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Bill

HF 4172

Uses of legislative email, telephone numbers, and office space restricted.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Patty Acomb and 19 co-sponsors

HF 4172 restricts using official legislative contact information and office space for non-legislative purposes to protect privacy and ensure resources serve official duties.

Committee report, to adopt and re-refer to Rules and Legislative Administration
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Bill Summary · HF 4172

Summary of HF 4172 (2025-2026) – Uses of Legislative Email, Telephone Numbers, and Office Space Restricted

Purpose and Intent

HF 4172 aims to regulate how legislative email addresses, telephone numbers, and office space are used. The bill seeks to limit the use of contact information and office resources for non-legislative purposes, enhancing privacy and ensuring that official resources are used for legislative business.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Restrictions on use of legislative contact information

    • Prohibits or tightly regulates the public or external use of Members’ official email addresses and telephone numbers for non-legislative or campaign-related activities.
    • Establishes permissible uses, potentially including official communications with constituents, administrative operations, and legislative duties.

  • Limitations on office space use

    • Places constraints on how office space allocated to members or committees can be used for activities not related to official legislative work.
    • May address activities such as campaign events, fundraising, or external organizational use of space during official session or recess.

  • Guidance on staff and operations

    • Clarifies roles of staff in managing constituent communications and using official resources.
    • May define acceptable handling of lists, contact databases, and outreach materials to prevent improper dissemination.

  • Enforcement and penalties

    • Outlines potential enforcement mechanisms for violations, which could include administrative penalties, restitution, or other remedies.
    • May set reporting or compliance requirements for offices to demonstrate adherence.

  • Scope and applicability

    • Applies to members of the Minnesota Legislature and relevant legislative offices.
    • May specify which resources are covered (e.g., official email systems, state-owned phones, office facilities) and exclude personal devices or non-official channels.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Legislative members and offices: Directly impacted by restrictions on how official contact information and office space can be used.
  • Legislative staff: Responsible for handling communications and ensuring compliance with the new rules.
  • Constituents: Indirectly affected, as access to official contact channels may be regulated to reduce misuse.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Committee action:
    • 2026-04-09: Committee reported with a recommendation to adopt and re-refer to Rules and Legislative Administration.
    • 2026-04-07: Author added Youakim.
    • 2026-03-12: Introduced and referred to State Government Finance and Policy.
  • Next steps:
    • Likely consideration by the Rules and Legislative Administration Committee, potential amendments, and then a floor vote, depending on committee discussions and scheduling.

Summary Remarks

HF 4172 focuses on safeguarding the use of official legislative contact points and spaces, aiming to prevent inappropriate or non-legislative use. It emphasizes proper management of mail, phone, and office resources to ensure they serve official legislative duties and constituent engagement rather than campaign or unrelated activities. The bill outlines permissible uses, enforcement provisions, and scope to guide compliant conduct by legislators and staff.

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

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