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HF 762

Victim of a crime prohibited from being charged of a crime for towing or impounding a motor vehicle, sale prohibited of motor vehicle that is a crime victim's vehicle for 180 days, reimbursement provided for a crime victim's vehicle that is sold by a unit of government, charging the victim of a crime prohibited for any crime or fee, and law enforcement agencies required to investigate reports of stolen vehicles and provide an update on that investigation.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ben Davis and 2 co-sponsors

HF 762 protects crime victims by prohibiting charges on their vehicle, bans sale of their vehicle for 180 days, requires government reimbursements for disposals, and mandates polic

Introduction and first reading, referred to Public Safety Finance and Policy
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Bill Summary · HF 762

Summary of HF 762 (2025-2026) – Minnesota

Purpose and intent

HF 762 aims to protect victims of crime from being penalized or financially burdened in situations involving the victim’s own motor vehicle. The bill addresses several scenarios where a crime victim might otherwise face charges, penalties, or unclear handling of their vehicle, and it requires law enforcement to take action and provide transparency in investigations related to stolen vehicles.

Key provisions

  1. Protection from being charged for crimes related to a victim’s vehicle

    • Prohibits charging or imposing fees on a crime victim in relation to the victim’s own motor vehicle, when the vehicle is involved in the crime or its aftermath.

  2. Prohibition on sale of a crime victim’s vehicle for 180 days

    • If the vehicle belongs to a crime victim, it cannot be sold by any party (including a government unit) for a period of 180 days following the crime or related incident, with specified conditions likely outlining exceptions or handling.

  3. Reimbursement for government sale of a crime victim’s vehicle

    • If a unit of government sells a crime victim’s vehicle, the bill provides a mechanism for reimbursement to the victim for losses or costs associated with that sale or disposition.

  4. Protection from fees or charges for crime victims

    • Extends protection to ensure crime victims are not charged fees or administrative costs related to the handling, impoundment, towing, or other processes associated with their vehicle when connected to the crime.

  5. Mandatory investigation of stolen vehicle reports and status updates

    • Requires law enforcement agencies to investigate reports of stolen vehicles and to provide updates on the status of those investigations to the reporting party or appropriate stakeholders.

Affected parties

  • Crime victims who own motor vehicles involved in or affected by criminal activity.
  • Law enforcement agencies responsible for receiving, investigating, and reporting on stolen vehicle cases.
  • Units of government that may impound, handle, or sell crime victims’ vehicles (e.g., city or county authorities).
  • Towing and impound entities potentially impacted by restrictions on charging fees and by the 180-day sale prohibition.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and first reading: February 13, 2025, with referral to the Public Safety Finance and Policy committee.
  • The bill establishes prospective protections and procedures; it does not appear to mandate retroactive changes, though specific effective dates and transitional provisions would be determined in committee debate and floor action.
  • Implementation: If enacted, agencies and government units would need to adjust policies related to impoundment, sale, and fees, and law enforcement would need to implement standardized reporting on stolen vehicle investigations.

Practical impact and considerations

  • The 180-day sale prohibition provides a cooling-off period to protect victims during the crisis period following a crime.
  • Reimbursement provisions ensure victims are not financially harmed when government disposition of a vehicle occurs.
  • Requiring updates from law enforcement improves transparency and may reduce delays or uncertainty for victims awaiting resolution of vehicle-related cases.
  • The bill shifts administrative burdens onto agencies to track and report on investigations and to maintain compliance with the sale and fee prohibitions.

Note: This summary covers the high-level provisions as described in the bill’s title and initial action history. Final details, including exact definitions, exceptions, funding, and implementation timelines, would be clarified in committee amendments and the final enacted language.

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

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