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HF 1303

Use of purple paint in lieu of signage prohibiting trespassing authorized.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Drew Roach

The bill authorizes purple paint as a valid marker to indicate trespass restrictions on private property, replacing or supplementing traditional signs.

Introduction and first reading, referred to Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
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Bill Summary · HF 1303

Bill Summary: HF 1303 (2025-2026) — Use of Purple Paint in Lieu of Signage Prohibiting Trespassing

Overview

HF 1303, introduced in the Minnesota Legislature for the 2025-2026 session, proposes an alternative to traditional “no trespassing” signage by allowing the use of purple paint to mark private property to indicate trespass restrictions. The bill is sponsored (co-sponsor) by Drew Roach and was referred to the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy committee after its introduction on February 20, 2025.

Purpose and Intent

  • To authorize landowners, managers, or other authorized parties to designate boundary lines or trespassing restrictions using purple paint on surfaces or objects instead of posting conventional signs.
  • Aims to provide a more flexible or visible method for communicating trespass restrictions, potentially reducing signage costs and enabling rapid marking of restricted areas.

Key Provisions and Changes (What the Bill Would Do)

  • Authorization for Purple Paint: Allows the use of purple markings as an acceptable indicator of trespass prohibitions on private property, in place of or in addition to standard signage.
  • Application Context: Applies to private property where trespass restrictions are in effect. The bill would specify how purple paint marks should be used to convey trespass status, including potential standards for placement, visibility, and durability.
  • Consistency with Law: The bill would define how purple paint interacts with existing trespass and property laws, ensuring enforceability by law enforcement and clarity for property owners.
  • Compliance and Enforcement: Establishes expectations for property owners regarding maintenance and replacement of purple marks, and how authorities recognize and act upon purple-marked property as trespass-restricted.

Notes:
- The text provided does not include detailed performance standards (e.g., color shade, minimum size, placement distance, or durability requirements). If enacted, the bill would likely specify these to avoid ambiguity in enforcement and to align with existing trespass statutes.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Private property owners and managers seeking trespass restrictions on their land.
  • Tenants or lessees with authority to mark property for trespass purposes.
  • Law enforcement and local governments responsible for enforcing trespass laws and interpreting marked properties.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction and First Reading: February 20, 2025.
  • Committee: Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy (referred at introduction). This indicates the bill would be considered and possibly amended by that committee, which handles environmental and natural resources matters as well as related policy and fiscal aspects.
  • Next steps (if advanced): Committee vote, potential amendments, floor debate in the House, and, if approved, passage to the Senate and eventual signature to become law.

Practical Impact and Considerations

  • If enacted, the use of purple paint could provide a cost-effective and flexible method for signaling trespass restrictions, particularly in rural or undeveloped areas where signage may be impractical.
  • Clarity is essential to avoid disputes about what constitutes valid trespass marking. The bill would be expected to establish standard practices for placement, durability, and renewal of purple marks.
  • Enforcement would require consistent interpretation by law enforcement to avoid ambiguity between purple markers and other markings or decorations.

If you’d like, I can incorporate any available committee amendments or provide a comparison with Minnesota’s existing trespass signage requirements to further clarify potential implications.

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

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