HF3414 • 2026

Cause of action for violations of civil rights under color of law created, and state and local collaboration agreements with federal law enforcement agencies regulated.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Long, Freiberg, Reyer, Smith, Elkins, Rehrauer, Jones, Kraft, Howard, Wolgamott
Last action: 2026-02-26
Official status: Author added Wolgamott
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the law will affect existing partnerships or ongoing cases before its enactment.

Creating a Legal Path for Civil Rights Violations and Regulating Law Enforcement Partnerships

This law creates a way for people to sue if their civil rights are violated by government officials and sets rules for local police working with federal agencies.

What This Bill Does

Creates a new legal process that allows people to take action when their civil rights are violated by someone acting on behalf of the government.
Requires federal law enforcement agencies to agree in writing to follow both the U.S. Constitution and Minnesota's constitution before partnering with local police departments.
Allows people who win a case under this law to get their lawyer fees paid by the person or agency found guilty.

Who It Names or Affects

People whose civil rights are violated by government officials
Federal and local law enforcement agencies that work together

Terms To Know

Civil Rights: Basic freedoms and protections guaranteed to everyone in the United States, such as freedom of speech or religion.
Color of Law: When someone acts like they have government authority even if they don't officially have it.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not specify what happens to existing partnerships between federal and local agencies.
It is unclear how this will affect ongoing cases before the new law takes effect.

Bill History

2026-02-26 House
Author added Wolgamott
2026-02-23 House
Authors added Jones, Kraft, and Howard
2026-02-19 House
Authors added Smith, Elkins, and Rehrauer
2026-02-17 House
Introduction and first reading, referred to Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Official Summary Text

Cause of action for violations of civil rights under color of law created, and state and local collaboration agreements with federal law enforcement agencies regulated.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A bill for an act

relating to civil law; creating a cause of action for violations of civil rights under

color of law; regulating state and local collaboration agreements with federal law

enforcement agencies; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter

604.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

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[604.51] ACTION FOR VIOLATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS.

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Subdivision 1.

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Cause of action.

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(a) Any person who, under color of any statute,

ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage of the United States or of any state or territory or

the District of Columbia, subjects or causes to be subjected any citizen of this state or other

person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or

immunities secured by the United States Constitution or the Minnesota Constitution shall

be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceedings

for redress.

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(b) In addition to any damages, injunction, or other appropriate relief in any action or

proceedings under this section, the court shall award a prevailing plaintiff reasonable attorney

fees and costs.

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(c) An action under this section may not be commenced later than six years after the

cause of action accrues.

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Subd. 2.

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Intergovernmental collaboration agreements.

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A state or local law enforcement

agency may not enter into any voluntary collaboration, task force, or partnership with a

federal government agency unless the federal agency agrees in writing that, while operating

under the collaboration, task force, or partnership: (1) the federal agency will abide by the

United States Constitution and the Minnesota Constitution; and (2) the federal agency's

officers, employees, or agents may be held liable under subdivision 1 for any violation of

the United States Constitution or the Minnesota Constitution.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective the day following final enactment and

applies to all civil actions and proceedings pending on, or filed on or after, that date.

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