HF 2526

1st Engrossment - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/25/2026 12:29 p.m.

A bill for an act
relating to local government; expanding exceptions to prohibition against gifts to
local officials under certain conditions; providing penalties for using a gift to
influence a decision of a public safety officer; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024,
section 471.895.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 471.895, is amended to read:

471.895 CERTAIN GIFTS BY INTERESTED PERSONS PROHIBITED.

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

(a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this section.

(b) "Gift" has the meaning given it in section 10A.071, subdivision 1.

(c) "Interested person" means a person or a representative of a person or association that
has a direct financial interest in a decision that a local official is authorized to make.

new text begin (d) "Local government" means a county, city, or school district.
new text end

deleted text begin (d) deleted text end new text begin (e) new text end "Local official" means:

(1) an elected or appointed official of a county or city or of an agency, authority, or
instrumentality of a county or city; and

(2) an elected or appointed member of a school board, a school superintendent, a school
principal, or a district school officer of any independent school district.

new text begin (f) "Public safety officer" has the meaning given in section 299A.41, subdivision 4. For
the purposes of this section, public safety officer also includes a person, other than a peace
officer, employed by a law enforcement agency, whose primary employment duty is to
review, handle, or process records, photographs, or evidentiary material related to a traumatic
event.
new text end

Subd. 2.

Prohibition.

An interested person may not give a gift or request another to give
a gift to a local official. A local official may not accept a gift from an interested person.

Subd. 3.

Exceptions.

(a) The prohibitions in this section do not apply if the gift is:

(1) a contribution as defined in section 211A.01, subdivision 5;

(2) services to assist an official in the performance of official duties, including but not
limited to providing advice, consultation, information, and communication in connection
with legislation, and services to constituents;

(3) services of insignificant monetary value;

(4) a plaque or similar memento recognizing individual services in a field of specialty
or to a charitable cause;

(5) a trinket or memento costing $5 or less;

(6) informational material of unexceptional value; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(7) food or a beverage given at a reception, meal, or meeting away from the recipient's
place of work by an organization before whom the recipient appears to make a speech or
answer questions as part of a program deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (8) services for mental health or wellness support, including but not limited to counseling,
therapy, peer support, recreational activities, wellness days, or meals that are provided at
no cost to public safety officers by any nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to
support the mental or physical health and well-being of public safety personnel, provided
that such services meet all of the following criteria:
new text end

new text begin (i) the services are offered voluntarily;
new text end

new text begin (ii) the services are not contingent upon any official action or decision by the recipient;
new text end

new text begin (iii) the services are provided or facilitated by a mental health professional who is
qualified according to section 245I.04, subdivision 2;
new text end

new text begin (iv) the services qualify as medical treatment for recovery from a traumatic event; and
new text end

new text begin (v) the services are not a luxury service or event, as determined by the Campaign Finance
and Public Disclosure Board under subdivision 4; or
new text end

new text begin (9) a meal or event organized by a nonprofit entity that is specifically designed to provide
comfort and support to public safety officers following a death or significant traumatic
event, provided that the event meets all of the following criteria:
new text end

new text begin (i) the event is open to all affected personnel;
new text end

new text begin (ii) the event is not targeted to influence specific political or official actions; and
new text end

new text begin (iii) the event is not a luxury service or event as determined by the Campaign Finance
and Public Disclosure Board under subdivision 4.
new text end

(b) The prohibitions in this section do not apply if the gift is given:

(1) because of the recipient's membership in a group, a majority of whose members are
not local officials, and an equivalent gift is given or offered to the other members of the
group;

(2) by an interested person who is a member of the family of the recipient, unless the
gift is given on behalf of someone who is not a member of that family; or

(3) by a national or multistate organization of governmental organizations or public
officials, if a majority of the dues to the organization are paid from public funds, to attendees
at a conference sponsored by that organization, if the gift is food or a beverage given at a
reception or meal and an equivalent gift is given or offered to all other attendees.

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Gift standards and policies. new text end

new text begin (a) The Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure
Board must determine standards for a luxury service or event prohibited under subdivision
3, clauses (8) and (9), and must publish the standards on the board's website.
new text end

new text begin (b) A local government may adopt policies with additional requirements and restrictions
for gifts under subdivision 3, clauses (8) and (9).
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Penalties. new text end

new text begin A gift under subdivision 3, clauses (8) and (9), made with the intent
to influence the public safety officer's performance of the officer's powers or duties is subject
to the penalties described in section 609.42.
new text end