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SF4179 • 2026

Penalty enhancement for misconduct of public officer or employee

Penalty enhancement for misconduct of public officer or employee

Labor
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Koran, Kreun, Heintzeman, Rasmusson
Last action
2026-03-05
Official status
Introduction and first reading
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-05 House

    Introduction and first reading

Official Summary Text

Penalty enhancement for misconduct of public officer or employee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A bill for an act

relating to public safety; enhancing the penalty for misconduct of public officer

or employee; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.43.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.43, is amended to read:

609.43 MISCONDUCT OF PUBLIC OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE.

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(a)
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A public officer or employee who does any of the following, for which no other

sentence is specifically provided by law,
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is guilty of a felony and
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may be sentenced
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to

imprisonment for not more than 364 days or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000,

or both
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as provided in paragraph (b) or (c)
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:

(1) intentionally fails or refuses to perform a known mandatory, nondiscretionary,

ministerial duty of the office or employment within the time or in the manner required by

law; or

(2) in the capacity of such officer or employee, does an act knowing it is in excess of

lawful authority or knowing it is forbidden by law to be done in that capacity; or

(3) under pretense or color of official authority intentionally and unlawfully injures

another in the other's person, property, or rights; or

(4) in the capacity of such officer or employee, makes a return, certificate, official report,

or other like document having knowledge it is false in any material respect.

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(b) A person who violates paragraph (a) may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more

than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

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(c) A person who violates paragraph (a) a second or subsequent time may be sentenced

to imprisonment for not more that five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000,

or both.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes

committed on or after that date.

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