SF 4221

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/10/2026 09:24 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; expanding the crime of disseminating personal information
to include all individuals; creating a civil action for dissemination of personal
information; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.5151; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 604.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [604.165] CAUSE OF ACTION FOR DISSEMINATION OF PERSONAL
INFORMATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "family or household member"
and "personal information" have the meanings given in section 609.5151.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Liability for dissemination of personal information. new text end

new text begin A person who knowingly
and without consent disseminates or makes publicly available, including but not limited to
through the Internet, personal information about an individual or the individual's family or
household member is liable for damages to the individual whose personal information
disseminated if:
new text end

new text begin (1) the public availability of information poses an imminent and serious threat to the
individual's safety or the safety of the individual's family or household member; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the person disseminating the information knows or reasonably should know of the
imminent and serious threat.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Damages available; equitable relief. new text end

new text begin (a) The court may award the following
damages to a prevailing plaintiff from a person found liable under this section:
new text end

new text begin (1) actual and special damages, including damages for mental anguish;
new text end

new text begin (2) a civil penalty awarded to the plaintiff of an amount up to $10,000; and
new text end

new text begin (3) court costs, fees, and reasonable attorney fees.
new text end

new text begin (b) The court may also provide such equitable relief as it deems necessary or proper.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Exceptions to liability. new text end

new text begin (a) No person shall be liable under this section when
the dissemination is:
new text end

new text begin (1) for the purpose of a criminal investigation or prosecution that is otherwise lawful;
new text end

new text begin (2) for the purpose of, or in connection with, the good faith reporting of unlawful conduct
that the person making the report reasonably believes to have occurred;
new text end

new text begin (3) related to a matter of public interest and dissemination serves a lawful public purpose;
new text end

new text begin (4) made for legal proceedings and is consistent with common practice in civil
proceedings necessary for the proper functioning of the criminal justice system, or protected
by court order which prohibits any further dissemination; or
new text end

new text begin (5) authorized or required by state or federal law.
new text end

new text begin (b) This section does not alter or amend the liabilities and protections granted by United
States Code, title 47, section 230, and shall be construed in a manner consistent with federal
law.
new text end

new text begin (c) A cause of action arising under this section does not prevent the use of any other
cause of action or remedy available under the law.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Jurisdiction. new text end

new text begin A court has jurisdiction over a cause of action filed pursuant to
this section if the plaintiff or defendant resides in Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Venue. new text end

new text begin A cause of action arising under this section may be filed in:
new text end

new text begin (1) the county of residence of the defendant or plaintiff or in the jurisdiction of the
plaintiff's designated address if the plaintiff participates in the address confidentiality program
established by chapter 5B;
new text end

new text begin (2) the county where the dissemination occurred giving rise to the cause of action under
subdivision 2; or
new text end

new text begin (3) the county where the disseminated personal information giving rise to the cause of
action under subdivision 2 is stored.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Statute of limitations tolled. new text end

new text begin In a civil action brought under this section, the
statute of limitations is tolled until the plaintiff discovers the dissemination has occurred.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Confidential filings allowed. new text end

new text begin To protect the privacy of the plaintiff in cases
filed under this section, the court shall allow confidential or redacted filings and may issue
protective orders as it deems necessary or proper.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to causes
of action accruing on or after that date.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.5151, is amended to read:

609.5151 DISSEMINATION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION deleted text begin ABOUT LAW
ENFORCEMENT deleted text end PROHIBITED; PENALTY.

Subdivision 1.

Definitions.

As used in this section:

(1) "family or household member" has the meaning given in section 518B.01, subdivision
2; new text begin and
new text end

deleted text begin (2) "law enforcement official" means both peace officers as defined in section 626.84,
subdivision 1, and persons employed by a law enforcement agency; and
deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) deleted text end new text begin (2) new text end "personal information" means a home telephone number, personal cell number,
personal email address, name of the deleted text begin official's deleted text end new text begin individual's new text end minor child, photographs of the
deleted text begin official's deleted text end new text begin individual's new text end minor child, home address, directions to a home, or photographs of a
home.

Subd. 2.

Crime described.

(a) It is a misdemeanor for a person to knowingly and without
consent make publicly available, including but not limited to through the Internet, personal
information about deleted text begin a law enforcement official deleted text end new text begin an individual new text end or deleted text begin an official's deleted text end new text begin the individual's new text end
family or household member, if:

(1) the public availability of information poses an imminent and serious threat to the
deleted text begin official's deleted text end new text begin individual's new text end safety or the safety of deleted text begin an official's deleted text end new text begin the individual's new text end family or household
member; and

(2) the person making the information publicly available knows or reasonably should
know of the imminent and serious threat.

(b) A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if the person violates paragraph (a) and
deleted text begin a law enforcement official deleted text end new text begin the individual new text end or deleted text begin an official's deleted text end new text begin the individual's new text end family or household
member suffers great bodily harm or death as a result of the violation.

(c) A person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this section is guilty
of a gross misdemeanor.

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