SF 3572

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

Posted on 03/24/2026 10:26 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; modifying circumstances when firearms are permitted
on school property; establishing uniform storage requirements for firearms
permitted on school property; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.66,
subdivision 1d.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.66, subdivision 1d, is amended to read:

Subd. 1d.

Possession on school property; penalty.

(a) Except as provided under
paragraphs (d) and (f), whoever possesses, stores, or keeps a dangerous weapon while
knowingly on school property is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment
for not more than five years or to payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.

(b) Whoever uses or brandishes a replica firearm or a BB gun while knowingly on school
property is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

(c) Whoever possesses, stores, or keeps a replica firearm or a BB gun while knowingly
on school property is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), (b), or (c), it is a misdemeanor for a person authorized
to carry a firearm under the provisions of a permit or otherwise to carry a firearm on or
about the person's clothes or person in a location the person knows is school property.
Notwithstanding section 609.531, a firearm carried in violation of this paragraph is not
subject to forfeiture.

(e) As used in this subdivision:

(1) "BB gun" means a device that fires or ejects a shot measuring .18 of an inch or less
in diameter;

(2) "dangerous weapon" has the meaning given it in section 609.02, subdivision 6;

(3) "replica firearm" has the meaning given it in section 609.713; and

(4) "school property" means:

(i) a public or private elementary, middle, or secondary school building and its improved
grounds, whether leased or owned by the school;

(ii) a child care center licensed under chapter 142B during the period children are present
and participating in a child care program;

(iii) the area within a school bus when that bus is being used by a school to transport
one or more elementary, middle, or secondary school students to and from school-related
activities, including curricular, cocurricular, noncurricular, extracurricular, and supplementary
activities; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(iv) that portion of a building or facility under the temporary, exclusive control of a
public or private school, a school district, or an association of such entities where conspicuous
signs are prominently posted at each entrance that give actual notice to persons of the
school-related use new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (v) that portion of a building or facility hosting an activity or event sponsored by the
Minnesota State High School League, pursuant to the authority granted to the league in
chapter 128C, where conspicuous signs are prominently posted at each entrance that give
actual notice to persons of the school-related use new text end .

(f) new text begin Except as provided for in paragraph (h), new text end this subdivision does not apply to:

(1) active licensed peace officers;

(2) military personnel or students participating in military training, who are on-duty,
performing official duties;

(3) persons authorized to carry a pistol under section 624.714 while in a motor vehicle
or outside of a motor vehicle to directly place a firearm in, or retrieve it from, the trunk or
rear area of the vehicle;

deleted text begin (4) persons who keep or store in a motor vehicle pistols in accordance with section
624.714 or 624.715 or other firearms in accordance with section 97B.045;
deleted text end

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (4) new text end firearm safety or marksmanship courses or activities conducted on school property;

deleted text begin (6) deleted text end new text begin (5) new text end possession of dangerous weapons, BB guns, or replica firearms by a ceremonial
color guard; new text begin or
new text end

deleted text begin (7) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end a gun or knife show held on school property deleted text begin ; deleted text end new text begin .
new text end

deleted text begin (8) possession of dangerous weapons, BB guns, or replica firearms with written
permission of the principal or other person having general control and supervision of the
school or the director of a child care center; or
deleted text end

deleted text begin (9) persons who are on unimproved property owned or leased by a child care center,
school, or school district unless the person knows that a student is currently present on the
land for a school-related activity.
deleted text end

(g) Notwithstanding section 471.634, a school district or other entity composed
exclusively of school districts may not regulate firearms, ammunition, or their respective
components, when possessed or carried by nonstudents or nonemployees, in a manner that
is inconsistent with this subdivision.

new text begin (h) Notwithstanding sections 97B.045, 624.714, and 624.715, a person who is authorized
to carry a firearm on school property pursuant to paragraph (f) must secure and store their
firearms as provided for in this paragraph when the person is no longer in an eligible on-duty
status or not participating in that portion of the activity for which firearm possession is
authorized. Each firearm subject to this paragraph must be secured and stored as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) unloaded;
new text end

new text begin (2) in a locked container, safe, or other secure device made to contain a firearm that,
when locked, cannot be readily opened without use of a key, combination, or electronic
code, and that is constructed to resist forced entry, tampering, and unauthorized access; and
new text end

new text begin (3) placed in a locked trunk compartment of a motor vehicle or, if the motor vehicle
does not have a trunk compartment with a functioning lock, placed out of plain sight within
the vehicle.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.
new text end