State Patrol unit assesses threats to lawmakers and coordinates protection

The state sets aside money for court and Capitol safety, including courthouse improvement grants. The funding covers judicial officials, court security, and courthouse safety improvements, along with State Patrol staffing and security work at the Capitol. Courthouse grants may fund safety assessments, equipment, technology, construction, or training, and recipients must provide half the grant amount from nonstate sources. Most listed funding is available in fiscal year 2027; courthouse grants are available until June 30, 2029.

A State Patrol led unit assesses threats to lawmakers and helps address threats it finds credible. The unit serves members of the Minnesota Legislature. Its individual protection and emergency response duties outside the Capitol complex are limited to the exceptions stated in law. The unit must prioritize certain threats, including those involving emergency response requests and referrals from legislative leaders, unless urgent circumstances or other information indicate otherwise. For an imminent credible threat, the commissioner must immediately coordinate a response using available law enforcement resources. The House and Senate must reimburse reasonable costs for personal security and protection.

Elected officials must submit emergency contact information to the public safety commissioner unless they opt out. Covered officials include state executive officers, legislators, Supreme Court justices, and Minnesota's members of Congress. The information is private and may be accessed only by authorized personnel for official public safety purposes. The commissioner may use or share the information only to protect elected officials or their immediate family members. Officials must submit and verify the information by January 31 each year and report changes within 30 days.

The law makes certain paid prediction market business activities and advertising felonies. The defined markets include wagers on events such as sports, elections, legal actions, disasters, and whether someone will make a particular statement. The business offense covers specified paid activities, including running a wagering platform and knowingly providing certain services to it. The advertising offense covers advertising or marketing financial or technology products that promote prohibited transactions. The business prohibition does not apply to activities that are not bets under state law or to contracts regulated under specified insurance laws. These provisions apply to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2026.

The law allows a limited on-scene preview of digital devices when a search warrant covers child sexual abuse material. This applies to electronic devices or digital media covered by a warrant that expressly authorizes a search for child sexual abuse material. The preview may only check for and document whether the specified material is present. Further analysis requires a separate warrant and must happen in a digital forensics lab or other controlled setting. If the preview finds no relevant evidence, officers must return the device as soon as practicable, consistent with state law. This applies to search warrants issued on or after August 1, 2026.