty amounts, detailed tracking‑device rules, exact sentencing changes, and appropriation amounts) are not included in the provided text. This summary reflects the material available; final impacts will depend on amendment language adopted in committee and any fiscal notes attached in Ways and Means.

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

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